The daily tribune., 1908-11-11
A MECCA FOR n0MEsEEkERS

I hOmeEeekers from all parts or the
country are going there to take up
their new homes.
The Sun River Valley which is To-
Gated little west Of the center OF
the state on the eastern slope OF the
Rocky Mountains and near the city of
Great Falls WAS selected several years
ago by the reclamation service as
choice area for tho construction OF
stupendous irrigation work. The
work has progressed rapidly and sew
eral farms have been thrown open to
settlers on very liberal terms.
These farms will be obtainable un-
der the homestead law. subject to the
charges Of actual cost Of water upon
the number Of acres actually supplied
with water from the system. This
charge has been fixed at $50 per acre.
divided into not less than five nor
more than ten annual payments. The
sum Of $3 80 will be due and payable
at the time Of making entry. The
second installment will be payable
March 1. 1910, thus allowing early
settlers nearly two years before second
payment is due. In this period any
Industrious settler can get his land in
shape to earn its own repayment of
the charges.
An Interesting and unique feature
in connection with the project is the
proposed establishment of model rural
villages every 81. miles. In all there
will be 20 of these, SO that no farm
will be more then three miles from
postofIice and school.
All the crops which can be grown
in northern countries can be raised
here. 1t is probable that the princi-
pal crops raised will be alfalfa, sugar
beets and potatoes. Usually three
cuttings OF alfalfa are made annually.
Some have cut only two crops. and
others have cut four. but the average
is three. and the average yield about
five tons per acre. The present price
varies from Is to $l5 per ton in the
stack, according to location and de-
mand. 1t is not probable that the
average price will drop below IS for
many years. The cost Of putting the
hay into the stack is about $l25 per
ton.
The average yields per acre are
Potatoes, 228 bushels; wheat, 81
bushels; oats, 50 bushels; sugar beets,
20 tons.
Al garden truck is easy to raise
except tomatoes and some kinds easily
affected by frosts, though these with
care. may be grown sufficiently for
family use.
An ordinary ranch garden about
two miles from Simms in 1905 pro.
duced net profit Of t225 per acre
from the following kinds of vegeta-
bles, viz: Cabbage. potatoes. toma-
toes. squash. onions, pumpkins, car
rots, turnips, oeets and parsnips.
The sugar beets grown In the vicin-
ity have snalyzed over 28 per cent
sugar, The beet industry promises
great things and sugar factory is
assured upon the completion of the
works necessary to irrigate an area
large enough to guarantee five year
contracts on 5000 acres Of beets. Past
experiments prove that the farmer
should average net profit Of $40 per
acre Oh sugar beets.
1t is probable that the Sun River
Valley will prove An excellent dairy
country. A creamery was completed
in Augusta In January, 1907. and the
three or four others already in opera
tion in neigbboring towns show that
the industry Is profitable and Will be
permanent and growing Four and
third million pounds Of butter are
now imported annually from other
states. This means that over n mil.
lion dollars ought 20 be kept In Mon
tanA each year for butter.
Full details relating to terms, size
Of farm units and other information
regarding the method of securing
lands will be furnished on application
to S. b. Robbins, Engineer. u. s.