The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-22
BACK TO THE FARM
MOVEMENT IS ON
Invasion of Northwest by Eastern
Homeseekers Upsets All Calcutta
tons of Authorities.
Especial Correspondence


| ST. PAUL Mimi, March 21.-Amer-
lea as a whole has little idea of the un-
preceden.ed shifting of population
that is today taking place within ITS
borders.
That predictions from Washington
that 100000 land-hungry persons will
desert the cities for the country this
spring Will be shattered, there is no
doubt among railroad authorities and
men In power in the states OF tho
northwest.
Families are filing claims upon the
free Montana ho!nesteads at the rate
OF 500 persons a weeh. The Great
Falls land ONCE OF the United States
government is flooded with applica-
lions, letters AMI all sorts OF CON-
raunications from inquirers and still
there are thousands OF acres OF land
that will be filed up before fall.
The beautiful warm spring weather
Is bringing trainloads of homeseekers
into Montana every day and they are
swarming the country in which the
free lands. pronounced agriculturally
perfect, are open for settlement.
Oregon. Washington, Wyoming and
the Dakotas are sharing proportion
ally in the influx into the country along
the Great Northern lines.
The back To the farm" movement
has spilled all advance figures. until
today conservative estimates covering
the entire country are TO the effect
that 100000 persons VIII return 10
the soil before the fall Of 1910.
The invasion of Oregon by James
Hill and the opening up Of the central
portion OF the state will have a most
important influence upon the history
OF the development OF the next few
years, anu particularly upon that
which has TO do with the agriculturist
and the seeker of cheap lands. At
least, apparently, the central part OF
Oregon is to have not only one but
two railroads, forming what is Ger
tainly happy ending to the long and
weary waiting OF the pioneer settlers.
many OF whom have lived the greater
portion OF their lives a hundred miles
from the sound of the cars.
The territory that will now be
opened up by the railroads is as large
as all the New England states COM
bined. in which now dwell probably
third of the nations population. More
than $4,000 square miles OF land, hith-
e-to neglected because OF it's isolation,
will be open to advantageous settling.
I'm Crook county alone are 100000
acres of government land subject u
entry. two-thirds of which offer good
openings for dry-farming homestead
ing--an opportunity for the home
seekers.
This means free land upon which
several thousand families may make
their homes. II means that the great
influx of settlers which will follow
close upon the heels of the railroads
will find, I'm addition TO the splendid
Irrigation lands near Bend. opportunity
TO get large tracts for little or nothing.
The new enlarged homestead law
has just been made applicable to thesa
untouched central Oregon lands;
at. least TO vast stretch or
them lying 10 the east and
south OF Bend Its provisions
the reader will remember, make
II possible for the settler TO secure 800
acres instead OF 160--as under the old
LAWN certain specified districts.
The land so specified must be non
susceptible TO irrigation, and subject
to cultivation only under dry-farming
methods.
The only restrictions placed upon
the homesteader are that commit
ing" after IA months Is not permitted.
as was formerly the case, full hve
years residence being required and
certain annual percentage OF improve
mcnt and cultivation.
The new law, coming OPPORTUNITY as
! IL does, hand in nand with the prom
ise of speedy transportation for the
Bend country, has awakened vast
amount OF interest in the embryo
wheat lands which have remained so
long stock range producing for their
only crop unlimited sage brush.
| Already perhaps 10000 acres have
been taken up by settlers who have
been located from Bend, and there
seems every reason 10 believe that the
budding rush will continue through the
pleasant autumn months and even dur
! ing the winter, until the time comes
when the cream OF the available $780,
fno oa-as tc ,rivataly owned