The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-02-09
FARMS DOUBLE IN VALUE
Population Of state Has More Thaa
81 Per Cent Increase.

Washington. d. C.-The thirteenth
decennial census advance bulletin ON
agriculture for Montana has been ~
sued by Census Director Durand.
Montana ranks third in area ana
fortieth in population among the
states and territories Of continental
United States.
The alluvial bottom lands in all por-
tons of the state are devoted to In
tensive agriculture through the irriga-
ton of the soils lying at such levels 40
may be reached by irrigation canals.
The higher bench lands and con-
siderable proportion OF the elevated
plateau country are used for dry land
farming. chiefly for the production OF
the cereal grains: while all Of the
rougher portions of the state except
ing the most rugged mountainous
areas are used for grazing purposes.
In the extreme eastern portion OF the
state a small area Of plateau country
has been so severely eroded that Il
is known AZ the Bad lands. and this
portion is non-agricultural. though
supporting grazing to q limited ex-
tent.
A considerable amount Of land lying
principally In the valleys in the noun
famous region. occupying the south
western and central parts OF the state
Is under irrigation. while the plains
are devoted more largely to dry farm.
ing and to the range cattle industry.
In nearly all sections OF the state, how.
ever. by means OF intensive cultiva-
ton and summer following. grain can
be grown without irrigation. A small
section In the northwestern corner
OF the state receives sufficient rain.
fall to be classed as humid.
OF the states entire land area one
seventh Is In farms. the proportion be-
ing highest in the south central part
OF the state. where a group OF coun-
ties have from 20 to 40 per cent of
one county. Cascade. has from 40 to
so t46 - per cent of its land in farms.
The remaining counties. constituting
about three-quarters t74.4 per cent of
the states total area, are In the less
than 20 per cent class.
Between 1900 and 1910 there wac en-
increase Of l32.72& or 54.5 per cent. In
the population Of the state. The num-
Der of farms almost doubled. increas-
ing i2.s44, or s6.I per cent. The total
farm acreage increased only l,70l ,l49,
or IA per cent. The small gain in
acreage Is due largely to the fact that
In 1900 the Crow Indian reservation of
3.500.00 acres was leased by a cor.
poration for grazing purposes and was
included as a farm Less than one.
nth Of this reservation was reported
as farm land In 1910. Excluding this
farm" for 1900, the increase was g.
20l,l4s acres, or 623 per cent. The
acreage Of improved land in farms in.
creased more rapidly than any OF the
above items. having more than
doubled during the decade.
The average value OF farm with its
equipment In 1900 was $S.Sl5, while
ten years later II was si3,269. The
average value OF land rose from s4.45
per acre in 1900 To $l674 In 1910, this
advance being accompanied by in
creases In the average value per farm
OF buildings and OF implements and
machinery.
OF the 26.214 farms i'm the state, s.
$40 or over onethird. were reported
as irrigated in 1909. The acreage irri-
gated in 1909 was l.67s.Oss acres. or
about IL per cent OF the improved
land In farms. The area to which
enterprises existing In 1910 were capa-
BILE OF supplying water was 2.2O5, I5S
acres. and the total acreage included
In irrigation projects. completed or
under construction In 1910. WAS $685.
COZ acres.
In the forty years since 1870 the
population OF the state has increa sed
by 355.%5S, or about eighteen times.
and each decade except 1880 To 1900
has shown larger absolute increase
than the preceding decade.
There has been a rapid increase in
the number OF farms since the organi.
zation of the territory 1850 and espe-
cially since 1880. The greatest rela.
tive Increase occurred between 1850
and 1880. but the greatest absolute
Increase was In the last decade. when
the number almost doubled, increas-
ing from 1880 to 26.2I4.
Farm Valuation Nearly Treble.
The total wealth in the form of farm
property Is nearly S34S.OOO. 900. OF
which 1913 per cent Is represented by
land and buildings. 3 per cent BY i'm.
plements and machinery and 24.6 per
cent by live stock. The total value
OF farm property almost trebled be-
tween 1900 and 1910. increasing By
about 23O.O00.O00. OF the total in.
crease in value SlSS, SOC. 900 was I'm
land and buildings. $6,s6S. 900 In imple-
ments and machinery and s33, sol 900
In stock. The absolute gain in total
value OF farm property was nearly four
times as great. and the percentage gain
over twice as great In the decade from
1900 to 1910 as during the decade i'm.
mediately preceding. but the percent.