The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-08-23
NEW ERA BEGINS.
Important Step In Direction Of Greater
Agricultural Development.

Important Step In Direction Of Greater
Agricultural Development.
While we all know that as a farm
ing territory this portion of the yell
lowstones valley may be said to be
Wlthoutaequal in the state, from now
on, however, we may begin to reckon
the date of actual permanency and
the beginning of an era that is bound
to- add greatly to our success and
prosperity" So said T. A. Williams,
clerk OF the district, yesterday. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Williams said:
The reason l have for believing so
IS That settlers are now beginning to
locate land in localities heretofore
neglected. If you will take a look at
the maps and plats in my office you
will observe that the higher bench
lands are being filed upon in a rapid
manner. By the higher bench lands I
mean those lying at a greater eleva-
ton from the river than those now set
tied and which were taken by the first
corners because of the ease and cheap-
ness with which water could be in
troduced onto them. The time has
practically passed when lands in the
bottoms may be secured by original
settlers. Those who now want to be-
come land owners and have not the
means to pay big prices for farms
that may be for sale must content
themselves with going to the shelves.
OF the valley and make their filings.
OF those who make these filings.
do SO with the belief that the time
is coming when men with capital suf-
fcient will undertake the construction
OF bitches having their sources at
points high enough to water the lands
not now approachable by the existing
bitches. Their faith is well found
ed, for already l know of one instance
where parties are figuring on a ditch
to supply the lands on the bench on
the south side of the river, and every
reason exists for believing that they
will be successful.
Even under the existing conditions
it is possible to raise crops on those
lands; not large ones, of course, but
yet something can be raised on them
and they are not without value as til
liable lands. With water on them
these lands will soon prove more val
liable than those lying in the valley
proper. They contain less alkali and
more sand and nitrates and conse-
quently possess to a greater degree
the elements required of good agri-
cultural land. The soil is warmer
because Of it's peculiar composition. /
and will produce heavier and better
yields of almost all kinds of grains
than those lower down.. While the
owners of the bottom lands will al
content themselves with. the
production of crops intended more for
than any other purpose, those
On the high lands will go in more for
general. diversified farming and they
will be the one who will add the,
most to the wealth of the valley.
They may be said to be of a differ
class of farmers than the
Did settlers, and while no more
desirable, yet they will do more cal
to benefit the entire county
because they will open sources of
wealth which are now closed
Il am satisfied that within a very
short time both the farming popula-
ion and the number of farms in the
county will be more than doubled and
Ill because Of the new conditions
which | have attempted to briefly de-
The best lands we have, in.
ny opinion, are those on the beach
IS which are now being taken UP and
which will soon be under ditch. This.
opinion, I think, will be borne out by
lctual conditions as they are bound
o exist before long.
''The bench lands Of the Yellow
tone valley are the ones destined to
made the valley a really great farming
egion and those who are now taking
hemSuD are showing the best of wis
[om and due regard for the future
W.. -. E&sNN. -hTN i@