Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-12-11
Large Number Of Delegates Present
President Roosevelts Views on
Irrigation Endorsed.
A NEW LAW RECOMMENDED
Whereby Settlers Can Take Up $40
Acres in Place Of 100 as Allowed
by Law at Present.

At the fifth annual congress Of the
National Live Stock Association, which
was held In Chicago last week, large
amount of business was transacted
an1 many interesting papers read by
specialists.
The annual address of J. W. Spring
er. president OF the association, was
read. which contained many refer
ences to the homestead law and sug
gestlons as to its amendment. EX,
tracts from the address were as ,ol-
lows:
I'VE believe in the proposition that
the federal government should go out
of the land business just as soon as 1t
is practicable so to do. We have in
the public domain ouly 5l6,ll3,46S
acres. unappropriated and unreserv'
ed, of which about 375 millions are
arid or semi-arid and fit ouly for graz
ing. We do not believe that this land
should be ceded to the states. We do.
however, favor the construction by
the general government great reser-
voirs in arid and semiarid districts
for the storage Of great bodies of wa
ter, which, in our judgment, will at
tract moisture and create greater
rain fall, which will initiate for the
betterment of the sun-burned ranges
over the western country.
I'VE believe that the homestead law
for the arid and semi-arid lands that
remain should be extended from l60
to $40 acres to any actual settler, In
order that such settler may make
living out of his holdings, which he
cannot do now on 160 acres that are
subject to homestead entry. This law
will aid in furnishing homes for thous-
ands of American citizens and will
tend largely to settle the disputes be-
tween the cattlemen and sheepmen
for the use of these lands for their
fiocks and herds. The days of the un-
fenced, uncontrolled public range are
about over, and this fact must be pat
ent to all unbiased citizens.
I'VE believe. further, that power
should be vested with the secretary
OF the interior to exchange with ac-
tual settlers such land as remains for
land Of equal value, thus enabling
them to solidify their holdings, to
fence their property. to provide water
and to foster the grasses. This will
place all breeders upon an equality
and enable them to add betterments
without fear of confiscation.
in connection with the disposition
of public lands, wish to call your at.
tention to the experiment made by
the great state of Texas. which in
1896 passed law offering the graz
ing lands OF that state to actual set
tiers on forty years time, at 3 per
cent interest, at 81 per acre. The re-
suit has been that thousands of citi
zens and settlers have purchased
lands, which were limited to four sec
tions to each settler, under the re
striction hat no title could be pass
ed until three years had been spent
| by such settler on the tract so pur
chased, and a house built and occu
pied. Texas has an enormous rev
enue as a result, and it has proved q
very great boon to the stock raiser
in that he can control his owr
range"
Frank p. Bennett of Massachusetts,
president of the wool association, de
scribed the proper method OF market
Ing wool.
He urged organization and cooper
alton on the part Of wool growers
saying that unless organization be
came general they might look in vair
for a union among wool growers Il
direct the wool trade of the United
States into channels advantageous tt
the growers. Combinations, he said
we're arising among merchants ant
manufacturers, but II they we're unit
ed. while the wool growers we're di
vided. the producers Of wool would
have all the disadvantages which
come from ruinous competition amoni
themselves. arrayed against combina
tion among the purchasers OF thei
product.
He urged as basis for organiza
tion the demanding for wool the sam,
recognition as a merchandise collat
eral that is now extended to othe
great staple products; the same ware
house facilities for wool that exist
for wheat, cotton and other staples
the establishment Of a standard an,
well recognized grades Of wool as tn
varied conditions OF the sheep hus
bandry would permit; to disseminate
information as to value and grade; I,
make advances and sell wools, and Il
secure advantageous freight rates.
| No industry in the United States
he said. had probably turned out s.