St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-11
A LEADING LAND QUESTION.
What Disposition Shall be Made of
Montana Landss
The Question Discussed by a Practical
Engineer.

Engineer.
Among the guests of the Merchants who
would be conspicuous figure in scientific
convention is William B. Cav, now of
Montana. Mr.. Cav came West in 1869, in
the service of Jay Cooke, when he. was the
leading spirit of the Northern Pacific, now
transcontinental triumph and the greatest
factor in the development of the great
Northwest and their twin trade centers.
Mr.. Gaw's first work was the survey and
building of the Brainerd branch to Little
Falls. Then he built the harbor and docks at
Duluth. Next he went to Fargo and SUI
perintended the building of the Dakota
division. In 1881 he assisted in the reduc-
ton of the field notes of the surveys of the
Yellowstone division. Since the compile
ton of the road he has been engaged in
land examinations in a scientific way, en-
cheering and in the real estate business
His training in his business, his experience
previously in the Southwest, coupled with
his record in the Northwest, added to an
acute observation, have combined to make
his views On the developments and re-
sources of the Northwest of especial value.
A GLOBE reporter was attracted to MI.
Cav by mutual friend.
A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE COUNTRY.
Asked as to the characteristics of the
county, especially as to geographical condi-
lions and the adaptability of the soil to cat
tie growing and agriculture, he said: 1t is be-
coming quite well known that vast region
reaching from Texas to the British posses
sions, ranging from $50 to 200 miles wide,
east of the Rocky mountains, is so condi-
toned physically and climatically to raise
doubt of the wisdom Of urging the immedi-
ate settlement Of this vast domain. | have
lived i'll Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and
Montana, sharing the time in these several
divisions of country about equally-except
that have resided for the past five years in
the latter territory. Since 1879 system of
irrigation has been begun all along through
the dry regions above referred to from Kan
sas to Montana. Capital has been invited
from the East to aid in the development of
this enterprise, and in many instances it
has cheerfully responded. 1t will, however,
require series of years before one-eighth
part of the land embraced in this
vast region can possibly be put
in condition for agriculture
vast areas of it never can be brought under
cultivation, but the native grasses are the
most nutritious in the world for grazing
purposes. In the broad valleys like the
Gallatin, where water can be secured from
the mountain water courses, the country is
most admirably adapted to agricultural pur-
suits. for the soil is rich and deep. But
further water facilities must be provided
even there before the resources of the val
ley can possibly be made available.
FOR WHAT THE LANDS ARE ADAPTED.
Then for what are these large arid areas
best adapted? was asked. For grazing.
Here must come the next supply of the
country, and that principally from Mon
tana, just as the breadstuff supply comes
from Minnesota and Dakota. Nature has
ordained that this shall be so, and
there is no escape from her DEGREES.
They are as memorable as the laws of the
Medes and the Persians were assumed to
be- Go study the grasses of that country
and you will find it was foreordained that
cattle should be the staple product of those
foothills and narrow valleys. There are
twenty-one varieties of these grasses, three
of them saline in their character, varieties
upon which cattle feed with great avidity
and wax fat. The post tertiary formations
of the wide domain from the basaltic base
of the Rocky mountains to the Missouri
river, and even to the British line, are nat
urally adapted to the development of these
grasses, all of which are rich in seed, a
splendid substitute for the grains of the
states. These grasses are the natural
products of the soil and survive from year
to year the closest cropping of cattle,
and even sheep. The living prin-
ciple of this grass is in the roots.
The cattlemen are aware of these condi-
lions and are anxious to take up these lands
by sections, so as to secure permanent pas
turage, but the land laws operate as bar,
to evade which they take advantage of their
defects and the laxity of their administra-
ton to trench upon the rights of those who
would cultivate such of the soil as is adapted
to their purposes by entering large tracts
under the desert act covering the best water
fronts in the territory. This also operates
against other cattlemen who may desire to
take up good grazing lands farther back in
the ot-hills, beyond the benches and di-
vides separating the smaller water courses.
AS TO THE REMEDY.
What would you suggest as a remedy for
this and kindred abuses? was the next ques-
ton. This and other evils can be remedied
by an amendment to the land laws which
shall draw dlStnctlOn between lands JnaJ
can possibly be brought under cultivation
by irrigation and those that cannot and are
only adapted to grazing, that question to be
determined by examination made by en-
gineers and men who know the adaptability
of the land to these different industries.
Then the stockmen should be allowed to
purchase their grazing ground. This would
give the stockmen the coveted opportunity
to secure the alternate sections OF the
Northern Pacific grant. Then they could
secure Jointly from the government and the
company such range facilities as may be re-
quired for their purposes, and the law
should be so carefully drawn that the cattle
kings may have no advantage over the
stockgrower who may have but from 100 to
500 head. The latter are now practically
barred from the business by the kings TAX
ing the water fronts and by the expenses