The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-11-26
|IRRIGAIfD LANDS
Vast Territory Being Reclaimed
In The West
IT INVITES SETTLERS
Excellent Opportunities For Those
Farmers Who Are looking For
Good Locations

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15-The gov
ernment wants to know why intelligent
well-to-do farmers from the Mississ-
ippi Valley, continue to flock TO the
Canadian wilderness to take up homes
under foreign flag while inviting
and attractive opportunities for set
tiers are still open on many of the
reclamation projects in the West.
While there has been a decided fall
| ing off in the movement from this
country into the Northwest Terri
tories, the number of desirable citizens
who are leaving the United States to
take up farms in Canada is large and
efforts should be made to divert them
to the several sections of our own
country where just as good, if not bet
ter. opportunities exist for the home
seekers.
The national government is big
land owner, but it does not advertise,
while Canada expends large sums an
nually for this purpose. Steps should
be taken at this time to acquaint the
homeseekers of this country with the
fact that within our own borders there
yet remain many desirable locations
for home builders.
Our great western region in soil,
climate and crop possibilities is su-
perior to the regions farther north.
It possesses better transportation fac
ilities and markets, is under our
own flag and is occupied by our own
people. It's development adds to our
national greatness and strength. Po-
tentially, it is the richest and most
fertile agricultural area in the world
and it is destined to become the CEN
ter of a vast population which shall
represent the highest ideals of Ameri-
can citizenship. No efforts should be
spared to exploit its advantages and
its opportunities.
Just at the present time the con-
struction of three national irrigation
projects has progressed to the point
where settlement is invited and a
large number of farmers from the
middle west have already taken up
new homes thereon. The letters re-
ceived from them by the statistician
of the Reclamation Service at Wash
ington indicate their satisfaction in
the change they have made and their
abiding faith in the wisdom of their
| choice in location. Two of these pro-
| jects are in Montana and one is in
northern Wyoming. Nearly 100000
acres divided in 40 and 80 acre farms
are now ready for homeseekers. These
farms are open to settlement under
the homestead act, subject to the pro-
visions of the reclamation law. The
soil and climate are such that with
the assured water supply which the
government guarantees, maximum har-
vests are insured. Intelligent farm
ing on these projects is rewarded by
larger returns than in humid regions
and the crop projects are as diversi-
fled as can be grown in the middle
West.
On the Huntley project in Montana
nearly 40 families CAME from two
townships in Iowa and their success
this year is certain to bring a large
number this winter and next spring.
Twenty families a month are going
on the Shoshone project in Wyoming,
nearly all of whom come from the
middle West. There still remain
farms for several hundred home-build-
ers on these projects, and the OppOr-
tunity is worthy of the careful con-
sideration of every man who is seek
ing independence and life in the
open, where a maximum reward is
assured for his labors.