Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-09-30

Ject to homestead entry. The public
land is going fast: July I, 1908 there
were +6.532 .44O acres of unreserved
and unappropriated public land in
Montana: July l, 1909. $500. 2:9 and
July l, 1910 about +O, ,NOO, 900. Already
those who have delayed coming find
that they have to go back from exist
ing railroad lines to find locations:
but to cheer late comers is the an
nouncement by the railroad COM
panleS OF plans for the building Of 900
miles Of new tracks. In a few years
no part Of Montana will be far dis
tant from a line of railroad.
100000 Acres lrriSable.
OF the area adapted for agriculture,
5000. 900 acres are estimated to be ir-
rigable and large reclamation pro-
jects have been undertaken by the
government and smaller ones by cor
porations acting under state smpervi-
sion under the provisions Of the Carey
act. These lands. with perpetual
water right, sell for from $50 an acre
up. There are many acres Of land ir-
rigated from bitches in the older set
tied sections. Irrigated lands are
wonderfully productive and where
there is an ample supply Of water Il
crop failure is unknown.
Upon the greater part OF arabic
land. however, it is imp@cticable to
bring water for purposes of irrigation
and they must be farmed without ir-
rigation by the dry farming method
of cultivation.
In some parts of Montana crops
have been successfully grown year
after year for many years without ir-
rigation the natural rainfall being
sufficient: but in the greater part OF
the state the dry farming system OF
cultivation must be followed proper
ly to obtain good crops. This has
beer year of drought throughout
the Northwest and has been Il severe
test of the dry farming system.
The condition Of winter and spring
wheat in Montana July |. 1910, was
only six below normal, il fact which
testities more eloqupntly than words
can do to the fortunate condition of
the Montana farmers in comparison
with those of less favored regions.
Another testimony to the success of
dry farming is found in the returns
from the experiment farm in Cascade
county, where thu shiny has rece ,tly
been completed. There were yields
Of 81 bushels of oats, 30 bushels of
fall rye, ~ bushels OF Turkey red
wheat and II OF flax.
Returns have not been received
from other experiment farms conduct
I'd by the state, from railroad farms
or from individual farmers, but it is
likely that they will show similar re-
suits. Also it should be noted that
there are instances of complete and
many Of partial failure Of crops where
the ground had not been properly pre-
pared or seeded at the right time.
The state Of Montana desires to
have the advantages it has to offer to
homeseekers widely known, and has
published an illustrated book describ-
ing the industries and resources of
the state. which will be sent free on
request by j. IL. Hall, state Com
missioner OF Agriculture, Helena,
Mont.
James J. Hills View.
Also it maintains state fair ut
Helena. where may be seen display
i ed collection of the products of the
various counties. President Taft and
James J. Hill spoke ut the fair last
year. Mr.. Hill. whose acquaintance
with agricultural conditions in the
United States is second to none and
is Il man given to car fully weighing
his words, said on that occasion:
'rhere are Cn'y two states in the
union whic'I have any large am, II Il
of agricultural land left in the public
domain. We could increase that acre
age if we took in Texas, but that land
is not part of the public domain
but it is Il part Of the property OF the
State of Texas. Montana has within
her borders unoccnpied agricultural
lands eqnal-practically equal, Ol
nearly soto the entire state of Iowa
or the state of Illinois, and certainl!
they may be considered the riches
states in the Union. but neither th'
state of Illinois nor the state of low;
can make as good an exhibit Oil al
counts as you have shown today II
the exposition building over there
Your future wealth cannot help lie
ing great. You could not keep back
country that will produce what "