Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-06-28

pome uye ~ Jul "Vuy iiSopuSht hohoieu hit W an HNtdllo
TO address this Convention of stock growers upon the subject of irriga-
tin y 4 y
My appreciation of the privilege accorded me cannot but be increased
by the unusually large attendance of ladies and gentlemen who have
defed the inclement weather, that the occasion might be dignfed by
their presence. Before proceeding to discuss the important subject
which has drawn you to this meeting l beg your indulgence for a few
moments while refer to past incidents, and present conditions in this
State.
Thirtysix years ago Montana was unknown to the map of the United
States-less than forty years have come and gone since the country now
embraced in our splendid state was known only as the hunting ground
Of savage Indians. The barren waste of forty years ago is now the home
of nearly if not more than a quarter of a million of enlightened loyal and
prosperous people. The Indian and buffalo trails have yielded to great
transcontinental railways which with their numerous branches traverse
the state in all directions. Mines of unprecedented richness and value
have been developed and made to swell the sum of the nations wealth
to a fabulous degree. In this far northern climate and high altitude a
live stock industry has been built up which has challenged world wide
attention. In the early sixties the pioneer miners in dread of The winters
that were supposed to visit this region repaired to Salt Lake City or to
the far away eastern states in the autumn, and no one suspected for many
years that any domestic animal could survive a winter on the open range.
Accident led to experience. A few stray animals left. to perish, but found
fat and thrifty on the range the following spring opened the way for
the live stock ventures that have added so much to our material pros
perhy. We now have the accumulated experience of more than a third
of century to guide us. We know our mines of gold, silver and copper
have not been surpassed in strength IF richness and we know of the posi-
blites of our open ranges. We also know that conditions have changed
and are now rapidly changing. Evidences of change are nowhere more
obvious than in connection with our agricultural and stock raising inter-
ess. 1t will scarcely be questioned that the days of large herds on the
open range are numbered.
Cattle can no longer hide in the tall bunch grass. They must be fed
in winter or they will perish. The small bunch Of live stock kept on The
common in the summer and well cared for by the owner during the severe
weather of the winter is to be the order of the future. The sooner we
conform to the inevitable the better. The winter feed exhausted on the
range must be supplied on the farm or destruction will surely follow.
Here we encounter a difficulty of the most serious nature. There is not
irrigated land enough in the state to feed one-half the stock we now have
to say nothing Of the increase we should seek as a matter of healthy
normal growth. Yet it is a fact that practically every acre Of desirable
land in the state upon which an individual of ordinary means can con-
duct water fr. irrigation has been taken up and reclaimed to a great
extent.
Each and every day, worthy industrious people re passing through
Montana bound for Washington and Oregon in quest of farms. We can
not ask them to abide with us, unable as we are to point to a quarter Sec
ton of vacant land for which the average struggling farmer can with his
meagre means construct the long and expensive ditch or canal necessary
to bring the needful water to enable him to raise a crop. We have sub
at hand unless we devise some way out of the diemma We canaot main
tain ourselves al we are IL we would. Unless we arrange to move forward
we are bound to go backward. The mighty force Of the all devouring tax
will soon absorb our substance unless we keep adding to it.
Next October Montana will have been a state for ten years. 1t is not
my purpose to crhicise local or state administrations on this occasion but
l cannot refrain from calling attention to the t~houghtless and incon-
sderate manner in which our state and county governments have been
burdened by ever increasing salaried positions nearly every officer IS
provided with a deputy and then the deputy with one or more clerks to
do the work. The officer originally elected to perform the service thus
becomes a gentleman of leisure instead of working public servant. 1t
is rumored that an extra session of the Legislature may be called to
open up new sources OF revenue to meet the current expenses OF the state.
The rumor only concerns me as a citizen and taxpayer and in that
capacity 1 suggest that it might be as well to meet the emergency, if an
emergency exists, by cutting down expenses rather than by increasing
taxes. Our state machine is rapidly spreading out on the elaborate scale
of New York which has over six millions of people to our two hundred
and fifty thousand.
In every county in the state expenses seem to be increasing. The
taxpayer complains and groans under the increasing burden. In many
communities it is insisted that property is assessed above its market value
for purposes of taxation.
These conditions should admonsh us to take prompt and careful note
of our surroundings. A mere reduction in expenses will but tighten the
burden of taxation. We must expand our wealth producing capacity.
How can this be done IN a scale commensurate with our splendid unde-
veoped. resources is the question? / answer without hesiahon-by de-
veoping to the highest degree the agricultural and stock growing posi-
hlites of Montana. l yield to no man in proud appreciation Of our
great mining operations and mineral resources. Their output has been
our pride and our vtalzing force. But we cannot forget that mineral
once extracted will never be replaced in the ore. Each ton treated
brings us two thousand pounds nearer the end. The present gratifying
production of our mines may I hope continue and grow greater. The
interest in the future of our state from which that hope springs leads
me to likewise look with keen anxiety to our future in other directions
Admonished by the recorded experience of the ages am persuaded that
the enduring foundation of our permanent prosperity can only be reached
through a proper development of the great agricultural resources of the
state. To comfortable homes in the midst of cultivated fields near the
school house we must look for the forces and influences destined to make
this a great commonwealth. We have one hundred and forty six thous-
and square miles of land within the State, each square mile containing
six hundred and forty acres o an aggregate of something over ninetyfour
million acres. This vast domain is peopled by not more than two
hundred and fifty thousand persons. This small number scattered over
such a broad area makes the population rather sparse, and yet we cannot
hope for many more settlers until it becomes possible for individuals OF
average means to irrigate lands that are desert in character today.
A comprehensive system of irrigation must be provided. Three ways
are before us for consideration. Private capital working through incor-