The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-02-07
DISCUSSION OF SQUARE
MILE HOMESTEAD BILLS
Great Future for the West Depicted
by Congressman MondeiI.

~ S0t9ISooftdu mOfi1Gns
Whether $40 acres as a homestead
shall take the place of 16O acres is s
question which is being discussed
before the Public Lands Committees
of the Senate and House. Statements
have been made showing that a
, square mile is not too much to allow
a man in certain states of the west
/ and that $50 acres is to little. An in
teresting argument was made last
Friday before the House committee
by Representative Mondell, of Wyo-
ming, chairman of the House Irriga-
ton Committee, in which he took de
cided ground against any hasty leg
islation on this subject.
Congress passed a law on this
question last session including the
land of western Nebraska" He said,
with the understanding thai it would
be in the nature of an experiment
After a fair trial there, and a careful
investigation of its results. it may be
wise-may be wise l say-uo enact
similar legislation for other limited
localities: but to forthwith apply the
plan to great areas of the west at this
time. would be a dangerous thing. The
NohroCla 1ouy hoe hAnn in No cnnCn
a demonstration as yet"
Mr.. Mondell stated that he had
made four or five long railroad trips
throughout this part. of Nebraska and
he had observed no indications of set
tlement under his law. He saw no
new houses nor no evidence of in
creased population. He admitted that
there are a vast areas of the west
which can eventually be classified as
grazing lands solely, irredeemable be
yond any process of irrigation. better
farming methods or through the in
PRODUCTION of new arid land crops.
but he said. I'VE are in no condition
at this time and will not be for many
years, to in~telligently classify all
these lands. There is a great advance
being made on the desert today. by
which newly discovered crops and
methods of culture are constantly
making productive and will reclaim
millions of acres which a few years
ago were supposed to be absolutely
unfit for crop growing. 1t would be a
mistake TO condemn any of
Of these lands which will as agricul-
tural science progresses more and
plore. become suitable for homes. to
Indefinite stock grazing"
AS an illustration. he stated that
in his own county of Weston, lying
west of the South Dako-
IA line. some Il years ago a start
was made by himself and friends to
crow grain without irrigation. These
agricultural" operations were look
I'd upon by the cowboys as a great
Joke. The section was a Cow oun I
and dry land farming-well
here was not even a question that
t would succeed. Now a quarter of a |
bushels of grain and 25. 900
Of vegetables are produced
% bushels per acre-and in Crook
county to the north, and also west
If h South Dakota line the crop
without irrigation is much
more. In the northern half of Weston
twelve years ago an almost
lnbroken range, there is now an av-
of between two and three farms
IN every square mile. This" he said,
shows the advance we have made
n twelve years. Why have we any
'eason to believe that We will not
as great an additional advance
n the coming twelve years and bring
ands under cultivation which are
low looked upon as worthless for
arming?
1T is not" he said, that there is
change in climate, but a change in
class of farmers: not a change in
he soil. but in the class of crops
srown. A considerable portion of
his land included in these GAO acre
bills will be found during