The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-02
land in the Judith Basin, and it is es-


and is surrounded by several ranges
Of mountains which temper its eli
mate and add to its rainfall In the
early days of Montana the basin was
famed for its rich grazing lands, and
the first settlers were stock raisers
and wool growers. During these years
the Judith Basin was isolated, the
nearest point on the railroad from
Lewistown being 125 miles distant. 1t
was not until 1903 that railroad was
built into the Basin, with it's terminus
at Lewistown.
1t was not until then that real farm
ing began here, and it's growth has
been phenomenal ever since. Now the
railroads are tapping every portion of
the Basin, and elevators are being
erected at convenient places for mar
keting grain. Conditions and history
but repeat themselves in the records
of the neighboring valleys, such as tie
great Musselshell country to the
south; the Smith river valley on the
west, a high plateau, recently come
trict, and the Gallatin. Madison and
Jefferson valleys. bordering on the
foothills Of the main range of the
Rockies.
In the central part of Montana farm
ing is practiced along exactly the same
The mountain ranges, in some way I
cannot explain, materially increase the
rainfall of this section. In the whole
agricultural history C the Judith Ba-
sin there has never been a crop fail
ure, nor e-el partial crop failure.
That Is significant fact.
III the summer and fall of 1909 I
travelled through several of the west
ern states, and also visited the Judith
Basin. In the Dakotas the crops and
grasses were parched and burned.
Flax seed sown in the spring did not
even sprout, so dry was the soil, until
fall rains broke the drouth. The
whole west from Texas to the Canadi-
an border and states east beyond ILL
nois and Indiana, suffered partial crop
failures on account of the protracted
and general drouth. In the Judith Ba-
sin crop yields Of 80 to 40 bushels of
winter wheat to the acre, and 70 to
IS bushels of oats and other crops
yielding in proportion upon ranch after
ranch which | Misunderstanding even
the yields of the most favorable sea
sons In the states where I was best
acquainted-frsti impressed upon me
the agricultural possibilities of this
country. The better acquainted have
become with history and conditions,
the more certain I am that here lies
available a wealth of opportunities for
those who will but grasp them.
Not alone do these valleys excel in
the quantity raised per acre OF small
grains. vegetables and hay, but the
quality is high Many eastern manu-
facturers of breakfast foods use only
Montana oats, because Of their superb
or quality Montana mailing barley is
reputed to be the best in the world.
Canning factories are moving to this
state to put up their products because
of the delicious flavor of the vegeta-
bles and small fruits raised In this
high altitude.
In addition to her proven possibili-
ties as a grain country. Montana also
| excels as a stock country. The native
grasses cure upon the stem and fur
nish nourishing and palatable grazing
throughout the year. Montana mutton
world famed. Montana range steers
have repeatedly topped the Chicago
and Omaha market for range fattened
stock. Montana leads all other states
in the union In the quality and GUAM
tity OF choice army horses and farm
and draft horses raised. At Miles
| City, Mont, is the largest horse mar
ket in the world. Hogs and poultry
are also coming to take their proper
places upon the developed farms. Hogs
are grown upon alfalfa and oats. and
are fattened as rapidly and more
cheaply than with corn. upon alfalfa
and barley. Dairying is in it's infancy.
and the state still imports the major
portion of it's dairy products at high
| prices, although natural opportunities
for all branches Of dairying are unsur-
| passed in the state
The Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul IL constructing a main line and
other railroads are building extensions
ON every hand New towns spring up
every changing season. Nearly every
settlement. however isolated, has its
day school. Sunday school and reli-
gious worship. Progress and develop
ment are the watchwords Of the west
era people, and the optimism and en-
thusiasm which characterize the PEG.
| pie of this country are the natural
sequence 10 the rapid advancement
that II being made by the individuals
the communities, and by the state.
Ia later letter l hope to tell about
the Montana free government land
that 10 still left, and also Of the many
opportunities for money making and
for profitable investment in the low
priced farms Of Montana, In land thai
will raise moro abundant crops thaE
the SIS 10 5000 per acre land Of the
kenfral STAKES
i CARL w. RIDDICK.