Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-04-30

that was planted. The net results OF
dry land farming as regards Toolt
county is two paying crops in IL.
Ii former days when a homesteader
did not make a success of farming, he
sold his claim to q stOckman as soon
as he had obtained patent. Nothing
more serious occurred than that be
had lost his time. The title to the
land was transferred from the United
States government to an individual.
A combination of circumstances
since the year 1910 changed the nat
ural sequence of events The "sum-
mer fallow' method of farming was
given great publicity and obtained
mainy followers. The war with its
demand for the raising of more wheat
added it's impetus to the movement.
During the seasons of 1915 and 1916.
q relatively large amount of moisture
was precipitated during the growing
season and consequently there was an
abundant harvest.
1900, 900 Loaned on Land
These conditions induced the home
steader to stay on and to try making
a success Of his farming operations.
He necessarily had to be financed and
the demand became so insistent that
the loan companies were induced to
loan him money, getting as security
for their loan a mortgage on his land.
In the territory under discussion,
the loan companies, the state of Mon
tana and the federal land bank have
loaned approximately one million dol
lars to the farmer, taking as security
a mortgage on his land.
Farming operations necessarily also
bring with them other activities.
Towns are planted. A new county was
created. Towns mean the building Of
schools, churches and houses. the es-
tablishment of banks and business
houses, the building of public utilities
and consequent selling of bonds. A
new county mean officers, the build
ing of roads and the floating of bonds
to carry on these various activities.
Irrigation Gains In Favor
The reorganization of the Toole
County Irrigation district is the direct
outcome of the Uncertainty of dry land
farming. The dry years of 1917 and
convinced the majority of farm
ers that irrigation was needed in order
that farming be based on a sound and
stable basis. If any further proof
was needed to show the necessity Of
irrigation the year 1919 furnished that
proof.
This sentiment for irrigation crys-
tallized in a largely attended mass
meeting at Shelby on March %, 1919,
called by the Toole county farm bu-
reau which, under the leadership of
the county agriculturalist, had taken
a leading part in urging the benefits
of irrigation. At that meeting it was
decided to proceed with the formation
of the Toole County Irrigation district.
Getting the district organized and
the necessary preliminary ex-
aminations occasioned a large amount
Of work, but this was prosecuted Wig
orously during the summer of 1919
and the whole matter was presented
to the district court on September 4,
1919. Petitions were presented to the
court asking the creation of the
Foole County Irrigation district to in |
$4,000 acres Of land which lies, |
speaking. from Ethridge to
Galta on both sides of the main line
Of the Great Northern railway.
Sixty-five Per Ceat Sign Up
These petitions were signed by ap-
65 per cent of the owners
Of title to the lands involved and who
also represented more than IS per
cent of the acreage. The court, taking
the matter under consideration and
no protect against the crea-
ion of the district, signed the order
the same, and the Toole I