The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-27

thousands. IL Is 4 helnful pro vlalon u
many cases, that lands acquired uGue w
homestead laws are not liable for tho satis
faction Of any debt contracted bef.rs tht
issue Of tho patent. This gives q man Wh'
has been unfortunate. y chance y
make Il fresh start and his new
homo onnnot ba taken from MN bs
former al editors. A decided preference
than ninety d i VI in the army or navy O.
the United StStas during the war of the 70
ballion. The time of his actual aerv1cs,
not exceeding foSf years may De daauoteu
f,om tho five years residence reQulfeu ~
ordinary cases. If Ne was discharged OH
account Of wounds or nther aisapility tns
fnll term OF his enlistm eltt may be deducted
he limit OF deduction is four years, AZ
ieast one years residence s'e1ng necessary
"There il Il law to encourage the gfowtn
of timber IN the western pfalf1es Whlon
gives a quartsr-section ct land 70 - person
who will plant forty acres OF 1t IN tlmner,
tho trees to be not moro than Twelve 1eet
apart each way. There are also sp,eclai
laws which appertain to stone, mineral ana
coal lands, ana those having yaluab4N TIM
bar."
what progress is being made in render
ing the arid lands of the west productive
by irrigation?s ,r,..
logical survey is struggling with u any
there seems to be no daubt that Its plans
would be successful provided money enough
were furnished, but the coat would pc heas.v.
There is a large area of the pubic CONAN
that is now marked arid; that is, tho natufal
wafer supply ia insufficient to render the
soil tillable and productive. Much thought
has been given to the question OF reclaim
ing these lands and many schemes nave
been devised. Various experiments nave
been made. some with success. Private
CORPORATIONS and individuals have by artl-
x-,.l ro,Iara1 arabia VhrV consider
able tracts Of land which before were prac-
tieally yalueless for agriculture. One plan
in the boring of artesian wells. the success
Of which depends upon the volume OF water
flowing from them. Another 1s the construc-
ton Of large reservoirs IN winch the surplus
Of water falls during the rainy season may
be stored, and in dry weather conducted
over the land BY means Of dltches. ~
some points, where great natural basins
NAV be utilized, these can be pro-
yided at q moderate outlay; n other cases
the expense would be- large. In many n
stances mountain streams, Ieu ~ spfinRs.
have been diverted into artificial channels
and cerried over considerable tracts Of arid
land. h
more has been done in the way OF irriga-
ton in California than in any other state
or territory. That it does pay there can %
no question. Large areas which; n thelr
arid condition, could not be sold Tor more
than from 81 to SIS an acre. have been made
in the highest degree productive. and are
worth to-day from 5000 TO $1,000 per acre.
Figures clearly show shat Irrigation has
added millions upon millions OF dollars to
the wealth of California. In some cases
there are complete waterworks establish
ments, owned by corporations, which,
by ditches and condults, supply water
to the surrounding region at an average
cost of only $l.25 to $1.m each acre pei
year. For orchards, vineyards and grain
lands this is not a great cost. irrigation Is
making thousands Of men rich. As nearly
az can be sscertained, the irrlgabsd lands Of
California comprise three and one half
million acres. Irrigation has cost S2O,OV.-
900, but it has increased the value OF the
land $500. 600, 600, perhaps twice that.
.'Althouch SO much has been done in
different sections of the west, the amount
Of land reclaimed is but . small part 81 the
| nrid area. If this is to be made available
for agricultural purposes there must DO
some great comprehensive system Of irrl-
CATION. No doubt something will be done
in the future il not at present. Congress
every now and then is torn up over the
question. No one can predict what leglsla-
ton there may be. The matter is one of
Importance, and deserving Of the most
careful consideration. It involves the
future of a largo part of the public do
MAN." =5~-#S-
'.Are not our valuable forests being fast
exhSusted?"
Unfortunately they are. This is due in
no small degree to the trespassers who go
upon the public lands and cut timber in
large quantities. A careful examination
has recently been mado with a view to as
certnining the condition of the timber
lands and what has been depe to enforce
the laws for their protection. The result
is conclusion upon two polnts-the rapid
disarpaarance OF valuable timber and the
utter inadequacy of the Law to prevent
trespass. The work of spoliation is going
on continually, in spite of all the efforts of
the government to stay the ravage. Fifty
five sneciai timber agents were employed
last year, and they -eported 80 cases of
trespass, involving timber stolen or de-
than $4,000, 900. In addition to
these, suits against poaehers we're
al eady pending for the recovery of nearly
S15, O00,0 coo for timber unlavfully cut from
public lands. These facts will give you
some idea of the extent of these depreda-
tons. It has been urged by some that the
United States army should b. employed to
guard the forests, and | don't know but
this will be found necessary. Certainly
some effective meaBureg must be devised or
the public lands will in a few years be de-
nuded of their store of timber Forest
These are usually the result of carelessness
or wantonness. and, if it is possible. some
thing should be don't to prevent them.''
What can you say in regard to coal
landau
"Wo are not in any danger of running
short CT fuel while you and [ live. Years
ago people thought there was no GOAL in the
country except in Pennsylvania. Now
the are few states or territories in which
inexhanatible quantities awe not been
found and developed. The government
su ryeyors are continually finding new de-
posits on the public lands, and encourage
mont il given for their development. Coal
lands may be eate ed in the same general
way as others. Any association of not less
than four persons who shall nave expended
not less then $500 in working and improv-
ing a coal mine may enter up to GAO acres.
The price is $40 an acre if tho land is more
than fifteen miles from any com rail
road, and $40 an acre if within thnt dis
lance. Care is taken not to sell these landa
to msre speculatorB, but only to such per
sons and corporations ne intend in good
faith to work the mines"
"Iow did the tract heretofore called NO
Mans Land, get that name?'
ut was left oub IN the cold by the survey
orh many years ago, and until recently did
not belong to any state or territory. Ii
comprises about j, 600. 600 acres-equivalsnt
TO 20, 800 farms of 100 acres each. 1t is a
strip lying just north of the Panhandle of
Texas, reaching to the southern bouudaty
of kansns and Colorado, and east and west
from indian Territory to Now Mexico. 1t
has Il population of soms 1900. The gsrir
is NO longer a homeless o~utcast. 1t ia now
n part of this territory of Oklahoma. and