Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-07-17
SOMEMHAI VISIONARY.

nation of the arid lands of the western
states by the federal government. he
closes by saying:
"Of all the acts enabling men to ac-
quire federal lands, there never has
been one that would compare with the
desert land act in the opportunities it
affords for the commission of fraud, 1t
was framed 10y the benefit Of capital
iSts, and ia the main has been used in
their interest since the days when the
California millionaire attempted TO ac-
quiro the most OF southern California.
f. has, from start 20 finish. been the
means OF committing unlimited fraud.
rs hut few final proofs have been legally
made under tbisact. In my opinion no
step, should be taken looking TO the
reclamation Of the arid west and It's
settlement until the desert land act has
been stricken from our statutes andthe
issuing Of land script Is no longer per-
mittcd
While IL Is true that in many IN.
stances The desert land law has not been
ullv complied with in taking up land
the same can also bp said of the require
mcnts Of the homestead act. However.
we believe it has been the policy Of the
government. and a wise one. TO put the
mos, liberal construction upon the land
laws. giving considerable latitude toin-
duce the settlement and occupancy of
sgch land. II this were lot the ease
these lands would have remained UNI
claimed for many years to come and
Montana would have still been the
abode of Indians aud wild animals in
stead Of the home of n prosperous and
happy people. paying millions yearly
for the support of county and state gov
eminent. II requires some courage and
many self denials to go into a trackless
wilderness and make a new home and
those who do so aIe entitled TO every
encouragement on the part of the gen
eral government. even if the land laws
are not complied with to the letter.
And in doing this the desert land act
has been just as essentialin building up
Montana in all Of her industries as any
other act for the procuring of land,
.H., 10 sl.F. "a ,a Gnt,,a a1ttEaG WttlAttt
the advantages of the desert land act
the stock interests of Montana would
not be a tenth part of what il is today,
and the instances are rare where it has
in any way deferred settlement by
those who wish to make agriculture a
special feature. Whatever interesting
have prompted the passage Of the des-
ert land act originally 1t Is not true that
capitalists have been its chief bcne-
6ciarics in Montana. unless 1t is claim
eel that many men. who started almost
without n dollar. found IL necessary TO
get more and to produce feed for
their flocks and bands. are capt
%talists. They were poor men when
they commenced and If il is a crime TO
accumulate property and get rich. then,
of course. Montana has n good many
! criminals.
Can any man say that it has not
proven beneficial to the state. To cities
and towns and to all classes of people
in having these lands taken up. fenced
and. in many instances, well supplied
with water. thus increasing their pro-
ductivcncss and insuring feed for rat.
tie and sheep? Isn't it better TO do this
now than wait for national irrigation?
We believe it is better. even If all the
requirements regarding water are not
complied with.
When men have paid Sl.25 an acre for
desert land. purchased bnrbed wircand
posts and gone to the expense Of enclos-
ing the land. and made other improve
ments. the land costs them every cent
1t Is worth. and i'm some instances a
great deal more. The government price
Cor the bare land is even more than that
charged by the tranScontinental rail
roads for their lands.
There Is q good deal of rot written
and said about irrigation by the gem
eral government. Everyone recognizes
the necessity OF rcclaiming as much of
the oridpublic domain rs possible. All
want farmers and settlers; the more the
merrier. They are the bulwark OF the
country. But there j. n limit TO the
land that can lee reclaimed even by
Jgely SANS strong boN WHOM he secs
III Co net, which will Tot bc in a rush.
Available water and The topography Of
the country must be- taken into consid-
Grafton. There are millions OF acres in
Fergus county that cannot and never
viii he reached by any system of irri-
CATION. For instance, how could that
vast region lying between the Judith
and Moccasin mountain ranges and the
Missouri river be reclaimed By n rrscr-
voir or any other water system, except