Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-10-05

is largely similar in topography to
western North Dakota, are we'll set
forth in letter of w. w. Jermane to
the Minneapolis Journal from Billings.
Writing from there under a recent
date. Jermane says:
when Gen w. B. Hazen returned
from his trip over Montana, following
the Yellowstone, rolling through the
country where Billings now stands. he
said in his report to the war depart
ment, that it was the most unpromis-
ing territory he ever had visited.
Speaking unofficially, he said to his
brother officers that even the jackrab-
bit. whengetting ready for trip across
the great plains stretching on either
side of the Yellowstone, had to pack
his grip with food and drink General
Grant came In later years, when the
golden spike was driven in the com
pletion of another great railway en-
terprise. He met here several old
time Galena friends. to whom he spoke
in the most skeptical words of the flu
ture of the country. He thought it
could produce absolutely nothing along
agricultural lines, and that its value
for grazing was being over estimated.
Standing near the track where the
golden spike was to be driven. was
small shed covered artistically with
wheat, freshly cut. Grant asked
where the wheat was raised; how far
away it was from home; and what it
had cost to bring it to Billings. When
told that it was raised on farm not
far from where he was standing. he
thought it joke Finally he was put
into a buggy and driven out to the
farm. where he saw the new stubble.
II acknowledge the wheat. If not the
corn" he said 81 didn't think you
could do it"
And that has been the prevailing
feeling regarding agriculture in Mon
tana for years-in fact. from the be
ginning. Colorado and Utah had de-
monstrated the possibilities of irriga
ton beyond dispute, and were extend
ing their irrigated territory year after
wear. and producing the finest crops
ever grown west of the Missouri But
this meant little to Montana, for the
&c
west and Illinois was a nearer neigh
bor than Colorado The early settlers
here outside of the mining counties
were stockmen. and the state has ever
since shown the trend which they gave
it. Billings, for instance, the seat OF
Yellowstone county, one OF the rlchest
agricultural counties in Montana, Is at
the same time the largest primary wool
market in the world, and since 1881
has sent more than 14,OOO.Ooo POUNDS
of wool to eastern centers. Agriculture
has been making its way slowly, put
its progress now is to be more rapid
Grazing is not to be abandoned, WOOL
is still to be shipped in large quaint
ties. but irrigation is to develop the
small farm Already about 6o.ooo
acres are under irrigation. for agrlcul-
ture. in the rich valley of the Yellow
stone. near Billings. Next year II is
said that 25.000 more acres are to be
reclaimed. When the time comes 1oi
the opening of the great Crow agency
to settlement. many thousands more
Of rich land will be available for lrrl-
cation. The country around Billings
gives promise of supporting a large
population
The business men of Billings believe
that the next ten years are to witness
a radical change in the character OF
farming in Montana Gradually the
big cattle ranges are being cut dowI
and the herds reduced in number. The
principle live stock industry in this
vicinity for years has been sheep rails
ing This has now reached its maxi
mum, it Is thought, and IN rev year.
will possibly begin to show decrease
Should this be the case, it will no
be looked upon as an un1aVorapl'
omen. Irrigation is just beginning u
take firm hold on the people. TheN
propose to reach out and do more o
it, and to turn their attention to 1t a.
never before. Thus. with the passing
away of the cattle ranges, and th'
limiting Of the sheep herds VIII COM
the spreading out of the small farm
and the rapid increase in the popuIa
ton which irrigation always brings
This change is just now being fei'
Montana is on the border of 1t. Sh