The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-09-04
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4. 1907.
LAND AWAITS SETTLERS.

The federal authorities are said 70
be disappointed over the lack OF de-
mand for lands covered by the Hunt.
ley irrigation project in eastern Mon.
tana. There are about 500 elaine
awaiting settlement, very few OF those
who drew prizes in the land lottery
having filed upon the lands to which
they we're entitled. The tract is now
open to the general public for settle
ment, but the anticipated rush OF set.
tlers has not yet materialized.
In explain alton of this lack o! de.
mand for Huntley lands, it is sug-
gested that the smallness of the farm
units, most of them averaging forty
acres of irrigated land, is responsible
for the apathy shown in fling, most
Of the farmers of the Yellowstone val.
ley possessing several times that
amount. Others claim that the length
Of time it takes to get title to the land,
five years, is responsible for the small
number who have filed.
The failure of the lottery plan Of
securing settlers for the Huntley pro.
ject is the subject of comment by the
Yellowstone Journal, in which it ex.
presses the opinion that most Of those
who took part in the drawing had no
intention ofi6ling upon the land. 1t
explains the situation in these re-
marks:
Notwithstanding that it was declared
again and again inithe public prints,
over the official sign atures OF those in
authority. that the person who drew a
chance to enter a farmlunit could MOI
cell that chance, could not assign it.,
could not profit through his "luck"
in any way but by making his entry
and settling himself down to a term of
residence and GUILTY. alton Of his farm,
there was still q very large percentage
OF spplicationsImade by people who
thought they could clip the cut on
Uncle Samlaudlproft Immediately by
his foolish generosity. Anyone who
read the list Of successful applicants
u published and who enjoy a reason.
ably wide acquaintance in eastern
Montana could safely declare that
''here, and there again. were appli-
csnts who would never Gill; 1t
was q sinch when you read the name
OF q ''ne'er do well' in the list OF the
favored ones. that he would be on the
market before night with his ''rights, -
which he would persist in believing
bad q marketable value.
Whether these people who never in-
tended to file have been the means Of
crowding out real homeseekers, as the
Billings people seem now to feel, is a
question. 1t ie!also a question wheth.
er there vas not as large a percen.
tage of the sell-out people among the
outsiders as among u own thrifty
but over.confdent home folks. The
lottery plan OF itself suggests "easy
money and men, and women too, who
would regard an honest compliance
with the homestead law on a Huntley
farm as the equivalent of a term a,
Deer Lodge, went into this deal with
enthusiasm and confidence born Of
their Grass ignorance or credulity.
Doubtless the statement that only
fifteen or twenty per cent. Of the prize
winners called for their prizes will
have its effect ia the states east and
west OF Us, but there are q good many
people looking for homes just now
and no report can be forbidding
enough to stop them all. There will
always be a sitting of optimists who
will guess it amt SO" and keep com
ing. Smith will never get the claim
that God intended for Jones, ever
though Smith may have drawn" it
The country is not damaged irretreiv'
ably.