Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-01-17

this subject?"
swell. not officially, - 1t IL not .
matter that comes under my, duties as
especial agent, but did 60 out of my
way, In my last report TO the commits
sioner, to call his attention to the
shameful neglect that was being ex.
perienced ty this country In that re-
gard. As I have said the general land
Office is urgent for larger appropris-
tiens for surveys, but Congress makes
the appropriations and your members
and delegates must take care Of you.
They certainly expect you TO take care
OF them once in two Years, and little
reciprocity would, it see ans to me, be-
the proper thing"
"In your travels through the coun-
try do you see fair proportion of
land that can be reclaimed by irrlga.
tion?n
"Well, I should say 30; and think
know something about the subject of
irrigation too, having seen the won
derful development OF Utah, Cslifor.
Mia and Colorado by it. or course l
can give you no estimate in acres, but
outside Of the bad lands, am sat-
istied that u majority percentage Of
the lands OF Custer county are suscep-
tible of being irrigated. and do
you know what that means? 1t means
the turning OF the present uninviting
and barren prairie into a smiling para.
disc OF grain, fruits and vegetables, for
there Is no soil 1 ever saw that will
yield 30 rich and abundant har-
vest, II you will only give 1t
drink at the proper times, as
this soil OF eastern Montana. Now
speaking of irrigation. / find .
very erroneous and Objectionable idea
prevalent In the minds OF the people.
which Is that the mstured plans iof
irTigatiop-the constructed ditches-
mustprecede immigration. They appear
to have an idea that II Is not proper to
invite settlement where agriculture is
only possible by irrigation, until the
bitches are ready. Now, what capital.
list or party Of capitalists are going to
construct . ditch through an unip
hsbitablo region and trust to the fu
ture for customers for the water? No,
sir, let the settlers come first, and
wherever there is q knot Of settlers
whose custom will make ditch pay,
you will see . ditch there before 1t is
needed, almost. have seen this de-
monstrated q hundred times In the
southwest. AT Uncapaghre the settlers
rushed In like mob. into an arid csctie
waste. Nothing 30 forlorn or unpromis.
ing could be found in this country.
But they were there and settled and
in sufficient numbers TO warrant the
building Of canal, and capital came
as 1t always does and always will, and
built the irr. eating canal in that coun-
try and the country /, now productive
OF everything, has two Touring mills
at work constantly on Its own grain,
and is prosperity itself, and this. was
only five years ago and the original
, aspect OF the country was like the
! cursed Of nature. What has been
, done In hundreds of desert localities
in the southwest, can be done here
J only much easier and with more rapid
! results, as the climate and the soil arr
] each much more favorable TO sgricul
lure than In the localities referret
I to-"
From your experience In other dr.,
climates. do you look for an increased
, deposit OF moisture here. .asagriculiur
Il enlarged in its scope ?"
"I certainly do, for l have seen the
, same results follow the same causes In
sections much dryer than this. an
q firm believer In the theory OF tn,
breaking up Of the soil, the planting
J Of trees aud irrigation, inducing az
increased deposit Of moisture year b,
year and eventually q permanent
: change Of climate"
at we,should prove successful II
4. getting an increased appropriation 10
7 surveys In our territory at this session
: Of Congress how soon would the none
J be available ?"
3 "I should say, for work this suu
mer. The appropriations bill will n
Q doubt 20 through before the SUNNI,
: vacation Of Congress, and thereupo
Q the money will be Immediately avail
II able for use; oh! II you get your props
q amount OF appropriation you will &c
}. that II will have decided effect o
q your prosperity this coming fall. Th
% settler who is located on land that %
T. knows TO be hs own, provided d
It lives mp to the requirements OF th'
I law. .is q very different person from tn
g squatter who knows not OF whom d
q must secure his title, or at what price
Is The former is citizen; interested II
e ALI the affairs OF his neIghborhood and
It county, active to secure school house
.o,,,nn o,sce. a post road aud post