Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-02-11
CITY PEOPLE LOOKING
FOR WESTERN LAND

velopment now going on all over the
west. now opening up to settlement
extensive areas of fertile land by the
construction of large irrigation sys-
TENS, is slowly swinging the pendu-
lum of population from the city to
the farm. An interesting feature of
this shifting Of population, and one
OF profound economic Importance to
the country, is the large number of
city-bred people who are seeking
homes in the open country. This Is
accounted for in some degree by the
fact that country life in the west has
grown more and more attractive rs
population increases. The farms are
small, agriculture is intensive, COM
munities are compact and neighborly,
rural delivery is established, the
country telephone is in operation
everywhere, schools are centralized.
and social conditions are actually
more suburban than rural in charac-
ter. With eight or more farm houses
located along each mile OF the high
way, there is no isolation or loneliness.
With cheap water power from the
mountain streams, and from huge
dams trolley lines are being extended
through the valleys. Allthese factors
are bringing the farmer into the stim-
ulating current OF the worlds daily
thought and action, quickening his
ideas and broadening his viewpoint.
Cooperation in the farm work in
producing and marketing crops, in So
clal and educational activities, has
increased financial returns and has
made home life attractive and pleas
ant.
The daily mail Of the statistician
Of the United States reclama ton
service at Washington, y. G., contains
many inquiries from town people,
who having grown tired Of the never
ending grind Of commercial life, are
seeking the independence and freedom
OF the country. The successes Of
those who have ventured into the new
west are sufficiently numerous to pre-
dicate continuance of the movement
TO the farm and should encourage the
city man who has laid by a little bank
account to establish his family in
their own home. where the landlord
and the grocer will no longer domi-
nate. A few simple statements from
some OF these new settlers in the west
might be cited as indicating the meas
ure OF reward which follows industry
and perseverance when applied with
moderate capital by men whose eN-
perience III farming is limited.
w. Y. Waller, formerly in the
grain commission business in Omaha,
Neb., writes: II like this country and
think | have one of the finest farms
in Montana. Don't want to sell, eN-
pect to live here the rest Of my
life. | like the climate. and never
saw things grow as they do
here. Notwithstanding that |
didn't get my bitches in proper shape,
my gross returns from 81 l-2-acre
farm were SSOJ.5O. also farmed an
other 4O-acre tract for my motler-in-
law, largely by my own labor, and
cropped ssi4 worth. My oats yielded
80 bushels per acre: from six acres in
millet | sold $500 worth Of seed
}. II. Patterson. formerly a candy
maker in Omaha, with the labor of
his son II years old. cultivated 30
acres and sold products valued at
Sl,5S3.
J. II. VanderBaan, formerly fur
niture maker from Grand Rapids,
Mich., with the assistance of a grown
son, cropped % acres and received
sso9.60 for his products. Mr.. Wander
Baan had total capital of 81 900 to
start with. lie has built himself
comfortable farm home, Il good sta
BILE, and root cellar.
a. Oberhauser, who formerly
worked in smelter in Anaconda,
Mont, writes that he would not sell
his land for 500 per acre. 1t will
cost him s3+ per acre with ten years
to pay for it. He hired labor for 40
days. From 32 1-2 acres he took crops
worth S949 the first from sod land.
Approximately 1000 farms on gov
ernment projects, varying from 10 to
50 acres each, are now ready for set
tiers. No lottery system is employed
to distribute these farms. The settler
goes upon the land, selects his farm
and makes his homestead filing with
the necessary annual payments for
water right and maintenance charges.
These vary from s3 to SIS per acre.
Some capital, of course, is required,
the amount depending upon the ex
perience Of the settler and the char