The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-23
SETTLING EASTERN MONTANA.

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SETTLING EASTERN MONTANA.
The rapid growth Of eastern Mon
tana has been n Of the marvels of
the settlement of the northwest. Prob
ably no section of the nation, under
similar circumstances, ever enjoyed a
more rapid increase In population.
Just how remarkable has been this
growth is shown. by the number of
persons, who have filed on homesteads
in Yellowstone county. According to
the records OF, the local land Office and
the Lewistown land Office, where fl
ings on land in the northern section
Of the county are made, probably no
less than 1000 homestead and desert
land entries have been made on farms
during the last is months. This num-
Der does not include the persons,
who have purchased dry land farms
from eastern promoters, who have
secured vast tracts IN Yellowstone
and neighboring counties and who
have brought no less than 200 families
to this section in the past few months;
nor does it include the 200 or 300
families, who have settled on irrigat-
ed land on the Billings bench; or the
large number of persons, who have
purchased improved valley land. Add
these to the number, who have taken
government land, and it will probably
show a total Of at least 5000 families
have taken homes In Yellowstone
county during the past 10 months, in
creasing the population of the farm
ing district probably I 5000, when the
women, children and hired help are
enumerated.
This is a most remarkable showing,
yet it does not show the entire In
crease Of population in the county,
for there are between 5000 and 5000
people, more who have moved into
the towns and cities Of Yellowstone
county during that period. Besides the
1000 or more settlers in the north
ern section Of the county, who have
filed on land through, the Lewistown
land office, there have been 1000 file
on land through the Billings land of
flee. 8 sIf
OF this number 518 have taken
homesteads, on land, formerly includ-
ed in the Grow reservation. Four
hundred and sixty-nine have taken
land outside the ceded portion OF the
reservation. OF this number 235 have
taken farm units on the Huntley tract,
leaving 1855 yet to be homesteaded.
That the amount OF immigration to
the government lands of this section
has been growing IL shown by the
increase in the monthly average Of
homestead filings at the local land
Office, the month of June promising to
eclipse all records. The settlement in
the past two months has been phe-
nomenal.
In May there were 10 filings on
homesteads not In the ceded portion
Of the reservation and in the first Is
days of June, 81. In May there were
% homesteads taken on the coded
portion Of the Grow reservation and in
the month OF June so far is. This
makes a total of homesteads taken In
this county through the local land Of
flee during the months OF June and
May of over 200. A recent dispatch
from Lewistown credited the land Of
Ace there with having received in
the neighborhood Of 300 filings dur
ing the month of May, thus making
nearly 500 homesteads that have been
filed upon in this vicinity in the past
so days.
When It is considered that each al.
ing represents q family the enormous
increase in population Of Yellow.
stone county. in the past two months
is apparent. The record is being kept
up for from five to 10 homestead Al
ings are recorded nearly every day
ct the present time.
Consider the increase in population
from this source, add the increase
from people, who have purchasedsp pat
ented lands in this vicinity, and it can
.be seen that the growth of this sec.
ton Of eastern Montana is greater
,.stss.y u. ,ss 81 .as 81 N ~ ~