THE IRRIGATION AGE 209 



colony contained a sufficient number of practical, experienced food-producers to pre- 

 clude any possibility of failure through ignorance on the part of the colonists. In all 

 probability we will welcome to our ranks a number from other walks of life. We will 

 endeavor to find room for any man, whose superior intelligence and willingness to 

 undergo the necessary training to fit him for the work, lead us to believe that he will 

 prosper in a new home. We must also have among us a sufficient number of craftsmen 

 to insure the comfort and prosperity of the colonists. 



SHALL WE SEND OUT PIONEERS? 



Let us assume that one colony consists of 500 able-bodied men,some of whom have 

 families and some of whom not. Manifestly our best policy would be to send out the 

 men unencumbered with families, to prepare the new homes for their future occupants, 

 remunerating them, of course, for the work done on the property of their brothers who 

 stay behind. These latter may decide to have this arrangement continue until their 

 land is brought to the producing stage, in which case they need not give up their pres- 

 ent means of livelihood until the land is capable of supporting them. 



WHAT CAPITAL WILL BE REQUIRED? 



Assuming, again, that our colony consists of 500 able-bodied men. of whom 200 go 

 t as pioneers to prepare for each colonist (head of a family) 40 acres of land we may 

 give, as a rough estimate. $50,000 as the sum which will be required the first six 

 months and a like amount the second six months, or an average of $100 per colonist for 

 each six months. The pioneers' portion of this amount being, of course, less than that 

 of the other colonists. The expenditures for the first six months would include ma- 

 chinery for irrigating purposes. 250 horses and harnesses, farming implements, tools. 

 etc. . lumber for building houses for the pioneers, transportation expenses, young trees, 

 seeds, etc.. and the expense of maintaining 200 men for six months. For the second 

 six months the expenditure would include the cost of material for the building of 500 

 small cottages, maintenance of 200 men for six months, seeds, trees, etc. 



VALUE OF THE LAND AT THE END OF THE FIRST YEAk. 



The probable value of the colony's property at the end of the first year would be 

 20.000 acres improved irrigated land, (partly under cultivation) consisting of 500 40- 

 acre plats, each with small cottage thereon $1,000,000, the original cost of which was 

 200,000. The colony in addition to its land would have valuable assets consisting of 

 an irrigation system, town site, irrigation machinery outfit, implements, horses, tools, 

 etc. . depreciated by one vear's use. 



SIZE OF LOTS. 



The amount of land each colonist should hold is a matter of considerable import- 

 ance. If the lots are too large, the colonists are so far apart that it tends to create 

 that feeling of isolation, which to many people is the chief drawback to country life. It 

 also is a temptation to the holder to attempt to cultivate more land than he can proper- 

 ly take care of. and in thus attempting to do too much he does none of it well. On 

 the other hand a lot so small as to be insufficient for the support of a colonist's family 

 is an evil equally to be avoided. Shall we put the amount of land at from 20 to 40 

 acres ? Give us your opinions on this point. The Mormons have become a very pros- 

 perous community on 20 -acre holdings while other colonies have adopted larger tracts. 



OPEN TO CRITICISM. 



All our readers are invited to give their opinions on the above and a frank criti- 

 cism of the ideas promulgated in the above paragraphs is desired. By giving us the 

 benefit of your advise and experience the plans formed may result in placing the 

 colony on a firm and sound basis. 



WHERE SHALL WE SETTLE? 



Should we succeed in securing the 500 members desired to which end we are 

 striving, we will proceed to ascertain which of the western or southwestern states is 

 sufficiently wide awake to offer us adequate inducements for settlement within its 

 borders. Xo offer that does not include the following advantages will be entertained : 



A tract of land free of charge, where an irrigation system can be easily and cheaply 

 oonstructed.having fertile soil .favorable climate and railroad facilities within easy reach. 



