The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-08
FROM MONTANA.
important Information for Farmers
on the Move.

To the Editor:
OF course we DO not want any farmers,
anybody else, to move away from Min
nesota, if they are not absolutely COM
pelledto do so by adverse circumstances,
and even then we would hate to see them
leave before having chance to vote for
Sidney NJ. Owen and the rest of eX-
cellent ticket. But if any Of our readers
have to leave anyhow, to better their con-
iitions. it is of Importance to them, in
decd, to learn from a reliable source where
and how their conditions might be bet
tered. Hon. Edward LARSEN, of Benson,
MINI, our we'll known deputy state lee
turer, of whose life and struggles to benefit
his fellow men The Representative gave d
sketch some time ago we have all reason
to consider fully reliable source, at least
far his personal observations and
intention go. Learning that Brother Lars
sen lately had made trip of investigation
to the irrigated lands of the Teton valley.
Montana, and that he was so pleased with
said locality that he had taken land there
with the intention of moving on next
spring, We asked him to favor our readers
with an account of the conditions and pros
poets for new settlers there, and he
responds With the following communica-
ton:
1t is sad and very deplorable fact that
farmers are moving away from Minnesota
nearly every day now. After years of toll
hardships and seif-denials, many of them
find that Gnstead of making Roadway and
laying aside a competency for their de-
Ginning years., the times and conditions
in our state are against them; that they
a 1OSiOo of aiOip ipl,
deeper and deeper into the mire of debts
and perjury, instead of rising to the
PRED pinnacle of modest prosperity. No
wonder they are moving away. More
would follow could they only all scratch
up the wherewithal for going; but, alas,
some have postponed the intended move
too long, and are now sunken SO deep into
the mire that they cannot extract them
selves nor be extracted, the poorhouse
the grave having become their only pros
pect as last resort.
Being painfully conscious of the above
stated facts, and having for a number of
years suffered great losses myself by
thoughts, hail storms. insects and other
drawbacks 1 became despairing of ever be
Ing able to make any kind of farming profit
able in this part of Minnesota at least,
when a friend called my attention to the
irrigated lands of the Teton valley. Mont,
lately opened for settlement. Being favor
ed with an Introduction to Mr.. F. #. Bur-
tan, of Montana, this gentleman's descrip-
ton of his soil, the climate, the large crops
raised on irrigated land in his state, the
high prices on all farm products there and
the surety of making farming profitable
such land in the Teton valley, induced
me to go there and investigate the matter
thoroughly. After having done so, and
found everything represented by Mr..
Burtan, l embraced the opportunity then
and there to secure piece of government
land with perpetual water right at a COM
partively small cost and great advantage.
l intend to move on the land next spring.
| wish to God that every poor farmer in
Minnesota could have the same opportunity;
but, alas, the acreage of free government
land in the Teton valley, capable of being
made tillable by irrigation, is very limited
and will undoubtedly be taken up before
spring. as there is now quite an influx of
land hunters. Beside it takes. of course a
few hundred dollars cash to move family
SO far, secure land and water rights pre-
pare the land for crops and support the
family until the first crop can be marketed
But any farmer that can raise the neces-
sary cash for this purpose needs count him
self poor no longer provided he can and
will work, for he cannot fail there to do
well on irrigated land in the Teton valley
The surety of crops, and very large crops,
on irrigated land, the very high prices paid
in Montana for all kinds of farm produce
and the opportunity there for raising cattle
large and profitable scale, from even
small start, on a free, boundless and rich
paSturaSe, available the whole year round,
all combine to make the irrigated land in
the Teton valley the most desirable loca-
ton for practical farmers with even small
means.
1t would. of course call for more space
than could be spared here to give de-
tailed description of the Teton valley it's
magnificent mountain scenery its rich
soil, delightful and healthy climate I'M
eXhaustible sources for irrigation abund-
ance Of fish ard game, coal and timber
profitable home market etc, etc. or to
particularze the means and cost of reach
ing the valley and securing land and water
right there. But anybody determined on
more profitable field for diversified farming.
can obtain all needed information by ad-
dressing me. My post Office is still Ben
SOB. Swift Co, MINI. 1 want, of
course as many neighbors as possible, end
as soon as possible, in my new mountain
home, and what better advice could pos
sibly give others than to do Just exactly
what j have found best to do for myself?
l found the PopUlists in Montana far
more numerous, active and enthusiastic
than I had anticip1 ted They count con-
fdent!y on being abe to elect their state
congressional, and at least a major part
OF their county tickets Only a chief JUS
tice a congressman and county officers
are to be elected there this fall
With hurrah for Sidney NJ. Owen, and
the rest CT our standard bearers, 1 remain
firmly attached to The peoples cause and
its excellent exponent, "The. Representa-
tive Fraternally,
EDWARD LARSEN.