The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-02-23
WEDNESDAY, FEB. u, 1910.
STOCKMEN AND SETTLERS.

SIOSN"eN AMI S6u 160os
The occupation of the land by set.
tiers is not welcomed with enthusiasm
by old.time Montana stockmen, but
most Of them have been expecting such
Developments for years and accept the
new conditions as something that was
inevitable. They have enjoyed benefits
from the open range system up to the
present time, and cannot interpose le.
gitimate objection to the conversion
Of the land to more profitable use.
Here and there, however may be found
. stockman whose view of the situation
is perverted by selfish motives, who
would prefer q continuance of old'time
conditions, and who confidently pre-
diets that dry land farming is q pretty
theory that will not work out to the
advantage of the community. he is
probably honest and sincere in these
convictions. his judgment having been
Influenced by instances of failure in
the past which were due to lack of ex-
pert knowledge or the disregard of
proper methods. In recent years there
has been q marked advance In scien.
tifc methods of agriculture, and it
has been demonstra ted time and again
that successful farming is possible
under conditions which q few years
ago we're believed to be an insurmount-
able obstacle to crop production.
1t must be conceded that dry land
farming on northern Montana bench
lands is somewhat Of an experiment,
but anticipations of success are justi-
fed by the results under similar con-
ditions elsewhere. The raising of
livestock in Montana was also at one
time an experiment., the Montana cat.
tie industry developing from q email
venture made in the sixties, and the
sheep industry from importations
made from other states less than forty
years ago. The livestock industry
has Aourished in Montana under the
free range conditions, but it has
not had . continuous period of profit
and success. The severe winter of
1901 al an experience that caused
many to believe Montana was not an
ideal stock country; this belief was
again encouraged by a similar exper.
fence In the winter of 1867, and on
other occasions there have been set.
backs to the Montana livestock indus
try that threatened it's existence.
Similar experiences, probably, will
befall progressive and industrious
citizens who engage in dry land farm.
ing.
Some twenty-five years ago, the first
attempts at Montana fruit raising were
made in the Bitter Root valley, and
many old. time residents regarded the
experiment as one that was doomed to
failure. Their dismal forebodings,
however, were dispelled by subse-
quent events, and they now point with
pride to trainlosds of western Mon.
tana orchard products that are in de-
mand in eastern and foreign markets.
Red apple banquets are being attend
ed by old.time western Montana resi-
dents who formerly expressed their
honest belief that lands now devoted
to fruit raising were adapted only for
the grazing of cattle and sheep.
The Transformation of portions of
the range into dry land farms does
not mean the extinction OF the Mon
tans livestock industry. The change
in conditions will require the adop.
ton of new methods. The state of
Iowa, populated by thrifty farmers,
has four times as many cattle as Mon
tana under open range methods.
Montana leads the procession in the
number of sheep, about five million
head, but Ohio, with it's smaller area
and high priced lands, is credited
with over three million of the same
class OF livestock.
A greater Montana will develop from
IN increased production of sgricul-
tural wealth, and livestock will con.
tinue to be q large contributor to the
annual exhibit of progress and pros.
perity.