Fergus County argus., 1902-01-15
The Agricultural Wealth Of Montana
is Immense and Cannot be
Estimated.
ITS WONDERFUL POSSIBILITIES
Irrigation is Now the Leading Feature
Farmers Institutes Hold Sue.
eessful Meetings.
(Helena Record.)

Il NOullOl vi NhN AholANuNSo WAC phlN'
ed in the hands of an administrative
board, the members of which were
selected with the object OF represent.
ing as far as possible the leading ag.
ricultural industries of Montana. The
purpose of the institutes, as the act
expresses 1t, is ito present to those in
attendance the results of the most re.
cent investigations in theoretical and
practical agriculture"
Farmers institutes have been held
in various farming communities of the
state during the past few years under
the auspices of the Montana expert
ment station, but there being no fund
available for such purpose. no rec
ords were kept of the proceedings.
The state appropriated last March ST.
600 which will be sufficient TO pay
for the recording and publishing OF
most valuable part of the Information
presented. as well as TO defray the
actual expenses OF the principal speak
ers.
In a bulletin just issued by A. L.
Stone, president, and S. Fortier, secre-
tary, OF the administrative board, it
is stated that while the sum appropri-
ated by the last legislature is too
small to allow the board to compen-
safe institute speakers for their SER
vices, it is hoped that all who have the
welfare of the commonwealth at heart
will support the movement.
Referring to the agricultural re-
sources of Montana, the Bulletin says:
The wealth which nature has stor-
ed up in the rich soil of Montana
cannot be estimated. 1t is now called
the Treasure state on account of the
value of its minerals, but the time
will come when the hay. grain, fruits
and vegetables from the farms will
be worth tenfold more than the gold.
silver and copper from the mines.
A few years ago Colorado was only
a mining state. II is still chief pro-
ducer of the precious minerals, but
the value of its soil products now far
surpasses those of the mines. The
same change is taking place in this
state. For the next fifty years our
mineral output is likely to increase
but the rate of increase will be small
in comparison with the products from
the farms.
''In all this broad state with $4,000.
600 acres still unsurveyed there is
really little waste land. Nearly every
acre will yield. in the time to come.
its tribute to the thrifty husbandman.
The elevated ranges with their snow
capped peaks, which congress is set
ting apart and carefully guarding
against forest fires. may yet prove to
be our most valuable possessions.
Here will be stored for ages to come
the fuel and lumber so necessary for
the farm home. These rugged ranges
will also pay each growing season an
enormous dividend to the industrious
irrigators in the form of melted snow
This annual tribute from the noun.
tain to the plain will water more than
a quarter of a million forty-acre tracts
and each iorty-acre irrigated farm
may be made to produce much more
than the same acreage in Illinois OF
Iowa.
"Threefourths of Montana will al
ways be found above the irrigation
canal. On these fertile bench lands
with a soil of unknown depth there
are now raised without irrigation
grains OF excellent quality and many
kinds of legumes and vegetables
These uplands will also be the pas
ture lands for millions of domestic
animals. The live stock industry OF
Montana is in it's infancy, and yet
today more than one-tenth OF the to
tai number of sheep in the United
States are feeding on its nutritious
grasses.
Farming in Montana has been prac
ticed only a lew decades and during
this short period irrigation has be
come the leading feature. AS the nat
uTat resources are developed the i'm
postanee OF this subject will increase
rather than diminish and ii is safe
to assert that one hundred year.
hence irrigation Will be the chief fac
tor in the industrial wealth of the
state. We are now laying the founda
tions on which future generations vii
build. 1t is important that we adop
at the start wise laws in regard tC
the appropriation, diversion and use
of water. More information Is need
ed. Little is known Of the water sup
ply. irrigahle areas, canals and wate
rights OF the state. The Legislative
assemblies of Montana have done Iii
tie to improve the status of irrigation
few attempts have been made towarl
legal settlement of water rights ant
controversies are arising which ma!
take years of litigation to unravel
The agricultural prosperity of thu
state depends to large extent on ir
rigation and 1t is important that irri
gators meet at county institutes ant
discuss It in all its various phases.
In concluding the Bulletin says:
I'VE appeal to the merchants of thu
country towns, the boards Of count!
commissioners. newspaper editors