The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-10-02
VALUABLE PHASE
OF IRRIGATION,
How It Affects Both the East's
and the Vests Welfare.

0IlO lIE vVCSl , w ClIdi 6
HAS RECIPROCAL ADVANTAGES
Development Of Western Arid Lands
Makes Lively Markets For All Kinds
Of Eastern Products - Import Of
Desert Agriculture to Stock Raising
and Mining Interests.
BY MARK BENNlTT.
In view Of the fifteenth national
irrigation congress to he held in Sacra-
mento, Cal. on Sept. 81. inclusive. the
following article is Of timely interest:
One phase Of TIE development in the
west, under irrigation, has been but
little touched upon in the press. I
refer to the lively market which the
new communities make for all sorts
Of eastern products. The opening OF
100000 acres Of land to settlement
under irrigation is an event worthy of
celebration by national rejoicing, be-
cause it opens an opportunity for thoN-
sands of people. young, middle aged
and old, to make a new start In life.
The opportunities for making money
In mercantile lines are second only to
those in agriculture and horticulture.
There is work for men in all the build
ing trades that ordinarily find employ
ment in new towns. Many new towns
spring up, and the prosperity extends
to all the inhabitants. Then, by a
wider application Of the rule, the pros
perity of the west helps materially to
sustain the prosperity Of the east.
The best object lesson that I can
suggest for any n who doubts that
the east is benefting extensively by
the building up Of western irrigated
tracts is to visit the railroad freight
houses at stations on or near such
lands. There he will see large consign-
ments Of farm machinery and imple-
ments, bags Of seed grain, furniture In
great quantity, hardware Of every de-
scription, pianos In goodly number.
building materials by the carload,
barbed wire, woven fencing, wire net
ting, groceries and provisions, canned
goods, mercantile stocks and every
thing that is needed to supply human
wants, both the necessities and luxu-
ries. These things are bought not by
carloads alone, but by trainloads, and
usually they are cash purchases.
It is not an uncommon thing for a
retail dealer in a new town to turn
owe the equivalent Of his entire stock
every sixty days. Where business is so
active the profits are good and the
sales are for cash. Everybody has
money In a newly irrigated region.
The settlers usually bring enough with
them to make first payments on the
lands and the water rights, the irri
eating company spends large sums fol
teams, labor and supplies, and good
wages are the rule. Employment is al.
ways ut hand for those who come
without money, and all cash is kept in
rapid circulation. Besides the usual
retail stores for general merchandise,
furniture, hardware, drugs and gro
ceries, the new communities oon de.
mand a steam laundry or two, livery
stables, hotels and boarding houses
barber shops, lumber yards, banks
churches, a telephone exchange, rea'
estate and insurance Offices, law Of
fees, newspaper and printing Offices
and all else that goes to make com
plete towns. Brickyards often start II
and do a profitable business. Yards
for the manufacture Of cement build
Ing blocks are new and profitable en-
terprises. When harvest time comes
the buyers and shippers of grain an(
other farm products have business t.
do.
The opening Of 100000 acres under
irrigation warrants the plating of foul
or five villages. Each one will grow
in a few years to be a thriving place
In fact, thrift comes early to a new
town amid such surroundings, for NJ
country is SO rich in its possibilities a.
a reclaimed section of the desert. TIL,
railroad business done in one of thes'
towns where irrigation has called tn
people together In a new social or
ganization is astonishing to any on
who has not made himself familia
trated In the towns Of the Arkansa
valley from Pueblo eastward into Kan
sas. There is little If any land in tina
whole region which, having a good wa
ter right, can be bought for less thar
5000 an acre. Much of It Is held a
$500 and over. The towns Of Rock,
Ford, La Junta, Las Animas, Lamar
Granada, Holly and Garden City ar
all thriving centers of trade, most o
them having large factories for tn
manufacture Of beet sugar. 1t is onl,
a question Of time when the same cor
ditions must prevail in the newer re
gions and the land values must 60 t
the same figures.
I dropped into a general store in
little crossroads place a few mile
north Of Denver and fell into convel
sation with the proprietor. The sum Q
$1,000 would have covered the valu
Of his entire stock. A number Of Gus
toners We're making purchases, an
farm wagons were hitched at post