The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-25
Further Discussion Of the Very I'M
portant Subject by Mr..
c. A. Gregory.
Thirty Millions Paid to Eastern
Farmers Annually for Agri-
cultural Products.
These Crops Can All he Raised Near ut
Hand by the Aid Of Irri-
CATION.

DENT. Joseph Nimmo, Jr.'s, article from
the New York Tribune OF February "a, 1891
on Market for Eastern Products Of Agri-
culture" and its relation to the arid region
il a valuable reminder to us citizens of
Montana Of how much W. can be benefited
by availing of irrigation in our growing
state of Montana. This spring gives al
hope of great crops in this state, by reason
of the abundant snow Of last winter which
remains even now in some of our valleys,
and which loads the mountain tops as res
ervoirs OF water for our bitches this sum
mer. Our ploughing in the Gallatin valley
ia late this year, but the compensation is
the prospect of fine crops next fall. We
are ploughing sixty-tivs acres a day at
Manhattan ranch. Our effort there is i'm
mediately in the line of Mr.. Nimmo's in
~sistence in his New York Tribune article.
Mr.. Nimmo is an earnest friend of the
promotion of irrigation and is we'll versed
in a knowlege of the aid region, it's needs
and its advantages to the economic wealth
of the nation at large. He justly deprec-
ates the notion that products Of the. arid
region are IN any true sense in competition
with those of the eastern states. They are
the home manufacturers of a region
which can never be entirely sel~f-supporting.
All that the growers of crops in the arid
region can do ID to partly supply their i'm
mediate neighbo hoods with the cereals and
fruits that are to be be sold at their own
doors and consumed at home, that is to
say, in towns and camps situated near to
the growers. The rice of their products
will always be higher thar the same
articles grown in the east, because the long
haul from the east or from this Mississippi
valley which acts as a protection to them
tn that A n-l A.
nrea in the arid region that can be
cheaply supplied with water is SO inconsid-
cradle rs compared with the constantly
growing demand for the products in that
region that the necessity will for a long time
exist for importing the excess of demand
over production. It is estimated that three
of the cereals and fruits consumed
in the arid region is imported into it over
the railroads.
Gov. Prince, of New Mexico, states that
last year there was imported into that ter
tory from other states, IS, 552, 600 pounds of
flour; $4,000 rounds of wheat; about 90
olO0,OCO pounds of cornmeal: S,145 tons of
hay. and l, 49l tons of vegetables, and that
AS a total some 81, 300 600 was paid out BY
New Mexico for imported stuffs.
Inc statement iS also made by Major
Nlmmo that the total imports of agricultu-
raj products, from the east chiefly, is of the
of $50, 900, 900.
This necessity of importing is easily un-
derstood by calling to mind the physical
and climatic condition of this section of
country, q condition that is fixed and IN
manageable. 1t is n mining region and u
pastoral reg on. and, except on the noun
bains where forests are sustained, its Quilt
vable GASES are the reclaimed and reclaima-
BILE spots, and these are a small percentage
Of it's area. About four per cent. it is est
of the Rocky mountain region is
All that can be adequately watered to pro-
luce crops. Into this region is vet to come
4 vast population engaged in mining. sheep
cattle growing, and the various pursuits
ot men IN towns who aid in the supper of
cation and meet all the varied demands of
! considerable population, without directly
producing the articles which sustain life.
irrigation. therefore, in this region is the
'rlme necessity. which, being supplied
8 to help out the existence of these
to cheaper, in some meas
Ire, the cost of living. Land is plenty, soil
3 OF surprising fertility; but these two CON
lltlons are only available for aiding the
Import of human life by the addition of
sater placed Iii tie right SPOTS ut the right
lme. This last and essential condition is
applied by the art of irrigation.
1t is now considered that stock raising is
host prottably carried on where loss from
Exposure and failure of feed in winter is
lnlmlzed by feeding during winter. This
3 again only to be done by the aid of lrri-
alton. These considerations teach us that
III legislation hostile to the extending of
for irrigation is a positive loss to
he national wealth.
One of the most permanent industries OF
ian is mining. This will never cease. 1t
J attractive because it offers great gains
or small OUTLAWS. in the way of lucky
rizes; but it also offers sure returns of a
profit to industry. 1t is a necessity to
ian in his artificial wants under high ciyi-
cation.
The imports into the mining regions are
nnually about $50,u0O,OOO worth of mar-
'ctured goods. The sum is paid back by
10 annual yield of the mines, with a sur
lus IN this yield SO great as to be a con 7
ant stlmulant to further production.
During. the latest years for which the
have been compiled" says Mr..
lmmo. 1.-THE Rocky Mountain region pro-
uced So per cent. of the gold; 80 Ter cent.
the silver; 20 per cent. of the lead, and
per cent. of the copper produced in the
hlted States The total value of these
'ur metals alone was about S131, 600, 900.
onslder that 80 per sent. of this product
a surplus or exported product-to off .
the general merchandise and npri-
products brought into this region
ana the surplus makes thu capital out of
hlch towns are built, railroads operated.
nprovements placed on ranches, educa-
on promoted and tho general comfort of
10 people of the arid region sustained.