ViX>S, 



COLONY BUILDING. 



ON IRRIGATED LANDS. 



SPACE will soon be found in these pages for an 

 adequate presentation of the fascinating subject 

 of colonial development in connection with irrigated 

 lands. It is the plan of THE AGE to devote much at- 

 tention to this matter during the current year, because 

 nothing else is so vital to the growth of the arid 

 regions. A large, though scattered, area is under 

 ditch and awaiting the coming of settlers. The time 

 is ripe for an extensive movement of population. The 

 thing to do is to direct it into the right channels. 

 This is to be accomplished by a campaign in the East 

 aiming at the popularization of the irrigation idea, 

 and by the persistent presentation in the West of wise 

 plans looking to the development of attractive colon- 

 ies. One means by which the latter object may be 

 facilitated is the rehearsal of the history of the most 

 successful colonization efforts on record. Another 

 means is the publication of ideas and plans that will 

 be advanced from various sources. 



THE AGE invites the cooperation of its readers in 

 this branch of its work. What attractive features can 

 be incorporated in plans for colonies? What are the 

 most effective means of finding settlers? What can 

 be done to find new markets and increase the average 

 prosperity of those who till the soil? These questions 

 must be answered. Let us have the assistance of the 

 Man with an Idea. 



A COLONIZING SCHEME. 



Interesting Methods Adopted for Settling Lands 

 in Moxee Valley. 



An interesting plan of western colonization has 

 been put in practice by the managers of the Pacific 

 Artesian and Land Company, of Tacoma, Wash., who 

 are reclaiming a large tract of land in the Moxee val- 

 ley, eight miles east of North Yakima in that State. 

 Their proposition to the home-seeker is, in brief, as 

 follows: A tract of land, ranging from 20 to 80 acres, 

 with water right, is leased to the colonist for half of 

 his gross crop or proceeds from the same. This one- 

 half crop is to be applied, first, to payment of taxes, 

 and second, to payment of interest; the balance 

 applies on the purchase price of the land. This plan 

 is carried out year by year, and when this half-crop 

 payment amounts to the sum total of $100 per acre, 

 interest, at 7 per cent., and taxes from the time of 

 making the lease, then a deed and free water right is 

 given the lessee, free and clear of all incumbrances. 

 The 7 per cent, interest clause does not go in force 

 until one year from date of lease. One good feature 



166 / 



of this plan is, that it allows the settler to have the 

 use of all the ready money that he may have, as there 

 are no cash payments to be made, and he can apply 

 the same to the improvements on his farm. At the 

 same time, it is a good thing for Jhe company. 



The plan thus far has worked very nicely, and, dur- 

 ing the last month, it is understood that a large 

 amount of land has been disposed of to settlers on 

 the line of this proposition. 



WYOMING COLONIZATION. 



Recently, a number of letters have been received, 

 asking for particulars concerning the colonization of 

 the Wyoming Development Company's lands, and 

 THE AGE trusts that the following information will 

 be satisfactory. The construction of the canals of 

 this company was begun about eleven years ago and 

 completed about nine years ago. Further progress 

 in the occupancy of this land has been postponed by 

 controversion with the government over the title to 

 the lands. On the settlement of this controversy 

 measures were taken to carry out the original plans 

 of the company, to make the lands reclaimed the 

 homes of small farmers. It has now been in progress 

 about three months. Already 135 families have 

 secured homes, the area embraced in their purchases 

 being 13,238 acres. All, or nearly all, are from Gree- 

 ley, Colo., and vicinity. They are practical irrigators, 

 and were attracted to these lands by the offer of the 

 company, which disposes of the canals in connection 

 with the lands, and makes the farmers the owners 

 and managers thereof. 



The company is now preparing plans for the util- 

 ization of a number of natural reservoir sites, the 

 largest of which will have a superficial area of 

 between six and seven hundred acres, and will be 

 covered to a depth of between twenty and forty feet. 



WILL WORK FOR KANSAS. 



A new organization has recently been incorporated 

 under the name of the Kansas Immigration Company. 

 The purpose of the association is to secure for Kan- 

 sas its share of the immigration which yearly moves 

 westward. The by-laws of the company prohibit it 

 from buying property and its sole efforts will be de- 

 voted to induce home-seekers and investors to come 

 to Kansas. The main office is at Topeka and the 

 officers are as follows : President, J. A. Troutman ; 

 vice-president, J. E. McLeod; secretary, John Q. 

 Royce; treasurer, F. G. Willard; manager, C. H. 

 Edgecombe. 



