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THE TREASURE STATE 





• ••• 



Cutting Wheat on Dry Land Farm Near Dillon (Yield 66^^ Bushels Per Acre.) 



Instead, they remained in tlie land of their adoption and devoted their fortunes and 

 energies to the building of a great commonwealth. Throughout the years which 

 have followed, the strong character of these pioneer citizens has been continually 

 molding the destines of the State. Their influence has been felt in private and public 

 affairs and their ideals have been ever foremost in the eyes of Montana citizenship. 

 Few of them now remain, but their sons and daughters inherited their vision of lofty 

 purposes and newcomers into the State have caught the spirit of greatness, which 

 they inspired. 



During the past six years, more than 100,000 men and women have come into this 

 state from all parts of the Union to take advantage of the vast area of public lands 

 which were available here for homestead entry. These people have and are making 

 good in the fullest sense of the word. It has often been remarked that it was per- 

 haps fortunate for Montana that the great era of agricultural development in this 

 State, now in progress, was contemporaneous with the general recognition of the fact 

 that farming, the most independent of all earthly means of earning a livelihood, 

 required brains as well as brawn. The result of this was that the Montana 

 homesteader was not the cast off or the ne'er-do-well of other communities, but 

 was the strong, self-reliant and ambitous. These people were quick to imbibe the 

 Montana spirit and the results which they have attained speak eloquently in their 

 behalf. 



Nothing of the wild and wooly west remains in Montana. Illustrations of mod- 

 ern farm life are to be found in even the newest communities. The well furnished 

 home, the opportunities for social intercourse, the groups of happy and contented 

 school children all give ample testimony that "life in Montana is different." 



The public school system of this state is a strong index to the character of its 

 people. The minimum limit for a school term is four months. Over four-fifths of 



