Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1913-10-03

average yield is only 81 DushelS as
against IL for Montana, and the aver
age farm value of an acre of North
Dakota flax is but Sl1.O5 as against
1914. the average of Montana.
1t is the increased knowledge of
these exceptionally II gh crop yields
and to the repeated demonstrations
of the productiveness of Montana's
broad acres that this state owes its
present most forward movement. An
intelligent campaign of publicly has
resulted in the information of land
hungry people that Montana, the last
of the great public land states,
can satisfy the ambitious citi-
zen who wants to become indepen-
dent and attain competency through
the ownership of u farm home. Dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 30, ID,
over Il. 900 homesteads were filed ON
in the several land offices of the state.
Of these, 6, 1O4 were made during the
first three months of 1918, and 1855
were made during the months of APP
ril, May and June of 1913.
Montana is extremely fortunate in
| the character Of the new settlers who
are attracted by it's resources. 1t has
been particularly noticeable that the
men who come to make their homes
here are the successful and ambitious
Of other states. They came equipped
mentally, physically and financially
to enter upon their new life and to
make the most of the opportunities
which this state offers. 1t has been
significant that OH the homesteads
filed upon this year more new land
has been broken and prepared for
crops than in any proceeding year.
An average Of 1900 new homesteads
per month means that almost half
million acres of land pass from the
unoccupied public domain into the
hands of virile American citizens
who are prepared to utilize to their
advantage the resources that nature
has put before them. a continuation
of the present rate of immigration
into this state (and there is no indi-
cation of lessening of the tide)
means that within six or seven years
MOntana's public domain OF approx
imately 10000, 600 acres Of land that
is suitable for agricultural purposes
will have become the property of
the great American farmer. The
settlers who are coming to Montana
at the present time are the kind Of
few years will bring under cyltiva-
ton and to its maximum stage Of
production the land which they are
now securing from the government
having 100000 acres of wheat, will
have &c, 600, 900 acres that will produce
over 100000, 900 bushels per year,
which is greater than the production
Instead of having 400, 900 acres of
oats, this state will have 1000, 900
and will produce 100000 bushel;
instead of having AGO, 200 acres of
ii"N ~ w III OVNl ',ooV,oN" WIN ="
production of over $1,000, 900 bushels,
which is more than twice the produc-
ton of the entire nation.
Were it not for the fact that we OF
Montana know that this is but the
beginning, the story of this states
development during the past ter
years would of itself seem marvellous
In the period from 1902 to 1912, Mon
tana increased it's wheat acreage
from 90, 5s3 to 500, 900 acres, the pro
duction being $500, 1873 bushels in 100:
as against ~, 346, 900 bushels in 1912
it increased it's flax acreage from IL,
800 in 1902 to AGO 900 in 1912, with III
increase in production from H., 5O'
bushels to 5,52O.OOO. In this same
period the total value Of the eigh
principal farm crops increased from
sa.2i7. 29O to s4o,4l9, 600. while in 1871:
the fruit raising industry reached ;
productive capacity of almost 81. 900,
900 and Montana farmers sold 81 800.
900 worth of sugar beets.
\ faint idea of the vast extent ant
and wonderful range Of Montana
industries may be- had from few
figures showing the production OF TIN
state for the past year. Farm ant
garden products. SOL 100000; mines
S64 ,955, 2S7: cattle. sheep and WOO
yielded the growers total Of approx
imately $40, OOO, 200, and the product
of the lumber mills amounted to -,
t 81, 900: making grand total
sl44, 36s, 257-not Il bad showing j
raw wealth for a state which III l9l
: was given Il population of ,O5s.
Fruit growing in Montana has RI
cantlv Mt racfnd wide attention Ot