480 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



What The Land Hungry Man Can Get 



From Uncle Sam on The Sun River 



Irrigation Project, Montana. 



The Sun River Irrigation Project in central Montana 

 possesses many new and alluring advantages. The soil 

 in the territory is remarkably fertile, the water supply 

 inexhaustible, the climate ideal. It is situated close by 

 growing home markets, has first class transportation 

 facilities and unusual social advantages- No one will be 

 over six miles from a town. The farm village idea will 

 be carried out all over this project. Already two thriv- 

 ing towns have been started," and hundreds of families 

 are today making homes and independence for themselves 

 on the Fort Shaw Unit of this enormous project. 



The Sun River Valley has an average altitude of 3,700 

 feet, high enough to make the air clear and healthful and 

 provide a long and vigorous growing season for all man- 

 ner of crops. The days are full of sunshine, the nights 

 cool and restful. 



Three hundred thousand acres of land in the Sun 

 River country, lying just east of the Rocky Mountains, 

 will eventually be irrigated. The plans have been made. 

 As rapidly as the farming population increases on the 

 section already placed under the ditch, new irrigated farms 

 will be provided. The Fort Shaw unit of the project has 

 already been completed- Most of the farms in this unit 

 have been taken. Bumper crops have been raised the 

 past two years, and now only a few choice farms remain. 



Large home markets -practically surround the pro- 

 ject. Great Falls, Butte, Helena and Anaconda, with 

 their mining, commerce and manufacturers, today create a 

 demand far in excess of the ability of the surrounding 

 farming territory to supply. Great Falls, a growing city 

 of upwards of 25,000 people, on one of the transcon- 

 tinental lines of the Great Northern Railway, is the near- 

 est big market. On account of its natural location, its 

 river and railroad advantages (five lines of the Great 

 Northern Railway radiate from this point) the tre- 

 mendous horse power capable of development in the Mis- 

 souri, on whose banks it is builded, will soon become the 

 largest city between Minneapolis and Spokane. Its own 

 flour mills now use more grain than can be procured 

 locally. 



These farm homes, with their unusual advantages are 

 procurable from Uncle Sam on most advantageous terms. 

 The land is virtually free- The settler pays only for the 

 water and a permanent water right. The government 

 engineers who are building this project, estimate the full 

 cost of constructing the necessary engineering works. 

 and placing the water on practically all the land embraced 

 in the project, assuring the settler a permanent water 

 supply for all time, to be $30.00 per acre, plus an annual 

 maintenance charge of 50 cents per acre. To acquire title 

 to the land the settler must live on his allotment five years. 

 Ten years are allowed in which to settle with Uncle Sam, 

 the $30 charge being divided into ten easy annual pay- 

 ments without interest. 



While at present these figures are estimated for that 

 portion of the project not yet constructed, it is the actual 

 basis on which the farms now obtainable on the Fort 

 Shaw Unit can be obtained. 



A new idea has been advanced by the government in 

 the location and selection of these farms. They range in 

 size from forty to sixty acres. The exact size of each 

 farm is determined by the government. The home maker 

 selects his farm from these units. Every acre in each unit 

 is not irrigated. The settler pays only for the acreage 

 under the ditch, the balance is acquired through the home- 

 stead feature. For example, on 160-acre sections not 

 more than 110 acres are irrigated, the balance is pasture 

 land. This makes possible the profitable raising of hogs, 

 cattle and sheep. Dairying is also profitable. 



The climate in the Sun River Valley is ideal for irri- 

 gation. The soil is quickly subjected to the plow. It is 

 covered with a good growth of luxuriant natural grass 

 and is cumbered with no sage brush or timber. 



The crops here are sure and substantial. Sugar beets 

 grown in this section have over twenty per cent more 

 saccharine than is found in the beets from other sections. 

 This is due to the long sunshiny days. The returns from 



irrigated lands are almost miraculous when compared with 

 soils which depend on uncertain rainfall. Owing to the 

 small size of the farm units the neighbors are near. The 

 labor, drudgery and isolation of the farms further east 

 are eliminated. The farmers on irrigated lands are work- 

 ing under the most favorable natural conditions. Water 

 is available always when needed. No damaging rain 

 storms come at inopportune times, nor do discouraging 

 droughts occur when crops have almost reached matur- 

 ity- On the Sun River project drainage ditches have been 

 constructed which make it impossible for alkali to rise 

 in the soil. This protects the farmer in case too much 

 water is placed on the land. An experimental farm is 

 conducted by the government for the guidance of the 

 settler. 



Two new lines of the Great Northern Railway ar 

 now being built in this vicinity. One passes through th 

 Fort Shaw Unit. The average distance from a railroad 

 station is now only nine miles. 



Wheat averages thirty bushels to the acre on t 

 Sun River Project; oats, 35 bushels; potatoes, 175 bushels 

 These crops are especially adapted to the soil of thi 

 region, likewise barley, alfalfa, sugar beets and smal 

 fruits. Sun River alfalfa seed has proven superior to Utr" 

 alfalfa. 



A man of moderate means, who takes up one of thes 

 farms can achieve an enviable position of independence 

 provided he follows the methods of cultivation proven 

 most advisable by government experts on the experi- 

 mental farm. A married man should have about one 

 thousand dollars in cash or its equivalent in stock, tools, 

 machinery, etc. A shelter must be provided for the fam- 

 ily, and food and other supplies purchased over winter. 

 A single man may succeed with smaller capital provided 

 he will take advantage of the many opportunities afforded 

 him for outside employment. 



The Sun River Irrigation Project offers a plucky man 

 more than a fighting chance to win a competence and 

 leave a valuable heritage to his children. The social 

 advantages here are in many ways superior to the eas 

 The schools are excellent. Telephone lines, churches ani 

 schools are being built, and mail routes established. Th' 

 process of development is well under way- The oppoi 

 tunities are there now. Sun River Project offers a ne 

 chance in a wholesome, healthful atmosphere for tho; 

 who are wise enough to grasp this opportunity. 



Send for 



Montana Booklets 



reat Northern Railway 

 has published several book- 

 lets describing the opportunities in 

 the towns and cities, the farms and 

 fruit lands along its lines in Mon- 

 tana. These chances are to be 

 found in the Sun River Irrigation 

 Project, the Milk River Valley, 

 Flathead Valley, and many other 



sections of Montana. Write for free illustrated 

 booklets. Address S.J. Ellison, General Passenger 

 Agent, St. Paul, Minn., Great Northern Railway. 





