The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1912-12-20
INVESTORS LIKE WALLER
MANY BUYING LAND
The Conditions Found Better than Rep
reSented-land Rich and
Productive

]. J. Keegan OF the firm OF Keegan
& Bowman, Wenatchee, WASH, re-
turned last week from Waller, Mont,
where he has been for the past two
weeks with large party Of homeseek-
ers, from this district. Mr.. Keegan
states that every man in the party was
very much enthused with the lands
and the country and he did not have
to talk land after the party got there
to sell them. All that is necessary is
to get a man interested enough to
make the trip and this we find hard to
do sometimes, for the simple reason
they really cannot realize the oppor-
tunities that exist until they 60 there
and see for themselves. I have heard
a good deal about Montana, and read a
good deal about Montana, but never
did I realize its greatness until l made
this trip. The Waller country is an
immense agricultural empire, unpara-
lelled, in the United States. Its de-
velopment is something remarkable
and its future is luminous. The Val
Ter irrigation project is one Of the
best examples Of modern enterprise
coupled with natural advantages that
I have ever seen, it contains about
200, 900 acres OF agricultural land, Of
this area about 100000 acres are irri-
gable, the balance being above the
ditch. There is about $4,000 acres Of
the irrigable land still open to entry
under the Carey Act land from the
way people have been grabbing these
lands in the last two months it would
be safe to say there will not be one
acre left by next June.) The soil is
uniform in character, mostly choco-
late brown clay loan, running to black
sandy loan, the sod is tough and COM
pact but works up mellow and fine. al
ter backsetting there is no gumbo,
alkali or hardpan. The soil is deep
and everlasting and is adaptad to small
grains and grasses, such as wheat,
barley, oats and rye, alfalfa and flax,
these crops produce large yields.
Timothy and other cultivated grasses
grows luxuriantly. Montana carried
away the $4,000 prize given by the
northwest development league for the
best five bushels of wheat grown in
the United States just last week, also
first and second for the best milling
qualities. Potatoes, cabbage, celery,
garden peas, beans, carrots, turnips,
sugar beets and various other vegeta-
bles do exceptionally we'll and find a
ready market. The climate is vastly
superior to that OF other sections for
those who believe in a tonic value Of
change Of season. did not wear my
oyercoat all the time I was there as
loaned it to Jim Hill on my way over
there and did not return it until I re-
turned to Wenatchee. I was very glad
he did borrow it when I got there as
I could not have worn it anyhow and
must thank him for being so kind in
saving me the trouble of carrying it
around. There is a fine type Of citi-
zen living on the project, being Of the
true pioneer type, hardy, optimistic
and resourceful. They are there to
make their permanent homes, most Of
them coming from Iowa, Illinois, Ne
braska, Dakota, Minnesota and Wis
consin. The town Of Waller, only two
and a half years old, located right in
the heart of the project and on the
beautiful lake Francis is credit to its
citizens. 1t has four splendid hotels,
one which cost forty thousand dollars,
having 10 rooms, and being modern in
every way. 1t has two banks, capital
lied at $4,000 and $25, 1000, both
doing a fine business; several stores
handling all classes Of goods at very
reasonable prices; four restaurants,
two churches, two schools, one costing
$4,000, built Of native stone, a fine
armory building costing $4,000; two
lumber yards, four grain elevators,
concrete sidewalks, electric light plant,
round house and very nice brick
depot, Bell telephone and Western
Union service and other lines of in