Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-06-10


Der and ut Waller. Other Carey act
projects are in various stages Of con-
structiOn. Eastern Montana expects
to reap much benefit from the Milk
river project when completed. The
opening of the Fort Peck Indian re-
servation and the possible further
cessions by the Grow Indians will add
to the area Of land available for the
hOmeseeker.
In the western part of the state sew
eral thousand new homes will doubt
less be started this spring by those
who were successful in the drawing
for the right of entry in the Flathead
reservation. In the Bitter Root val
ley Il very large private irrigation
ditch has been constructed to provide
water for large areas of fruit lands.
and many tracts have been disposed
of to intending settlers. The famous
Bitter Root ranch Of the late Marcus
DAILY has been placed on the market.
with the exception of the home place.
and numerous small tracts have been
sold.
In southern Montana there has not
only been an increase in the area m
der cultivation, with remarkable sue
cess by the dry farming system, but
in both l'eaverllead aud Madison
Counties work has begun "n irrigation
projects that will bring thousands OF
acres of land under water.
Some idea of the size Of this move
ment Of hOmesteade:s may be had
when it is known that the forces in
each Of the nine land offices in the
state have been busy taking care of
the applicants for land. On July /.
1908, there were 46,332 ,4+O acres of
unreserveA and nnaprropriated public
land in tie state. On July !. 1909, this
amount lad been reduced to ~ 900, 2ZJ
acres, and ut this time some Of the
offices are so behind in the work that
the department at Washington has
been asked to increase their office
forces.
Montana Is the ytily state that has
large areas Of farm lands open for
settlement In other states the desir-
able a:a',le lanf', have nearly all been
taken bit there are millions rf acres
that Wlll give rich yields to those VIII"
will till hem. W. have 1900. 900
acres within our borders. of these.
"5,'NM,oM acres are arabic, % 1000. 900
acres being suited to dry farming. and
III, 700 900 acres susceptible to irriga-
ton.
What Montana land il capable Of
producing may be estimated from
what he small quantity of land in
cultivation has produced. For the
ten-year period ending M 1907, in the
average yield of whtat ami in the
farm value vt the crops per acre. Mon
tana led the average of the United
States about 800 per cent: in oats a
greater percentage. anG ii barley rye,
bay a:d potatoes, Montana 5 super
iority was likewise shown.
quality Of Montuna's farm products
has Been proved As long ago AS 1893
awards 10 Montana exhibits We're
made at the Chicago worlds fair for
wheat and hay. ut the II. Louis eN-
position in 1908 the aNaIns for aerl-
colt,,ral exhibits from Montana We're
,i<tN-nia" gold medals. ,iv;,-tNu ,i'-
yer medals and liItr-ti.ee bronze med
ais st the Portland exposition III
1903 IN tie agricultural exhibit lhe
awards To Montana numbered sixty
tx" "ola fue,s;sts, thirteen silver ne.i-
ais and bronze medals At the dr.
tHru.ing congress at Cheyenne NNo.
in l.o>. Montana exhibitors carried
away most Of the prizes. Montana
apples WuE prizes ut tie rational az
pie show II Spokane, WAsi,.. in i!.'>
For the best brewing barrie, grown il
the nitrd states the s#hst cup Was
awarded ,u She EXHIBIT meade hy lie
! NauIla;tau Mating company u sal
! latin cu1HtY Mont. it III. national
i irrigation congress II, - II SAT- LIKE.
city.
Montana itll'mIt> wee Repeated III
lt,M. VI ,he national, a}1,tp STOW 1T
Spuh;.,i,. Eit,"t nnt >"lieN resit'eatH
! Aon frs: pliHe tor Mcintosh Hed
ao,,;eS ,l.A fol apnle a,il,3r. ~ the
] ~ .