Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-06-03
SETTLEMENT OF
FERTILE MONTANA

lands in Montana during the last six
months than in any other state in the
union in the same period. according
TO reports received from John L.
burns, secretary of the Dry Farming
congress at international headquart-
ers IN Spokane. That this immense
rush Of settlers is a movement of bona
hde homeseekers is evidenced by the
1act that only l2 per cent of the en-
tries recorded were desert land claims,
The rest were made by homesteaders
who obtained lands adapted to ayri-
culture to be converted into farms.
improved and made the foundation of
permanent prosperity.
The settlement has been most mark
ed III the larger counties of the state
and the lands taken up have been
tracts considered dry farming in the
majority OF cases. Most Of the settlers
are experienced dry farmers who have
tried the system in other parts OF the
country. Many Of them have sold
their holdings in the older farming
districts Of eastern and middle west
ern states for S65 to Sl2O or more
an acre and have entered the new
country where land is cheaper and
prospects for rapid development bet
ter. Numerous towns have sprung up
on the PLAINS of eastern Montana in the
last two years, and the great plains
district Of the northern half of the
state is also being dotted with thriv-
ing young communities.
"What has been done in Montana
will be repeated in other states" said
Alfred Atkinson, chairman of the gov
erning board. '"The Dry Farming con-
gress is studying the soil problems Of
the entire west and is getting at the
facts about the dry lands. This year
the Washington board of control is
sending an experienced agronomist
into the farming districts of Washing
ton, and Professor lddings, formerly
Of Colorado Agricultural college, will
soon begin sending i'll reports OF the
conditions as he finds them and sug-
gestions for the solution OF the prob
lens which the new farmers of this
state are facing.
The record made in Montana also
shows the intense interest in farming
among the Housekeeping millions of
the world. The trend toward the va
cant lands is not local to Montana or
the northwest, but is evident in every
part of the globe wherever there is
unoccupied arabic land. The great
bulk OF the vacant lands of the world
are dry farming lands. In Montana
the total available area for dry farm
ing is estimated at 10000, 900 acres.
The available area for irrigation is
between 5000. 900 and 6,OO, 900 acres.
The same proportion holds good all
over the west.
These figures will give an idea of
the Importance Of the dry farming
movement of the western states. That
10000 persons have filed on Montana
homesteads means that approximately
1000 persons have been added to the
states population by settlement. The
increase in land values given in the
report just received of S25 an acre,
means an increase of more than $780,
GOO, 900 in the taxable valuation OF the
state.
The part the Dry Farming con-
gress takes in this development OF the
west is that of an migration agent. 1t
cant lands, but it goes farther. Its
real mission is to reach the settler
on the dry land and teach him how
to farm that land successfully. by
its many publications it aims to send
into the settlers homes all the avail
able information on the subject OF
dry farming. Once Year it meets
in annual session and holds an inter
national dryfarming exposition which
serves as an object lesson in applied
dry farming. Such an exposition will
be held in Spokane in connection with
the Fifth Dry Farming congress dur
ing the first week in October"
Charley Beers Airship Flight.
secretary Charley Beers Of Judith
Gaps big celebration, September Ii,
Is and II, has entered into necotia-
tions with NJ. Bieriot, Farman, Vols
in, Antoinette and pauhan, noted
bird men," to have them appear
with their machines in this city on the
above mentioned days. Secretary
Beers is making arrangements to EN-
ter the race with these winged gentle
men, and has taken his first lesson in
aviation. Seated on Il soap box in
the rear of the store, he seized an
imaginary lever, placed his feet upon
the rudder bar-and his face froZe in