Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-09-09

A Farm and Home on Irrigated Lands
IN Sweet Grass County, Montana.

On the Bird of August started west
on trip to Montana. My object in
going west was to look up favorable
place and conditions for home. in
vestigated the methods of dry land
farming and what is known as farming
by irrigation, and would say that in the
state of Montana the preponderance of
evidence is in favor of farming by irri-
cation. 1t means larger yield per
acre and sure crop every year.
While at Helena | met Mr.. James
Glass, vice-president of the Glass Broth
ers Land Co. Their principal Office is
at Big Timber, Sweet Grass county.
Big Timber is the county seat and has
population of 1900, and is located on
the main line of the N. P. r. r. in the
Yellowstone valley. The south line of
Sweet Grass county is within twelve
miles of the Yellowstone National Park,
the Wonderland of America.
At the invitation of Mr.. Glass we
stepped into an automobile and started
out to investigate. their lands and irri-
cation project which lie north of Big
Timber. On the way we stopped at
several farms to inspect the growing
crops. saw one field of oats which
would be ready to cut in about week.
1t was estimated to yield 100 bushels
per acre. The same field produced that
last year. | also saw wheat that would
go 40 bushels to the acre, fine crops of
other small grains and all kinds of veg
etables of the finest quality. Alfalfa
is the main hay crop and will produce
from four to six tons per acre-three
cuttings.
We next proceeded to look over the
bitches, canals and large reservoirs
which we found complete and ready for
the water. These reservoirs when fiji ed
with water will look like lakes and will
in the future afford opportunity fox
fishing and boating. The main canals
anu blNNilCo lOl 1OllhuNAiilR TIC NdlSL W
the lands show the surface soil to be
rich and several feet deep, and there is
a clay sub-soil which will afford excel
lent drainage. The water in wells and
springs is pure and the very best and
the climate exceptionally healthy.
The next important question is prices
and terms which are as follows.
LIST. Irrigated land $50 per acre, IS
per acre down, deferred payments at
go interest, balance on ten year time
if desired; the second year, interest
only. This gives the settler chance
to complete his improvements and pay
for them.
End. $4,000 is the price of irrigated
land only; that is if you purchase 80
acres and but 60 acres of it can be irri-
gated, the balance, 20 acres, can be
bought for dry land prices and used for
pasture.
Bird. $4,000 per acre buys perpetual
water right, no more charge for water,
except small proportionate mainten.
ance fee.
4th, Any one who is dissatisfied af-
ter the first year and previous to the
3rd., the Glass Brothers Land CO. will
pay him back the money ne has paid on
the land, the cost of his improvements
and 90 interest. Is not this fair
proposition?
Man is social being and it is very
unpleasant for some to leave their
relatives and friends and go out west
among strangers. The best way know
of is for eight to ten parties or more to
go and select their land near together
and thus form neighborhood of friends
who are well acquainted. / am willing
to make one of such a party and move
west onto this land and make a home
for myself and family. Considering
that wheat or barley will bring $50
per acre, alfalfa $25 to $50, oats $50 to
$40, sugar beets SIS to 500, potatoes
800 to 5000, l see no reason why per
son could not buy 50 to 100 acres of this
land and pay for it with all improve
ments in from four to five years. He
would then own home in a healthy eli
mate and on land that would never wear
out.
This land is just now being put on the
market and if we act soon can have
choice. Let me hear from you before
Tuesday, Sept. 2lst, which is excursion
date. Round trip Mineral Point to
Big Timber 1920.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM CROFT,
Mineral Point. Wis.