Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-10-10


THURSDAY, OCTOBER lie, 1878.
LESS than a year ago we took occasion to
suggest to our readers the necessity of locat-
ing good homes while there was IN appor-
tunity of getting choice of the country,
though few have profited by our reminder.
There have been hundreds of new homes
built since then, but they have been built
mostly by immigrants. The old residents
seem to think that there is time enough, SO
puts it off from year to year. A large share
of our readers have not yet used their home
stead or presumption rights. They regard
them as valueless, and are indisposed to
take advantage of them. The time will
soon come when they will see the error of
their way. Mayhap it may be too late
for them to profit by it, but it will come
nevertheless. Already we notice a marked
change in the value Of real estate. Good
farms are becoming valuable. Only a few
years ago the best ranch could have been
purchased at less than the cost OF their i'm
provements, but now their natural advan-
tages, fertility, ETC., is being taken into ac-
count, and we feel safe in asserting that in
less than ten years, good locations on our
valleys will be worth more than the same
number Of acres in any of the Western
States. The reason for this is obvious. Our
mountains are inexhaustible deposits OF pre-
cious metals, and as the development in
~creases, they will employ a large multitude
of laborers who must be fed from our fields.
This is aRuarantee of a good market, which
is an important consideration though not
the greatest thing to be desired. The sur
roundings, water privileges. certainty Of
crops, free pastoral advantages, health, eli
mate, etc., ETC., are sufficient to bring them
in demand, even were our farmers like those
of the States. be compelled to rely on the
great cities of the world to consume our
products. There is yet time tor every man
in Montana to provide himself a good home.
Good land is still plenty, but it will not re-
main so many years, judging from the rate
at which it has been taken up during the
last year. This will increase instead OF di-
minish. Another year the country will
swarm with immigrants seeking homes.
The Union Pacific railroad is drawing near
enough for our Territory to feel its %ini1ence.
Already the railroad companies are inter-
esting themselves to scatter abroad informa-
ton in regard to our resources, and this is
all that is needed to insure a large increas OF
population. We do not speak thus to in
duce our people to try to- m%onopolize our
far from it. A home is sufficient, aye,
quite sufficient for any one. 1t is a necessi-
ty, too, and none are better entitled to a
choice than those who have brayed the diff
~ficulties of pioneer lille. Let every one who
has not located a presumption or home
steaded a tract of land, do so without delay.
Every year, month or week that it is put off
lessons the chances for getting good land,
that can be Watered without cost.
A FEW weeks age we urged upon our
readers the necessity of selecting good men
to represent the Territory in the next leg
islative assembly, and referred to the neces-
sity OF a revision Of the Revenue law, with
the hope that the farmers would under
stand their necessity and be guided some
what in their nominating conventions. In
some counties we see that this has been
done, but in others, counties too most deep
" interested, little thought has been given