The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-06-27

"a AoA6C dA0 AACANo vas GASA W JUL urge StOCk OWuelS Oke WIFI
disfavor upon cultivated fields. The small farmer was regarded an in
truder upon the range Of the large operator. All these opposing ee-
ments united, seemed to absolutely forbid hope Of securing aid from the
Government. But in passing ten years have witnessed wonderful
changes. Within that time the family of States has been increased from
thrtyeght to forty-fve and fourteen senators from the arid and semi
arid land states have been admitted to the upper branch Of the national
congress. Three territories in the same section are now claiming ad-
mission into the Union on meritorous grounds. About onethird of the
whole membership of the United States senate comes from states ji-
recty interested in this great question. This membership can exert a
commanding influence in behalf Of any object for which it stands united.
The power to do is now fairly secure. Under old conditions united ac-
ton would have been quite impossible but conditions have been radically
changed and are now in course of rapid change.
DnrIng the last eighteen months this nation has been aroused to the
consciousness of a new intellectual, commercial and industrial life. An
unsought and an unwdcomed foreign war was in the providence of God
thrust upon us while we were engaged in an effort to emancipate our
selves from the thraldom Of a long series of business Affections. The
north, the east, the west, the south, at once became the United States,
and every state stood ready and anxious to fight the nations battles on
land or sea.
That war and its glorious achievements may now be utilized by the his
its lessons and responsibilities we are to address ourselves, and the match
less opportunities it has opened up we must and will improve. Before the
and the markets of Europe. We were little more than passive observers
of the mighty struggle of the European powers for control of the enor-
nous commerce Of Asia, We had apparently settled down to Weld to
foreign merchants a profit on all our productions forwarded to Asiatc
as well as to other alien ports. The fates for the time seemed to decree
that this great nation should produce the wealth on which the worlds
traders were to grow rich through commissions sc large that our profits
could be but small. The most casual observer cannot fail to note the
remarkable change in our national purposes and current of thought.
This whole country west Of the Missouri is now looking with conf
dence from the surplus ridden markets of Europe with its two hundred
and fifty millions Of people to the awakening markets of the Orient with
western coast the body Of that market is reached within five thousand
miles over an open ocean in the temperate zone, whereas the same point
rs eleven IHOuSdH mlcS OHJHnL IIOm IVeTpOO Dy water course XConO
ing through the Suez canal and the torrd climate Of the gulf Of Alden.
The people Of China, Japan. Corea and the Philippine Islands are on an
average within five thousand miles Of our western coast. Their markets
are naturally ours. We behold England, France, Germany, Russia, italy
and many smaller European states actively moving around the globe to
near our shores. The people Of this country understand the situation
fairly wel-they have had some object lessons lately. Last year we
of flour which is but an entering wedge to a mighty trade in that staple.
This year Lam informed our flour shipments will reach two million four
hundred thousand barrels if ships can be found to meet the demands for
transportation. This will take twelve million bushels of wheat out OF
the surplus which weights the Liverpool market and determines the price
Of the worlds crop. The possibilities Of this -four trade cannot be fully
estimated. 1T will surely prove a boon to this state if timely dispo-
stions are made to meet the demand. This growing and practically un-
limited market west of the Pacific ocean for the agricultural products Of
the arid land states certainly removes the opposition Of eastern farmers
to the reclamation Of our arid lands I figure from observation and
such data as Government Investigations supply that twelve millions
of the ninety odd millions Of acres Of Montana soil can be irrigated by
comprehensive irrigation system, leaving over eighty million acres for
mountainous, tmbered and grazing lands: The twelve million acres
irrigated land would if all sown to wheat produce three hundred and
sixty million bushels of wheat annually which at current prices would
yield an income to our farmers aggregating about three times the total
ing in stubble, chaf and straw more feed for stock than the same acre.
age of arid land now produces. Heretofore we have had only a limited
local market for wheat and no; long ago it was raised chiefly for chicken
feed, shipment east being impracticabe because OF the long haul by rail
and consequent high traffic charges. What has been said OF wheat aP-
plies with force to nearly all products Of the farm. II we should raise
and feed stock exclusively our twelve million irrigated acres would pro-
duce sixty million tons of alfalfa, certainly worth for winter feed four
dollars per ton or two hundred and forty million dollars. We now have
in the state about one million head Of cattle and from beef sales we re-
ceive about ten million dollars annually. From our three and a halt
million sheep we obtain annually on sales Of wool and mutton about
five million dollars or an aggregate OF fifteen millions per annum from
these chief sources .. revenue to the ranchmen. Yet with these com,
paratively Limited stock interests we hear the ranges are overstocked, the
winter 1eeQ poor anu eHs au sIA HueaSLns' WILL -
irigable lands reclaimed and our eightyfour million acres of pasture
above the canals and reservoirs, used only for summer range, who can
compute or capacity for grain growing and stock raising? We live in
the best watered drainage basin in the United States # not the best OF
equal extent on the globe. We are commanded by our every interest to
unite to bring about the most enlightened possible development Of our
bountiful resources at the earliest practicable date, and to that end !
ask your earnest cooperation as an association and likewise as individuals
Give the delegation in Congress from Montana the potent force OF q
united and active constituency speaking through town meetings, conven..
tions and public press in favor Of the prompt construction by the National
Government of the requisite canals and reservoirs for the diversion and
storage of the waters which now leave our desert lands to become a de-
stroying force in the states below us.
Our country is entering upon an era Of progress for which / warrant no
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