The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-17

THE W ER.
MoNTANA,s OPPORTUNITY.

NlONAA n -
That man, with all his boosted per-
spioacity, is Il stupid animal has never
been demonstrated more completely
than by the action of the pioneers in the
western states.
Commencing at a period not very re-
mote the rich prairies of Illinois were
deemed unsuitable for cultivation, and
the early settlers fringed the river and
creek bottoms with their stumpy and
malarial farms, while the school geo
graphles we're teaching their children
that the section now embracing the
most fertile portion of Kansas and Ne
braska was a great American desert
with a Sahara like condition of desola-
ton. The pioneers who went through
the epidemics OF ague and milk sickness
peculiar to new countries and expert
enced the vicissitudes OF Indian wars,
prairie fires, ETC., carefully preserved the
very best lands on the upland pralries
for those who came later and domesti-
Gated themselves in comfort. The west
has been populated by a series of dis
%coveries. First, that prairie lands
would grow crops. Second, that Kansas
and Nebraska we're not in a desert.
Third, that wheat and fruit would flour
ish in California. Fourth, that Da-
kota was the paradise of the grain
grower, and fifth, that Colorado was
one of the best agricultural states, be-
cause with irrigation the farmer held
the clouds as a personal possession to be
controlled at will.
Unfortunately for him all these dis
coveries we're not made until the pio-
neer, after a life ct hardship, was safely
and permanently deposited under the
daisies.
The people Of Montana at the present
day are trotting the same familiar
course. They tell with apparent salts
faction that this state is unfit for agri-
cultnre and will never sustain a large
population. With many the expression
is a source of glee that the existing resi-
dents are too numerous and must dwin-
die because Of non-support. They seem
determined to occupy the pine coffin OF
poverty and be mourned by the coyote,
leaving the costly %trappings of woe to
be the solace of their successors.
The next great discovery to be made
is that in Montana nature has ex-
hausted her powers in creating a dis
trict endowed with every advantage
that Gan be bestowed. The germ OF
the discovery is alive but will not sprout
for the pioneers. The bloom of the
flower is reserved to perfume the exist.
ence of those who waited in comfortable
eastern homes for the allotted time.
These wise people will secure at almost
no cost the despised valley lands. They
will put on them a supply of water and
proceed to raise crops the like of which
no other country can equal. Others in
great numbers will follow. values OF
land will increase with the demand,
great cities will spring up, railroads will
gridiron the country, wealth rapidly
multiply and the new settlers become SO
engrossed in managing their easily &C.
ouired fortune that they won't stop
ever to ask where the poor pioneer is
buried. Seriously, is it not in the
power of those living to break the record
of stupidity:
Water in Montana is the foundation
of everything. We have it in abun-
dance. Nature offers to mold it in the
mountains as o until needed for the
crops. She has built reservoir sites
ready for use, sloped the valleys fol
canals of cheap construction, put the
stone, brick clay and lumber on all sides
handily. 1t only deeds Il little money
Shall we send one OF two or a dozen
men TO New York to get it on individual
credit in ~niggardly doles at ten or twenty
per cent interest, involving subsequen'
monopoly Of supply and extravagan'
tolls for water, or will the Legislature a
this session frame Il bill which vii
people to secure capital in abundance a
low interest?
Will the pioneers throw aside theil
prejudices and broaden their mind
sufficiently to take hold of this grea
work and make our future secure, O.
will they transmit the superb inheri
lance to future comers Many pueril
objections will be raised. Have we
DE Witt Clinton to push them asid
and build the canals?
WI are approaching very nearly tn