The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-02-02
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 2. 1910.
EDUCATING THE SETTLERS.

EDUCATING THE SETTLERS.
The ~arrivalsof large numbers of new
settlers in northern Montana, and the
assurance that q big rush of landseek'
ere will come to this part of the state
during the next few months, suggests
the desirability:iof acquainting them
with the farming methods necessary
TO success in this locality. The pur-
pose of theseenew settlers to assist in
developing the agricultural resources
of northern Montana should be as.
sisted and encouraged in every pos.
sible way, and their welfare be recog.
nized as an element in the upbuilding
of the state. CThe situation is becom.
ing a subject lofl discussion by Mon.
tana newspapers, the Anaconda
Standard expressing its view of the
matter in these remarks:
It goes without saying that Montana
will welcome with heartiness those who
come to the state for the purpose of
taking up lands and making homes
here. With respect to the abundance
of acres and their ability, under pro.
per treatment, correspond with salts.
factory crops 1there is MOI question.
But while the Standard would not
place as much asia straw in the way
Of the states progress in the matter
OF population land resource and de.
velopment,F 1--WE cannot resist the i'm.
pulse to urge;attention to the fact that
this upbuilding must be prudently
done II it is to be effected in q way
which does mot involve too great q
percentage of.3failure. We ought not
to be Needless of that aspect of the
case.
The speci6c5proposition is to bring
settlers to lands in the state which are
suited to dry farming. The fact is not
TO be ignored that the handling of this
kind of land involves methods which,
in several important respects, are q
departurefrom those:to which Montana
communities are accustomed and with
which the average farmer in the east
or middle west is not familiar; saying
nothing of the settler who never has
had e~xperience,in anyIkind of farming
and who, therefore, is q novice under
any method. There has been plenty
of publicity: it is earnestly to be hoped
that, in the quest of settlers, there has
also been q full:statement of the pc.
culiar conditions and of the money
equipment required in order to make
success possible.
We have just spoken of the "pecu-
liar conditions" sthat exist. This is
not written with thought of causing
any man, properly equipped for the
venture, to.halt, If he is of q mind to
join in 1.-THE proposed migration to
Montana. Thelconditions are, in fact,
peculiar; at least, many Of them are
not OF the ordinaryisort in the expert
ence of homeseekers. The fact 10 rec.
ognized by those who are giving d..
rect, personal attention to the immi-
grafton plans. Experiment stations
are to be established. These will cost
. good deal of money. We understand
that toward their establishment and
maintenance the authorities at the
agricultural college At Bozeman are
contributors Ito the utmost extent of
available funds, andithst the railroa ads
already are, orlthey will be, subscrib.
ers in sums of several thousand dol.
lars for each company.
OF course, there Is q limit within
which this demonstration work can be
carried on. So that our hope should
be not that the year will witness q
great inrushiof people, but that, on
the contrary, the migration, in quail.
ty, may consist chiefly of those who
have sufficient means to carry them
until there are crop returns and, as to
numbers, that will be limited to the
number OF people who can be brought
into touch with thes.experiment farms
and kindred agenciesswhich will con.
tribute toward the largest possible
percentage of success.