Judith Gap journal., 1909-08-20
MONTANA LAND VALUES
viii Advance From so to 100 Per Cent In a
Year Or Two.

Rocky Mountain Husbandnlan
1t is often prOpOunded to us, have
the present land values come to stay?
This is a question we cannot answer.
Land has more than doubled in value
within the past few years, but we do
not believe it has reached the top.
We look to see land go from fifty to
one hundred per cent higher than it
is, for the simple reason that it is out
of proportion for land to yield it's value
in crops every year, as much of our
Montana land will do, and when such
is the case, we certainly look for land
to continue advancing. Another thing
that has tendency to make land rise
is the increase Of railroads. Montana
is in the midst Of the greatest railway
building era the country has ever
known. The trackage of the state
promises to double within two or three
years and this will also have tend
ency to advance. Then, there is no
reason why Montana lands should not
bring as much money as the lands of
the Mississippi valley. The only thing
that can be said against the state is
that it is not a first class corn country.
But we can grow crops that are more
profitable than corn; more profitable
by far than the average crop of the
Mississippi valley. And it is produc-
ed at less expense as rule. 1t is
estimated that we can take crop of
small grain off piece of land for
S11.OO per acre, but the farmer can
not take a crop Of corn off a piece of
land in the corn belt for that money.
We, therefore, conclude that the great
er yield of the Montana acre will more
than balance the greater haul of our
crops to the seaboard. Then when we
! consider the certainty of crop, the
general health of the people, live stock
etc, the beauty of the landscape, and
the excellence of the climate, we read
lily conclude that land ought to be
worth as much here as it is III the
middle west, and feel safe in saying
the top has not been reached.
When Brother Van" Was Young.
\ display of paintings by Charles
Nj. Russell in one of the show win
dOws at Great Falls is attracting
considerable attention, the collection
containing some Of the recent work in
water color by the famous western
artist.
The picture that is most noticed,
perhaps on account Of the local in
terest in connection with it is a water
color which has been presented to Rev.
W. w. Van Orsdel by the artist, entitl-
ed, "When Brother Van Was Young
1t shows Il young minister clad in Il
black ulster, engaged in buffalo
hunt with some Indians. The features
Of the youthful looking preacher are
unmistakbly those of Brother Van,
and in spite of the fact that brown
locks appear where the hair is silver
now, the figure is familiar one and
easily recognizable. Mounted on Il
typical cayuse of the plains, the
young minister is firing Il charge into
II buffalo bull and the shot has brought
him down.
Brother Van, in speaking of the
gift from his old friend, the artist,
last evening, stated that the scene is
of actual occurrence. and one that
was vividly imprinted on his mind,
notwithstanding that it took place
many years ago. "That buffalo hunt
occurred on what is now known as
Greenfield bench, but which was then
FreeZeout Flat, between sun river
and Chouteau in January, 1873 36
yearsago. \ band offriendly Indians
offered to show me some sport in
buffalo hunting and accepted the
offer. From description of the hunt
that gave Russell some time ago,
he faithfully reproduced the scene.
was pretty proud of that bull
killed.
There are some other extremely in
teresting pictures. and one of these
which is full of humOr is called
"Ihe Lord Loveth Cheerfu Giver. -
1t shows three cowboys returning to
the ranch from little spree in town.
who have overtaken ministerial
looking person of pious mien who is
being urged to partake of liquid re-
freshments from bottle. The attl-
tude and expression of the preacher
are not such as to indicate that the
attentions of the ''Chetriul Givers''
are appreciated in this instance.