The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-24
Ex- Mayor Bradford Talks About the
Agricultural Possibilities Close
to Helena.
Henry Wizards Talk on Irrigation
Brings Out What Has Boon
Accomplished.
Tho Profts in Truck. Gardening and Fruit
R~atsing-Thc Market Ready II We
will Furnish tho PRODUCT.

Ex-Mayor Donald Bradford N one OF ING
most enthusiastic believers in Montana IN
the agricultural possibilities OF the state.
He has demonstrated his faith by his works.
having carried to q successful issue the
building of the Dearborn canal. and this
year he has demonstrated also that the land
in the Prickly Pear valley near Helena 10.
properly handled, very prolific. Talking
yesterday OF the interview with Henry vii
lard, published exclusively In The lNDE-
PENDENT. Mr.. Bradford said:
1.-THE interview with Mr.. Willard regard
ing the value of farming and irrigation
brings to the front what I have advocated
for two years, and have carried into effect
by building tho Dearborn canal system,
thereby opening up for settlement $4,000
acres of fine free lands adjacent
to Helena and the whole mining
region of Montana; also by demon
will produce as great aproft. if not greater,
on a farm in Montana with ample irriga-
ton, than any other business enterprise.
Being to a large extent interested in this
question, l determined to carry on a &C.
| verely practical investigation by farming a
tract of land in the vicinity OF Helena.
That it ia a success I am glad to assure
those who have invested their capital in
such property. Beginning work during the
month of March of this year, a crop of po-
tatoes. cabbages and hay was raised, Gre
| ating a net profit of 100 per cent. upon the
capital invested. Think what could be
done in this Prickly Pear valley alone in
the same direction. Assuming 10000 acres
to be the area supplied with ample irriga-
ton as at present, one can readily realize
| the profit accruing to the city of Helena by
figuring the actual profits as this year dem
onstrated. The average gross return, per
Thousand acres will equal $2,800.000, all Of
which will acc,u ne to the benefit of Helena.
"Pessimists will exclaim that the market
will be glutted. Th question at once
arises. where is Montana's market, andhow
far will it extend? AS it is with her gold,
and wool, SO will il be with her potatoes.
cabbages Inc strawberries. To-day Colo
RADIO and Utah are the masters OF the more
important eastern markets, selling their
exquisite potatoes at prices not dreamed OF
by the eastern gardeners, occupying me
finer foreign wool does to our DOMESTIC
fiber Notwithstanding the ruinous tariif
tariff added, not in the least constituting
an elment in the net result. If Colorado
and Utah, why not doubly so Montana,
whose soil is superior to that OF any other
cent. less severe than that of Colorado:
whose position geographically is equal to
any other, having direct communication
with every pointo of the compass. With en.
terprise that commands the notice of the
world, why, J. say, cannot Montana enter
the markets of the populous east with the
products of her gardens and reap the prof
its others are fighting for. +
'sIhe many young men now residing IN
Helena and those anticipating a residence
there cannot enter a more pleasant MOI
more profitable field. of work than that OF
~truck-patching and raising small fruits
Farming needs the experience of the count
ing house to bring out its good points. II
requires the ability not only to plaut and
reap but to sell in the most profitable mar
ksts with concentrated effort upon the part
of those most interested. Utilize the ex"
perience of the large mercantile establish.
ments of the east that built up an annua
business aggregating millions of dollars by
commercial travelling men entering every
nook that promised trade. They created
business BY advertising the utility OF theil
wares. Why can we not by a strong pull
through a business organization push oul
products into the millions of mouths
to receive the fine meal,
potatoes of the Dearborn valley and the
Prickley Pear? Every produce house in ou1
midst is evidence, not of our prosperity but
of our weakness and of the fact that hundreds
of wealth is slipping through our fingers
annually for tns necessaries of life, all Of
which and much more can be retained here
and swell the deposits in our banks. LIE
the young men cultivate the soil instead OF
idling away valuable energy in a cigal
stand, saloon or real estate office. 1ht
Dearborn and Prickley Pear valleys will
some day support a population of l5O,OO(
people.