The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-09-06
PARTY OF FOURTEEN I'm CHARGE
OF w. E. wERkMAN
ARRIVE.
ARE flOLLANDERS
More Than 25 Fs.ros on Billings
Bench Have Been Sold IS These
settiers-Many More Selling out in
East to Purchase Farms il lie Vel
lowstone Valley.

tSWSIoHG vdtSy. 556 H.
A party of IA tIollanders from the
farming sections " the middle Weat
arrived yesterday u charge OF ". E..
Workman, colonizat.cn agent FOR +lle
Billings Land & Irrigation company.
The party came from points along the
Burlington, the majority from Chicago.
Twice each month Mr.. Workman
brings these colonists from the east
to this city and the majority pur-
chase lands on the Billings bench.
There arapa good many families Of
them who are already farming on the
bench, having arrived here last spring,
and these have been instrumental in
bringing numbers of others here.
All of the new arrivals have been
engaged in gardening in the middle
states, and numbers Of those who ar
rived early in the season have return
ed east to dispose Of their property
and make arrangements to move here
this fall. More than % farms have
been sold to these colonists already
this season and twice as many more
have signified their intention Of buy
ing as soon as they can dispose OF
their property in the east.
Hollanders, 1t is said, are most
desirable class Of people for colonists,
as they are thrifty and natural tilers
Of the soil. They readily adapt them
selves to farming by irrigation and
are more than pleased with the coun-
try and the opportunities it offers to
the farmer. There are colonies OF
these people in other sections of the
state that have made a great success
Of farming, and those who are already
located here expect to raise great
crops next year.
In their native country sHollanders
reclaim land by drainage or taking
water off the land, while in this coun-
try they are forced to reclaim it by
irrigation, or putting water on the
land. Numbers of them have emf
grated to the United States in the
past few years and settled in the mid
die western farming states, but as the
tide of immigration moves westward
50 these people have followed. 0ppor
tunities not to be found in the east
present themselves in the western
country and the Hollanders are among
6he first to grasp them. The reverses
and misfortunes which have been en-
countered by other Hollander colon
lists in the west in years past have
not daunted the others, but as soon rs
the fact that there Is good farming
lands to be had in the west at reason
able prices is made known to them,
they seek opportunities Of seeing for
themselves. A trip to the country oft
times convinces them Of its possi-
bilities before looking over the land,
after which they are more than con
vinced that they can better themselves
by coming here. and after returning to
their homes in the east, make prepara-
tions to move. More than rs per cent
Of the colonists who have been brought
here this season have either purchased
farms or signified their intention OF
doing SO.
The benefits derived by q section OF
the country through having SO thrifty
a class OF settlers are inestimable.
Their thrift adds to the richness OF
the state. The results obtained through
their intelligent and economic way OF
farming add to the agricultural pro
duce Of community and since they
are great gardeners, they raise large
quantities OF garden stnfgs for the 10
cal market, which are at present be-
ing shipped In, In many cases. :
That they are a God Fearing class
OF people is proven by &he FACT that
one Of the first things done after 2
colony has settled IS to organize
church and after building . church
building secure q pastor. Already the
few that have settled here have made
arrangements for the establishment of
a church, and IL Is expected that 2
building will be constructed this fall.