The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-18
GOING FURTHER WEST.
Present Rush Of colonasts Bound for
Coast Points.

MI
Coast Points.
Messrs. Vermilye, Camp and North,
who left several days ago to make
connection with the colonists' excur-
sion run by the two railroads, have
returned. Mr.. Vermilye paid his at
~tention to the Burlington, while the
other gentlemen took the Northern Pa
cific. They made liberal distributions
of the advertising matter issued by
the Billings Land and Irrigation COM
pany and are confident of good results
in the future, Notwithstanding not
much was accomplished SO far as the
present is concerned.
The experience of one was that of
the other and each had the same re-
port to make. Mr.. Vermilye says thai
he found that about every one OF the
excursionists he interviewed was
bound for the extreme west and was
going to settle in some section Of
Washington or Oregon. Many had
previously been to the places select
ed by them; others had relatives there
who had SEN for them and again
Others going to fill positions
friends had secured for chem. A few
had tickets for points this side of
the Cascades, but only a very few. 1t
is expected that some of the later
excursions the companies are adver-
Using will result in bringing settlers
to this state. The earlier ones to
leave the east had all definitely de-
cided upon points near the coast and
it was a waste of time and energy to
attempt to interest them in Montana.
1t was also learned by the mis-
sionaries that spring is a poor time of
year to seek to induce men to settle
in this region. Nearly all engaged in
conversation by them said they were
seeking a country where there was
less snow and cold than in the locali-
ties they were leaving. The sight of
the snow now lying on the ground here
had a different effect upon them than
it has upon those familiar with the
conditions obtaining in this section.
Instead of welcoming it as a harbinger
of much needed moisture later IN,
they regarded it as an evidence of a
long continued winter and it only
intensified their desire to go further
west" Their glimpses Of southern
Nebraska and some portions of Iowa,
where ploughing is in progress, did
not put them in a frame of mind to
consider proposals to settle in a To-
cality where snow was still to be seen
and the air decidedly chilly. In
parts of Nebraska through which the
train passed Mr.. Vermilye said fires
were caused by sparks from the loco
motive, the grass being dry as tin
der. This pleased the colonists, who
accepted it as proof that they were
finally getting out of the regions
whose long winters had become a
to them.
The company is advertising this
portion of the Yellowstone valley in
a liberal ann in man places
throughout the middle west, a region
from which a majority of the prospec-
tive colonists are expected. Agents
have been appointed and generous
provisions made for placing advertise
ments in channels calculated to be
productive Of the best results. AL
ready it may be said that before the
is over a goodly number of
families will be settled on the land
the company is now preparing to-.
place under water. 1t is confidently
expected that the leaven now working
will make it's effects felt in a large
influx of settlers next fall, which is
the best time to invite new corners to
look over the field.