The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-12-18
U.S. LASS|FIES
LAND REMNANTS
BY ADAPTABLE uses
Area Of ~ Domain Crector
Than Germany Left for
Disposal to Settlers

In the belief that better farming
Will result II the public lands Of the
northwest are labeled according to
the uses for which they are adapted
and then turned over to settlers for
such uses. the government has ben
classifying 130.00O,O00 acrs In the
spring wheat belt. It has found that
more than half the area. which Is
nearly % large as Germany and
larger than all the area Of the New
England states combined with New
York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Delaware, Is valuable
only rs grazing land.
The classification work has been
done BY the geological survey bureau
and covers lands In eastern Montana,
western North and South Dakota,
northeastern Wyoming. and adjacent
regions In the Rocky mountains.
g per Cent Crop Land Dry
An authorised summary Of the geo.
logical survey report follows IN full
text:
Present and potential dry-farm de-
velopment Is also discussed extensively
In the report. It is shown that &C
cording to the United States census OF
agriculture q total Of 17,500y0OO acres
In the area classified Wal used - crop
land in 1924, but nearly Il per cent
Of this area was idle Or fall0w land,
and the area from which crops were
actually harvested was about 15.O0O.OO0
acres. Nearly Is per cent OF this crop
area Is dry.farm land. the remainder
being irrigated.
The area cropped In 1924 Was only
= per cent Of the potentially cult.
vable area Of the entire region . N.
dicated on the Classification maps.
wheat was the principal crop. and y
per cent Of the harvested crop land
was used for its production.
spring wheat Doalnatss
According to the census records o.
1919, about D per cent Of the wheat
acreage Is planted to spring varieties,
a ratio which probably has not been
materially altered to the present time.
Other important crops and the per.
centape Of cultivated land devoted %
each n 1874 were: Hay, y per cent;
cats. 10 per cent: corn. 3 per cent;
max. s per cent; and barley and rye,
3 per cent.
More than half Of the area shown
ON the map is classified . valuaole
only for grazing. and about y Per
cent Of the remaining land y now e.
ine used only for grazing. TINS vast
reeion - almost rs large as' Germany.
ana larger than the area OF Al tne
New England states combined WITH
New york, New Jersey, P~ennsylvania,
A6arvland and Delaware. IT. nASive
veeetation includes . Wide variety o.
grass species that are very pala.e0ss
and highly nutritious g nvee1ock'
especially cattle and horses. the era1-
inr Requires Of the area are. there.
fore. one Of its principal agricultural
assets. The discussion Of the present.
ma mast utilization Of these resources
forms : very interesting part o. tne
report.
ThA DEVELOPMENT OF irrigation 10
the region Is broadly described q
hayine its origin With the first white
settlers, who were stock1men ~ ~
most part and occupied the nossu
lands contiguous to the pereunla.
streams. where land could p ir!1G.Sec
sufficiently for hay, the pginc1pal
crop. BY means Of compaxatsvoay
simrle and Inexpensive ~structareA
Ieter IRRIGATION developnnenfs were
undertaken which required large e.
.~,c6it,,res AZ canatal under expert en-