The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-03-25
NEWOPPORTUNITIES
FORHOMEBU|LDERS
Vast Expanse Of Country Being lrri-
gated And Opened to Settlement
by the Government.


gion extending to the foothills of the
Rocky mountains, and from the Pan
handle of Texas northwest into Can
ada. 1t is known as the Great Plains.
For many years the vast region has
been utilized as public common.
cattle and sheep have had
free access to it and have overgrazed
it. Its administration is still one of
the most vexing problems before con-
gress. The pioneer of the Great
Plains was the cattleman. He farmed
but little, and from the nature of his
business and the methods of opera
ton, as a rule wanted no neighbors.
The real homebuilder, who under
took 20 subdue the plains to agricult-
ure. encountered mary difficulties. In
sections there was no timber and he
was forced to build his house of sod
or adobe He found the streams We're
not dependable they were dry in
summer when water was most needed
Nature, however provided an mex
haustible supply Of underground wa
ter. which the farmer pumped into
small reservoirs and then led to his
garden and orchard and supplied his
live stock. He harnessed the wind,
which blows almost constantly on the
prairies, and made it a cheap and use
full servant for his work.
Within the past fifteen years there
has been an awakening to the op-
portunity which lies in the plains
area. and settlements have moved
westward with such remarkable rap
idity that the day of the broad, free
range, with the old, careless, and
often inhuman methods of stock rails
ing, is about over The day of small
er flocks and herds, winter fed and
fattened on homegrown forage, is at
hand Dry farming has come into
vogue, and has greatly increased the
crop producing area Of the Great
Plains.
In the Great Plains area the re-
clamation service has in progress of
construction eleven projects involv--
ing an expenditure of $1S,74O,OOO and
the reclamation of 100000 acres. Sew
eral of these projects are unique, and
in their engineering features are de-
serving of extended description. All
have reached a stage of construction
where water will be available this
season, and the hundreds of new
homes which dot the prairies show
that the settlers are preparing to put
it to use Full particulars concerning
the lands available to settlers, the
terms of water right, etc, may be OBJ
tanned by addressing the Statistician,
~. S. Reclamation Service, Washing
ton, d. c.
Two of these projects are located
in North Dakota, in the valley of the
Missouri river, and in the vicinity of
Williston A heavy influx of settlers
is anticipated this spring to take up
the lands to be irrigated Diversified
and extensive farming by irrigation
will bring about a great change in the
agricultural methods now in voge in
this section. The cultivation of al
1alfa. sugar beets, vegetables, and
such fruits as apples, cherries grapes,
melons. and berries of all kinds, for
which this region is adapted will
doubtless create a prosperous com
munity here in a few years.
Not far from here. in the Lower
Yellowstone valley and embracing
sc 900 acres of land in Montana and
North Dakota. is the Lower Yellow
stone project. The settlement of this
large area has been progressing rap
idly. but there are still opportunities
for homeseekers to secure good lands.
Up the Yellowstone about 200 miles
is the Huntley project. located II
miles east of Billings. Montana, and
embracing 10000 acres of land, hav-
ing a general elevation of 5000 feet
above the sea level. The irrigable
area has been divided into 4S9 farms
of 40 acres each. and about half of
these have already been filed upon.
The project offers unusual advan-
tages for the practical farmer OF
small means to obtain a good home
whereon by his own industry he can
secure a comfortable living. The eli
mate here is delightful and the soil
of exceptional fertility, producing
bountiful crops when watered. Ger
eals and alfalfa are the principal crops
although apples, small fruits and gar
den vegetables do well. On account
of the fine range country surrounding
the project, alfalfa will always be a
staple product It produces about
five tons per acre at present. and is
worth s. per ton in the stack. A
sugar beet factory is now in opera
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