The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-12-12
HELENA, MONT, DEC. IL. 1899.
U NEW ERA.

OUR NEW ERA.
In Yesterdays INDEPENDENT we gave
an interesting account Of the enterprise
known as the Lima Reservoir and Irri-
cation company, in Benverhead county,
from the pen OF Mr.. Charles A. Gregory
who, it will be remembered, was n Of
the promoters of the Manhattan colony.
The active promoter of the Lima
scheme is Mr.. James NJ. Kerr, the cor
poration lawyer. OF New York city, who
is well and favorably known in Mon
tana and other states.
The addition of $4,000 acres OF we'll
watered land to our domain is an event
Of no little Importance and that is what
the Lima company has successfully un-
dertaken to do. This means a great in
crease in the u OF our state in
wealth and population. How much
only those who have studied the devel-
opment OF California and Colorado un-
der irrigation can fully appreciate. We
learn that Messrs. Kerr and Gregory
and others will shortly start another
large irrigation project in the state and
We need not say that they should have
every encouragement from our people.
W. are certainly approaching the ng-
ricultural era in Montana. California
was once known only tor its yield Of pre-
cious metals, and the figures of such
yield are latAer exciting to the imagi-
nation. The total value of gold and sill
N ~ro1Vnko ~ that ctoto c;roo 1910 ro
to some two years ago, was $1,3S7,450.-
GOO; but this exhibit is not SO import
ant in IN economic view as is its phe-
nomenal growth in agriculture and hor-
ticulture. The expectations of it's peo-
pie are not now based on it's mining re-
sources; it has changed into an agricul-
tural country, and for the increase of
it's wealth it now relies on farming and
horticulture most largely. The value
Of the cereal. hay and root crop in that
state in 1891 was s%7O,0OO,0oo; and it's
fruit producing districts are the veal
thiest communities in this country.
So of Colorado also. The state of
Colorado, famous as it is for mineral
wealth, finds it's best progress in popu-
lation and in wealth to grow out of it's
agriculture. Not many years ago such
a result appeared highly improbable;
the agricultural products OF that state
now amount to some sixty million dol
lars in value a year.
So we may we'll believe that Montana
will flourish more speedily by giving
greater attention to the development of
agriculture. 1t will be a proud day for
this state when, with no %diminution of
its mining industry, it shall show a year.
ly yield of sixty million dollars worth of
agricultural products. The state is
larger in area than Colorado; it has
has more agricultural land lying at low
or attitudes. 1t is the best watered
state in the arid region, in its valley and
plain regions it is blessed with a fine
climate and it possesses soils famous for
fertility. Picturesque and beautiful,
rich in varied of natural
wealth, attractive in climate, peopled
with hardy, industrious and intelligent
men and women, 1t, as one OF the young
est of the states, enters on the race OF
human progress and wealth develop
ment with high hopes, and already has
made q proud record of achievement.
Its beautiful capital city ELECTS the ad-
miration of all visitors; it's numerous
Furnishing towns and farming districts
raise expectations of still greater ad-
vancement.
1t is safe to say there are some six
million acres in Montana which can be
irrigated and afforded adequate supply
of water. Now think Of the immense
value Of the yearly products Of the irri-
gated lands Of the arid region, and at the
same time remember that the six mil
lion acres which Montana can reclaim ia
q tract far greater than the total area
set down in the last census as then irri-
gated IN the whole United States.
The prosperity OF the Montana farm
ers has been pointed out as being re-
markable. They have the highest per-
centage Of farms owned as contrasted
with farms taken collectively, either
owned or rented, and of the owned farms
a large proportion Of these are held free
from debt. The farmers of this state
pay the largest rate OF interest. These
facts show that on the whole they are
remarkably prosperous. Look at this
little table of comparisons from the CEN
sus OF 1890 and see il there is not reason
for the advantages claimed for farming
in Montana:
Average
Percentage rate OF