The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-04-07
NO. 100
WHAT 1T is DOING.
Donald Bradford of the state Land Com.
mission Writes to an Eastern Party.

Donald Bradford of the State Land Com.
mission Writes to an Eastern Party
In reply to letter of inquiry from
Edward L. Fleming Of Philadelphia,
asking for information about the agri-
cultural possibilities CT the state and
the chances for one of small means and
plenty of energy and thrift to get along.
Donald Bradford, vice president of the
state arid land commission, has written
a very clear and instructive reply.
The letter should be given wide circula-
tion as it explains what the comm ission
has in mind and how it hopes to make
the arid section of Montana blossom
as the rose.' He says in part:
'There are numerous benches of
various areas lying along the Clark S
Fork, i'll Carbon county, possessing rich
soil and contiguous to ample water sup
ply for irrigation. The climate is such
that four crops Of alfalfa may be raised
in one season and fruit and vegetables
grow luxuriantly.
"The state arid land grant commits
sion believes that the Clark's Fork
valley is second to none anywhere in
every element necessary to support
prosperous community, or number of
communities, and it is ready. as soon
as a sufficient number of men have been
secured. to proceed to build canals or
bitches to reclaim the land.
1'The plan is to give employment to
the settlers themselves in the construc-
tlon Of bitches and to pay them in
trustees certificates. which will be
received in payment for water rights
and will be accepted by merchants for
supplies. These certificates will be
secured by all equal amount Of bonds
issued by this commission on behalf Of
this particular district, which, when
fully paid, will be cancelled. In this
way the Indebtedness Of any district
may soon be cancelled
II may say that when any individual
water right is paid for, the lien against
it, under the law, is cancelled, SO that
it will not subsequently be liable for
the debt Of the district. The commits
sion will sell wafer rights at cost which
shall include actual construction, engi-
neering, interest OH bonds at six per
cent per annum and the districts pro-
portionate share of the expenses Of this
commission, which will be slight.
After construction the state will own
and operate the ditch delivering to each
his share of the water at the cost of
operating and maintaining the ditch,
which will be small
1.-The land is part of the Grow
Indian reservation recently thrown
open to settlement and can only be
had by settlers themselves under the
homestead act, and by paying 81. SO per
acre. one.half at the expiration Of one
year and the balance at the end of two
years. Iwish you could secure Is or
20 families in your region or elsewhere
and communicate with me as soon as
practicable.
'It is our hope that the papers of
each county will head grand move
ment to build up their own county and
together the whole state. The COM
mission can only organize and guide
with the active aid of the citizens of
community. 1t cannot provide the
funds for preliminary expenses. This
must be done by those who expect to
secure portion of the population now
heading this way. The commission
would like to hear from any and all
who may be interested in this work -