The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-10-25
UNCLE SAM, REAL ESTATE AGENT.

e'b A-N A~oS
The United States government is
engaging in the real estate business.
In connection with the big irrig alton
systems contemplated in various parts
OF the west, it proposes to plat town.
sites at suitable points and sell lots
to the highest bidders, the proceeds of
such sales to be apportioned to the
reclamation fund. a bulletin issued
by the geological survey makes this
reference to sales of town lots that
will soon be made in Idaho:
Uncle Sam will soon act as sponsor
out in southern Idaho for great events.
The birth of two promising towns is
expected: not twins, however, for they
are seven miles apart and the first will
be born and christened a week before
the second. Names have already been
chosen for them-Heybur n for the one
whose natal day will be November H.,
Rupert for the one that will look back
to November II as the day OF its Off.
cial beginning. On these important
days a sale of town lots will be made
under the benign auspices of Uncle
Sam.
Already the town sites are being
surveyed and laid off into precise lots
with proper streets, diagonal avenues,
public squares, and reservations for
municipal purposes hat belong to the
City Beautiful. Tidings Of these pre-
liminaries and rumors of the coming
auction have spread throughout the
west, and hundreds OF intending set
tiers are %anxiously awaiting the an
nOuncement of the dates of sale. Some
who fear to lose q bargain have al
ready encamped on the ground, where
they have erected temporary houses
and stores. The lots will be appraised
and sold for cash to the highest bid
ders.
These two towns will be situated on
the newly constructed branch OF the
Oregon Short Line extending to Twin
Falls. This country is now a desert,
but when the irrigating canals which
the government is now building at a
cost of more than 8 1000, 600 are COM
pleted, it will be a land of milk and
honey, OF waving fields and verda ant
pastures. Men of Imagination who
need only the background on which to
paint their mental pictures have filled
In all the pleasant lines and lights,
and will come from Utah, Colorado,
Nebraska, even from Iowa and Mis-
souri,, probably from Oregon, Wash
ington and Wyoming to claim thei,
own. 1t Is expected that the railroads
will make special rates for homeseek.
ers from points east of the Mississippi
river.
The proceeds of the sale of the town
lots will go to swell the reclamation
fund, and an attempt will probably
be made to spend them on the con
struction of systems Of municipal water
supply and sewage for each town.
The proceeds Of town lot sales in Ok.
lahoma we're expended by the secre-
tary OF interior in the construction of
school houses, bridges, court houses,
water works, and sewage systems. II
a similar policy prevails in this case,
the value of lots in Hepburn and Ru.
pert will be greatly increased.
1t is expected that the returns on the
sale OF lots in these Idaho towns will
be even greater than the returns on
the sale of town lots in Oklahoma. In
the case of LawtOn alone over $500, OOO
was realized, while the returns on sales
in other parts Of the territory brought
the sum up to more than 500, 900. The
conditions in southern Idaho are su-
perior to those which existed in Okla.
hOma, because of the fact that the SUR
rounding country is subdivided into a
large number of farms, each Of which
will be provided with water by the ca
nal now under construction. The eli.
mate of this region is unrivalled by
any that has been more praised in
song and story. An increase in land
valuesswould seem to be as assured
as are the funds with which Uncle
Sam will pay the expenses Of develop
ing this hopeful region.
PoStOfficc Tunnel completed.