Albuquerque evening citizen., 1907-04-13
HOME PROV|DER
IS ROLE Of
UNCLE SAM !
viii Soon Open For Settle.
ment First Lands Reclaimed
by Irrigation.

Are you seeking home of your
own?
Uncle Sam is concerned seriously
with the growing disposition of many
OF his best citizens to cross our
northern borders and take new
homes on the broad prairies of West
ern Canada. This summer he pro-
poses to invite the American home
seeker to inspect some very choice
lands in the United States which the
government has been making ready
for the settler.
Several million dollars have been
expended I'm constructing masonry
dams across great rivers, and in ex-
cavating hundreds of miles of canals
to carry water to thousands of farms
Broad areas have been laid out in
eighty-acre farms and on a date to
be set soon the government will de-
clare these farms open to entry TO
bona tide citizens
1t is probable that the opening will
be by a lottery i'm order to avoid the
rush, and every effort will be made
to eliminate the speculator, so that
the real home-seeker may have a
chance. Three big projects are about
ready for settlement The first Of
these three, and the most important,
is called the Huntley project
1t is located about twelve miles
east of Billings, Montana. and is
crossed by two great railway systems,
the Northern Pacific and the Burling-
ton, thus affording unusual facilities
for transporting crops The project
contains about 10000 acres of as
choice land as can be found anywhere
in the Northwest These lands have
10 all nj
er, which is a magnificent stream.
and the elevation of the country Is
about 5000 feet above sea level. The
government has built a highway par
allel to the railroad affording a di-
rect line of travel up and down the
valley. AT short distances along the
railways the government has laid out
town sites, and these are so located
that no farm is more than two and a
half miles from a shipping point AS
the farms are small. 40 and so acres,
a compact rural community is assured,
making possible graded schools. and
churches, and eliminating the isola-
ton and loneliness of the individual
ranch.
The soil of the region is of excep-
tional fertility, and when watered
produces beautiful crops. The rain
fall varies from nine to fifteen inches
annually, and is inadequate without
irrigation for the growing of farm
products. The climate and soil are
adapted to the growing of all of the
crops of the North Temperate Zone.
AS there is large range country sur
rounding this section, livestock rails
ing Is predominant industry, and
furnishes a first class market for al
falfa and hay. At Billings a sugar
beet factory is now in operation, and
farmers are increasing their acreage
in this crop, as It Is very profitable.
This factory is only twelve miles from
these farms and is reached by two
lines of railway. Apples and
small fruits are being raised success
fully, as well as sweet corn, tomatoes,
and melons. The dairying industry is
growing rapidly and cannot keep
pace with the demand.
When these lands are open to set
tlement there will be many oppor-
tunities for merchants, professional
men, and skilled and unskilled labor
erS
The Huntley lands are part of the
Crow Indian reservation which was
ced-d to the government. Settlers
will be asked to pay 81 per acre for
their farms, the first payment of 81
per acre falling due upon making the
filing, and the balance in four equal
annual installments. The govern
ment, in addition to this. will charge
the settler for the cost Of building the
irrigation works about $3.50 per acre
for ten years, after which the irrl-
cation system will be turned over to
the farmers. The cost of operation
and maintenance will be paid annual
ly, I'm addition to the charge for
building the works. The first pay
ment of $3.50 will become due as
soon as filing is made by the success
full drawer of farm. Irrigated
lands i'm this section have a value of
$75 to 5000 per acre, according to the
state of cultivation and the charac-
ter of crops grown. Alfalfa, the chief
crop, produces about five tons to the
acre and at present is worth 81 per
ton in the stack Sugar beets yield
from $50 to SIS per acre net, if prop
erly cared for.
Another large area of land to be
opened is in Northern Wyoming, in
the valley of the Shoshone river, on
the line of the Chicago, Burlington
and quincy. About 10000 acres will
be subdivided and ready for filing I'm
time for settlers to establish their
homes and get their land ready for
crops i'm the spring of 1908.
Plans are already on foot TO estab-
lish u beet-sugar factory in the val
ley. and special inducements will be
offered farmers to put in a large
acreage I'm this crop.
\ small unit Of this project COM
promising about 1900 acres. mostly
in the Fort Shaw military reser-
vation, will be opened to settlers this
summer. The area is tributary to
the city of Great Falls. one of the
most progressive communities in
Montana. In soil. crop and climate
the region is attractive. and there IS
certain to be a rush OF homeseekers
as soon as the secretary announces
the date of opening. Dairying, stock
raising and cultivation of sugar beets
and the growing of a wide variety
OF cereals and vegetables will occupy
the energy of the farmer. The mar
kets are particularly good as Great
Falls is a thriving manufacturing
city. The government Is hopeful
that all of the farms will be taken up
by high-class American agricultur-
lists
On all nf ,,rnfanty