The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-11-17
BIG PROSPECTS FOR
MILK RIVER VALLEY

The agricultural possibilities of the
Milk river valley have never been
thoroughly appreciated, largely be-
cause the lands have been in the hands
OF large owners who are more inter
ested in cattle feeding or wheat raising
than in the cultivation of more valu-
able crops, according to government
officials, who have studied the stu.
alton.
There has not been as yet a DEM
onstration and full understanding of
the type or system of agriculture
which is post profitable; nor has
there been a general understanding
OF the fact that with the great diver
sity of soils different methods of farm
ing must be adopted. The soils range
from light, rich, a%lluvial sandy loan
to very heavy clays, or adobe. The
owners of these lands have not taken
sufficient pains to discriminate be-
tween these different types Of soil,
and have tried to raise cultivated crops
for example, on the heavy soils, and
in some cases have neglected the
lighter soils, becoming discouraged
and condemning further efforts, large
ly because they have not succeeded in
raising on the heavy soils hte crops
which might be very successful else
where.
For example. even on the heaviest
soils, when skillfully handled, alfalfa
has been highly successful, but un-
fortunately some farmers have at
tempted to raise potatoes or sugar
beets, and have found hat the cost
of blowing and preparing the soil
has exhausted the value of the re-
turns. In short, in going over the sit
%uation, the slow development of ir-
rigation of valley lands may be at
tributed not so much to the soil and
climate as to the lack of activity eau
tiously directed. Fundamentally this
can be traced back to the greater land
ownership and the desires of these
owners to speculate in the land and in
cattle, rather than to inform them
selves through results obtainable by
agricultural experients, and carry out
the laborous work of well-directed
farming.
Whenever these lands are placed
upon the market as prices and terms
consistent with their true value, and
homeseekers are correctly informed as
to these values and the methods of
c%ultivating the soil, there should be no
difficulty in building up communities
along the Milk river valley. There
are opportunities for thousands of
small self-supporting farm homes. The
soil, climate and transportation facil-
tiles are favorable. There are no in
surmountable obstacles interposed by
nature which have not been. or cannot
be, corrected by the use and extension
of the irrigation systems already ex-
listing. The obstacles to be overcome
are not physical; they are wholly men,
and of human origin, resulting
from the lack of morale, or will to win.
on the part of the people now holding
controlling the land. When once
these people can be brought to see the
great possibilities of the future. and
realize that these possibilities cannot
be attained until the lands are in the
hands of people who will live upon
them, progress will be delayed.
The present owners must also ap-
%preciate that to get the right kind of
prices and farms must be
made attractive. No one is going to
the Milk river valley to buy land at
high prices in order to enrich the
present owners; they will buy only be-
cause they believe the prices are lower
than for equally good land elsewhere.
When the people who now hold these
irrigated lands out of use really ap-
preciate the situation. they will see
that their continuance in business and
increase in prosperity would be better
promoted by actually giving away the
lands to the right kind of people than
by trying to sell them at prices which
destroy the ability of these peo-
pie to get a foothold on the soil and
cultivate it properly. While there is
necessity of literally giving away
the land, yet to attract the right kind
of people, the prices and terms must
be such as to let the prospective pur-
chasers believe that they are getting
a bargain or a square deal.
Discussion has already been had of
the practicability of giving to some or
ganization interested in the develop
ment of the valley on option for, saw
five years, on these lands. This will
enable the lands to be broadly ad-
vertised, and prospective purchasers
to study the actual demonstration If
Without such binding OPP
ton. experience has shown that it is
useless to advertise widely the ad-
vantages of the valley. because of
the fact that in the past when the
makers have appeared upon the
ground the prices have been doubled
or even trebled-thus frightening the
would-be purchasers away.