A KAILROAD NEEDED IN THE PERMANENT REGION. 21 
can be effectually distributed in this area tbe result will be of immense 
value to the agricultural interests of Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, 
and Kansas, in fact of tbe entire temporary region. We do not pretend 
that it will wholly relieve this area from locust invasions, but it will 
very materially lessen their extent and injury. 
In order to carry on agricultural operations to any great extent in 
this belt, an extensive system of irrigation will be absolutely necessary. 
It will have to be on a scale of greater magnitude than any that will be 
undertaken by a pioneer popuhition. We doubt the propriety of the 
general government undertaking such a work directly, if it is possible 
to accomplish it in any other way. This, we think, may possibly be 
done by giving the land for this purpose. We are fully aware of the 
opposition at present to the government's donating any more of the 
public land, but the circumstances of this case bring it out of the gen- 
eral rule. If donating the entire body of public land in the belt de- 
scribed would suffice to settle it with an agricultural population, not 
only would the very purpose for which it is held be accomplished, but, 
if our views are correct, the result would be of immense benefit to the 
border States. 
We therefore suggest the following as probably the most feasible plan 
of accomplishing the desired end : Let the United States donate a belt 
of fifty or sixty miles in width, running from the Black Hills west-north- 
west, so as to strike the Yellowstone River a short distance above the 
mouth of Big Horn Biver ; from thence north-northwest by way of Fort 
Shaw, or the mouth of Sun Biver, in the direction of Fort Hamilton, in 
British America; this to be granted on condition that the company to 
which said land is granted shall, within a given time, construct a rail- 
road from the Black Hills along the line designated, to the international 
boundary ; shall undertake and carry out, to an extent to be designated, 
a system of irrigation, and shall equip and keep in operation said road 
for a certain number of years. 
Whether such grant will be sufficient inducement for any competent 
company to undertake the work specified is probably the chief difficulty 
in the way of successfully carrying out this plan. On this point we do 
not feel qualified to express an opinion. That such a road, starting from 
the Black Hills, if once built would soon be connected southward and 
eastward with other roads cannot be doubted. That it would be the 
best possible means of bringing an agricultural population into this belt 
cannot be doubted. It would also be an important factor in settling the 
troublesome Indian problem in this section of the West. 
L° the plan should be adopted it might be well to colonize, if possible, 
with Russian peasants who are accustomed to fighting locusts. 
The advantage to be derived from this plan consists chiefly in the 
fact that it is possible to destroy the young to a very large extent by 
the use of the proper means. If this is done in the very heart of their 
breeding-grounds, it greatly lessens the numbers that will migrate. Not 
