The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-08-19

been their influence In her develop
ment, and while they r yet far from
their maximum output and value,
must soon take a second place in the
states It is Montana's des-
tiny to be one of the richest agricul-
tural states in the union. As the agri-
culture of Colorado, now the foremost
state in the production of precious
metals, has already outstripped her
mines, so in a few years will Mon
tana's farming lead her mines.
With lands of SURPRISING fertility.
in which agricultural plant food has
lain stored for centuries, with no
drenching rains to leach them away,
and with a magnificent water supply
from the rain and SHOWS which fall
upon the high peaks and water sheds
OF the continental divide, Montana's
fat cattle and sheep, splendid fruit,
heavy grains and varied agricultural
products will become widely famous.
Great Agricultural Wealth.
"The next ten years." said a promi-
nent official of the government recla-
mation service, in speaking of the
great present and coming development
of the far northwest, will see Mon
tana lead all the western states in. the
area of her irrigated land. Her agri-
cultural future is assured and brilliant.
She has the land and she has the
waterfall that are needed in the arid
region to produce fabulous wealth"
Montana has an area equal to that
of France. She has, it has often been
stated by various authorities, with all
her great water supply, conserved and
made to irrigate her rich lands, room
for as dense a population as that OF
France. -
Over three-fifths of this great state
is drained by the Missouri river and
it's big tributaries, such as tire Vel
lowstone, the Jefferson, the Milk river
and other branches. Strong rivers
these are, rushing down out of their
fastnesses-the Absaroka, the Snowy,
the Big Horn and the Wind river
ranges-where, at elevations of 5000
to 10000 and II, 1000 feet the SHOWS
are perpetual, melting under the sum-
mer suns and furnishing a constant
water supply, especially in the late
summer when it is most needed for
irrigation.
Much has already been accomplish
ed by cooperative effort in irrigation
among farmers. The irrigated area.
according to the census figures, has
increased during the past two years
at the rate of about 100000 acres a
year, and now aggregates 1%,14O,OOO
acres. This has been accomplished
by the cooperation of small commun-
titles, and some of the most success
full examples are see at such places
as Hinsdale and Chinook in the great
VAI1h A4SO1 VOllOy, WuAOAO IoA A1O4S A0vO
combined, taking up land under the
fiveyyear homestead law and con-
structing their irrigation works,
thus owning the land and the water,
and paying no rent or tribute to water
companies Or water bond holders.
Small Cost Of Irrigated Homes. Z
Most of these works have been sim
pie diversion propositions, without
expensive dams, and the cost has been
very light, land reclamation averaging
according to the 1900 census but 1892
per acre. The opportunities are le-
gion where bands of 20 or 40 or 100
e~nterprising farmers with a little mon
ey and with their strong arms and
good teams may build diversion or
storage dams and lead the water out
upon 16O-acre homestead claims, build.
ing up homes upon the desert which
will make each and every nc OF
them prosperous and wealthy. The
great productivity of Montana's lands
is shown by the census figures. The
total amount invested in bitches in
Montana up to June /, 1900, was 81,
683, O73, while the total value of irri-
cation products for the one year, 1889,
was $7,23O,O42.
At the rate Of increase in farming
and irrigation in the state during the
last census decade the next 10 years
will see Montana's cultivated area
trebled, If not quadrupled, even leav
ing out of consideration the vast recla.
nation works proposed by the fed
eral government under the national
Irrigation law.
Changing the Course Of Nature.
The project for storing the flood
aus -