Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 189, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1910 — GIRL WINS A FARM [ARTICLE]

GIRL WINS A FARM

Philadelphian Draws 160 Acres on Indian Reservation. i . Outdoor Life and Larger Freedom Of Undeveloped Country Appear Pleasing In Contrast With Environments of City. Spokane, Wash.—Miss Mary R. Bloomer of Philadelphia, who won a homestead of 160 acres Ip the Flathead Indian reservation In western Montana at the government lottery, has decided to become a farmer. She Is now at Missoula with her mother and brother, and says her father living at Philadelphia, and brother, a resident of Seattle, will join them In a short time. Miss Bloomer did not journey from Philadelphia to the Spokane country merely for the purpose of registering in the land drawings last year at Missoula, Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. In fact, when she left her eastern home for a visit In the Pacific country she did not know there was any such thing as a land drawing In progress. She had not even heard of the Flathead reservation, and Montana waa to her not much more than a name convenient In identifying a huge portion of the great American desert—a vast, unmeasured hunting ground for gun toting cowpunchers, savage Indians and wild things. But, while stopping oa the way, to visit relatives at Leavenworth, Wash., her uncle mentioned the big land opening, and then and there it was determined that she would stop at Missoula, Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, and register. This was done, and in course of time Miss Bloomer received notification from Uncle Sam that she should have 341st choice among the Flathead farms in Montana. Evidently Miss Bloomer was happy

In the prospect of becoming a farmer In the eastern pairt of the Spokane country. Missoula she thought to be a most progressive and attractive little city; and she seemed to appreciate at Its full value the exquisite beauty of Its surroundings. She is Impressed with the activity and optimism of the people and believes she will become as much attSched to the west as she was to her home city. “There Is much to attract one In the northwest,” she said, when asked why she left the east. “The outdoor life and the larger freedom and more vigorous atmosphere In this land of magnificent distances and opportunities possess a fascination that few can resist, and I believe 1 will become a full fledged westerner in a short time. It is true lam what you would call a 'tenderfoot.” and I do not know

a thing about farming, setting a hen or milking a cow, but I am going to learn, and I feel I shall ‘make good’ with the best of them.” Miss Frances L. Loosmore of Hilyard, a suburb of Spokane, who had 337th choice, filed on 81 acres, which, she says she will put Into grain and fruit