The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-05-02
IN RESTRICTED o Il
President Of Montana s~tocksrokers'
Association on LEASING.

President Of Montana atocksrokers'
Association on Leasing.
Captain Joe" Brown, president OF
the Montana Stockgrowers' associa-
ton and member of the state board Of
Irrigation, was at Helena a few days
ago and submitted to the inevitable
interview. He expressed himself as in
favor Of the leasing proposition, but
under certain conditions, realizing, he
said, that the overlooking and On
ficts between sheep and cattlemen
are calculated to work to the detri-
ment Of the range interests. At the
same time he also agrees with the ad-
vocates Of increased settlement, say
ing he fully appreciates the fact that
the state needs more settlers.
There are vast areas Of land in
the northwest that will lever he fit
for anything but range" he said.
"Such land could be leased to cattle
and sheepmen, without infringing on
oOLtAOl6 16uCS In uOlDCSJCdu priv"
ilege is sacred, but the homesteader
has no use for the kind OF land that
requires 20 acres to pasture a steer.
l am opposed to illegal fencing. Either
the fences now up should come down
or receive the sanction of the law by
leases. Montana is on record for a
just and equitable lease law, which
will protect the interests Of rich and
poor.
There is plenty u room for both
range and granger interests in Mon
tana, but the latter must look to the
opening of the Indian reservations.
In the Big Horn valley are vast
areas suitable for farming, as soon as
the Indlans have been bought out.
The Grow reservation is an ideal spot.
The Tongue valley is too narrow for
large irrigation operations, but the
great Yellowstone valley offers an in
viting field for investment. Here,
however, effort by Uncle Sans or
combined capital will be necessary.
Eventually great water companies
will spread the moisture now rushing
down the Yellowstone wastefully
over the adjacent valley, and create
vast agricultural wealth,
Fifteen per cent of the total area
of Montana can be irrigated by in
dividual effort. but if the federal gov
eminent could be induced to make
irrigation a national enterprise this
area could be increased to 40 per cent.
Private enterprise can never water
our fertile uplands but Uncle Sam
could accomplish that feat. / am a
practical irrigator myself and have
1000 acres under ditch. No, / do not
raise alfalfa, preferring blue joint. It
does not yield as ~abundantly as al
falfa, but for feeding purposes one ton
Of blue joint is as valuable as three Of
alfalfa"
"How about reseeding the ranges?'
was asked.
rot" retorted the captain disgust
eddy. "a lot of down east agricultural
editors and college professors who
never saw the range are responsible
for that drivel. The only way to re-
seed the range IS to give it a rest. The
grass will soc regain its pristine
vigor. II we should have another win
ter like 1867 the range will get an
opportunity to ~recuperate. Cattle
raisers up here can, however, save
range grass by w~intering a part Of
their herds. / have been handling my
she stuff that way for three years
past"
AS a member of the state board of
Irrigation Captain Brown is greatly in
terested in that problem. By irriga-
ton he believes enough hay can be
raised to quadruple the carrying
capacity of the ranges and at the
came time avnrt Ovnrcr0wdinp a