The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1922-03-15
RAILROAD SUGGESTS
SETTLEMENT PLAN

OOOStSAS, bAS sACdtCoSg pAVDSDiy' A
the world. In fact, sometimes they
boost too much, without backing up
their boosting with the real goods. 1t
is not enough simply to advertise for
settlers; before asking them to come
be sure that you have a place where
the ordinary thrifty farmer a sue
coed. The ordinary booster litera-
ture will not get the people in this
day.
In the good old days" cheap land
in the west attracted settlers. They
were lured on by the promise of the
pioneers profit, which was thought
to be in sight, just as they were lured
to California for gold in as.
There are still profits to be made
in the west, big profits-profits in
satisfaction and happiness as well as
in real money. But these profits
don't just come to people in the west
any more than they come in the east,
they must be earned.
The Northern Pacific, which pio-
neered in the northwest, is vitality in
terested in building up its popula-
ton. The west is hungry for set
tiers and the Northern Pacific is
eager to crafty that hunger. No
agency is more axious to secure per-
manent settlers for this country.
To get permanent settlers we are
convinced that the ancient land-sell-
ing schemes for the benefit Of the
land-seller are futile They do more
harm than good. What the west
needs is colonization of the type
which has succeeded so well in Cali
fornia, in Australia and many Euro
pean countries. This plan puts peO-
pie on the land to stay, gives them a
chance to live and prosper and proves
a permanent benefit to the vicinity
and state in which they reside.
Successful colonization of western
lands is dependent largely upon:
l.. A reasonable price for the land.
9. Plenty of time to pay go to
80 years. on the amortization plan
and a low rate of interest mot over
6 per cent?.
8. Cooperation and supervision OF
the state.
A. Good water rights, in case Of
irrigated lands.
. 8. The organization of COLOMBIA
= ton companies with sufficient CAPT
r talization to back the settlers.
6. Advertising these conditions.
$ z. Intelligent cooperation of tn
railroads.
$ We recommend as an ideal unit 70
t a colonization project a body of Ian
large enough to accommodate iron
100 to $50 families, the land to b
O Of such quality of soil and have sue
O climatic conditions and to be so lc
Il Gated with reference to roads an
It transportation facilities as to Civ
reasonable assurance of success t
the prospective settlers.
a The price of the land must be rea'
1. enable in proportion to adjacent LAND
4 in the country and the productiV
= value of the lands and the terms {
n payment such that the coloniZatiC
company undertaking the work
w assisting and directing the prospec
IN i've settlers can give them such
w contract as will enable them TO pa
n. out, even though the settlers nave,
n the outset, a comparatively sms
or amount of capital-probably $500
To So, O0O-providing they have a know
if edge Of farmingFand a willingness
ed practice thrift.
W. Before the Northern Pacific u
"a dertakes the colonization of any pi
ject, we ask that the land be exal
"a ined and approved, and the plans
he the colonization company, its la
ed prices and terms of sale also stud
Tvs and approved by some responsil
re- state official charged with this du
In Montana this means the comm
sioner of agriculture; in Washingt
i, the director of observation and
velopment; in Idaho, the comm
sioner of reclamation. The titles
ork the land and water rights and va
on ity and character of the water rigl
his where lands are irrigated, must 6
DR.. be examined and approved in
ker same manner.
ght If conditions are right and apr
who al secured, we have every assure
his that thousands of families ear
.on- placed on such lands. Without S
,tist conditions, but based on the old mi
sent DDS of mere land selling without
else assistance to the newcomer, the p
,ity. emit prospects for immigration to
- west arc ANYTHING but encourag