Rocky Mountain husbandman., November 16, 1876, Page 2, Image 2

About Rocky Mountain husbandman. (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943

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Rocky Mountain Hlsbanll an..
R. N. SUTHERLIN, Editor.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1876.
ONE of the principal reasons for the corr
parative inactivity of the farmers and stock
growers of Montana is the want of a steady
and permanent market, yet for the past ten
years we know of no country where prices
of produce will average anything like what
hasbeen realized hero. There were a few
years that our granaries were full and grain
,and flour were not worth the actual cost of
'production; in cohsequence of. which many
become disheartened, when in reality there
was no cause for any reduction in our pro
ducts whatever. But many were so short-,
sighted that they only looked to the market
ing of their grain and flour for profit, with
out giving a thought to anything else, and
when the price of these commodities became
so reduced as to render their production un
profitable, they turned their attention to
other branches of industry; when, in truth,
there has never been a season, however
bountiful our harvests have been, that arti
cles, which should have been grown here,
were not shipped from abroad. ,Even when
flour was $1.50 per cwt. and grain 'was sell
ing at corresponding rates, the farmer's
kitchen was supplied with lard and bacon
shipped from the Sates. Yes-lard, bacon,
hams, etc., produced where land is worth
from $2.50 to $4.00 per acre rent, has ever
been furnished our people, and not only the
miners but our agrioultural population have
depended upon the same source for supply.
Our soil is as rich and will produce more
bushels per acre than any land in the States,
besides the expense of tillage is not more
than one-half what it is in the States. Hence,
'we see that the alarm of our farmers with
regard to the market is wholly without
foundation. When Montana is made to
produce a-full supply of such commodities
as may be grown here with equal profit as
,nay be realized elsewhere, whelrour canned
,vegetables and canned small fruits are
turned out from home manuftictories, when
much of our dried and Alden-cured small
fruits and vegetables are all put up within
,our borders, when we have more hacon and
lard than can be consumed within our bar
ders and in the mining camps of the Terri
tories adjoining, it will be time enough to
becQme alarmed about a market.
But the grasshopper scourge for the past
three years has so lessened the yield as to
render prices ifigh at present, and there is
no probability that they will ever fall so low
as at the time referred to, even though
grasshoppers be nulbered among the
things that were.
The rapid development of our mines for
the past .twelve months indicates that this
industry has taken such a start that the de
mand for farm-products is more likely to
advance than decline. This is no visionary
conclusion. The prospects of the farmer
were never better than to-day. The pro
duct of our .quartz mines the past season has
more than trebbled that of any previous
year. Several new camps ! f unbounded
wealth have been tested, and it is notliljg
anote than fair to presume that, In another
:yqr, this pursuit alone will employ ten-fold
t$he capital employed the past season.
;Should this prediction prove true, and it
stands to reason that it will, it will require
aun addltion to our agriculturallopulation to
Lupply the demand.
It will also require a great increase of our
dairy facilities. A tew years ago otir dairy
farmers worked themselves up to the belief
that this article of manufacture would ceo
tainly decline in consequence of the business
being overdone. Yet good packed butter
retails readily ata0 cts. per itb, and whole
:sales at 40 cents, in every mining camp in
the Territory. Durtig the summer season
thesae sa low grade of butter which is sel
dom nseted higther than 20 cents, but the
fault is set with the market, but hi the arti
cletsaelf erMA the manner in which it has
been handled. There has always beei a
fair profit realzled from the dairy, as well as
the farm, and these will oontinue to be, so
lotig as there prevails among our peo~Le a
desire tfor the gold .ndl silver which che.uers
-our hills.
Certainly the outlook for Montana 'was
never better, antd uo,~ass in all the broad
-and have brightorprosjpects thLn sdtr tlus
bandmen. A few more years of prosperity
will place them upon the shining shores of
plenty, where the ghastly spectre " Want "
seldom comes.
TENl years ago many owners were con
tinually driving their cattle around to choice
spots of feed, good watering places, etc.,
but now it is admitted that stock make their
own selection of localities best, and as to
water, there are thousands of head that nev
er taste wvater fromi December till March
and come out beef-fat. In fact, there are
those who hold to the theory that stack
without water do best.-ROCKY MGlj;
TAIN IIUSBANDMAN.
Tell us that there are plenty of men in
Montana who never indulge in water As a
beverage; that it was a mistake about the
Dutchman's horse dying just as he had
taught him to do without food-anythilg,
but that cattle will feed all winter on Iry
bunch-grass and never take a drink--s~ow
they can't always get.-Missoulian.
We stake our reputation as a journalist
or stock-grower upon the correctness of the
above statement; but if this is not sufflcibit,
we would refer " the doubting Thomas " to
such gentlemen as Con Kohrs, W. C. Swees,
R. S. Ford and J. R. Cox, the most exten
sive stock-growers in the great Northwist,
or any one else of general experience fot a
verification of this fact. If it were impossi
ble for stock to winter " on dry bunth
grass and never take a drink," what world
become of the vast herds of buflfalo that
roam the high plains, remote from niy
stream. The fact that the editor of the Mia
soulian doubts our statement, is evidence
that he knows no more of this branch of in
dustry, than the city belle, who wishcd to
know "which cow gave ,the buttermilk,"
did of dairying.
THIE returns of the election in the Terri
tory indicate that Maginnis is elected by a
fair mafority ; but not, however, as large as
was anticipated by his friends. The returns
as given in the Territorial papers are so in
complete, that it is impossible to make up a
summary of the result upon the local of
flecers. The Herald of the 11th gives the
following summary of the Legislative ticket:
Of the twenty-six members composing
the House of Representatives of the Legisla
tive Assembly, just elected, ten are Repub
licans, as follows :
Lewis and Clarke-W. F. Sanaers, Geo.
Steel, Nick Kessler, Joseph Davis.
Jefferson-J. G. Sanders.
Jefferson.and Gallatin-E. M. Bachelder.
Meagher-L. Rotwitt.
Madison--I 0. Hickman.
Deer Lodge-W. Egbert Smith.
Beaverhead-Aaron C. Witter.
UP to the hour of going to press it iis im
possible to give our readers any positive irj
formatidn with regard to the result of tli
great National contest which came off on tl
7th. The whole country is agitated fro$
center to circumference. The telegraph
wires have been burdened with dispatched,
and they have poured in with such a rushl
that it has been impossible for the Heleni
dailies to publish lalf that come. Oli Saturi
day last the wires went down, while chaos
and confusion still prevailed-no conclusion
having been arrived. Both parties express
themselves confident of success, yet "' two to
oae " on Tilden having been offered and no
takers, seems to indicate that the chances
are largely in favor of his election. It is
pretty clear that Tilaen has carried New!
York, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, Ken-i
tucky, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina,
Alabama, New Jersey, Mississippi, Texas,
Maryland, Connecticut, Arkansas, West
Virginia, and Delaware, making 184 elector
at votes. It is equally clear that Hayes has
carried Peunsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Massa
chusetts, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine,
California, Ninnesota, Kansas, Vermont,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Nebraska,
Colorado, and Nevada making 1E83 electorial
votes, Oregon, .Sath Cairolina, Florida,
and Loulsiana are doubtttl, Should all the
doubtful States go for Bayes, he is elected
by one majority, Oeruise, 'Pil4den ~will be
the President,
It is to be regretted that 'the eleacti.n has
been so close, and mere-so, that, as now
seems probable, it must be decided upon
Southersn sol. It is alleged thatfat~unls have
been practiced in the Southern States, andt
there is a 'probability that much of the -vote
may be thrown out, Which will, doubtless,
arouse the bitter anianwIties enganlbesd ty
the w'ar, and should a collision be precipi
tated, there is no telling where it may end.
To say the least of it, the 'best statesmen of
our country tremble for the safety of Amer
ican liberty, and should the matter not be
speedily-and amicably settled, it is bound to
have a disastrous effect upon the money
market and all kinds of business throughout
the whole country.
WE regret that thie press of business and
the absence of part of our office force pre
vented us from accepting an invitation to
have been present at the marriage of Miss
Anna Evans and Mr. 1. McMurphy, at the
home of the bride's father in Deer Lodge,
last evening. Miss Evans is one of those
charming young ladies whose depth of soul
and grace of manner never fail to win the
esteem of all who come within the radius
of her society, and Mr. McMurphy is a high
ly respectable gentleman. The HUSBAND
MAN extends congratulations, and wishes
the happy couple a full realization of all the
joy the morning of marriage promises.
THE vote polled in Meagher county at
the recent election was about 555. From
the statements of reliable persons in differ
ent parts of the county, we find that there
were seventy voters who did not go to the
polls. Thus it will be seen that Meagher
county has held its own, notwithstanding a
considerable number have left this summer
for the Black Hills.
TERRITORIAL N EWS.
From the Helena Herald, Nov. i1.
Mr. W. V. Iarlan, an old resident of Un
ionville, has returned from the Black Hills
to again try his fortune in M.ntan mines.
From the Missoulian, Nov. 8.
Jack Walsh, of Missoula, attempted sui
cide last week by drowning. The water
was too cold, and he allowed himself to be
taken in out of the wet.
Anthony Chaffin called on us last week
on his way to Philipsburg with Bitter Root
flour. Anthony is one of the early settlers
of Bitter Root vawlcy, and is confident, from
information derived from the early pJrospec
tors, tIhat there are mines somewhere at the
head of the valley.
From the Madisonian, Nov. 9.
The Madison valley folks enjoyed another
of those nice social dances at their Grange
Hall on last Thursday evening. It was got
ten up under the supervision of the gran-.
gers. Fourteen couples were in.attendance,
and it is spoken of by those who attended
as decidedly the pleasantiest and most en
joyable of the season. The Madison valley
folks know how such festive occasions are
made enjoyable, and leave nothing undone
to make them so.
From the Helena Independent, Nov. 12.
Returns in from all but four precincts, in
Beaverhead county. Leavitt has 198 votes ;
Maginnis 84.
The whole Democratic ticket is beaten by
from 20 to 30 votes.
An extra of the Benton Rlcorl of the 8th
inst., says: Returns from the precincts
show the county nearly sold for Maginnis
and the Railroad.
W. A. Thompson has been elected to the
Legislature from Choteau county.
From the Bozeman Times, Nov. 9.
Seventeen soldiers, under the command
ofa Sergeant, left Fort Ellis for the post at
the mouth of Tongue river, to act as a gilard
for thl party in charge of the drove of cat
tle belonging to the Diamond R Company.
Mr. Randal brought mn some fine speci
mens of corn last Saturday-equal to the
best " States" corn of the stone kind of seed.
I'his corn was raised on WVm, Black's ranch
bn the Madison river, and has matured well.
[t will make good meal. Messrs. Black and
( andal raised eight acres; also 6,000 pounds
f pumpkins and squashes.
From the New North-West, Nov. 10.
A pigeon match has been made for this
,evnoqn for a purse of $75. Timhe entries
e R, 7, Harris, Dick Dickenson and Phil.
cGo~vern. HTarris gives them two dead
4rds, he to shoot at 10 and they at 8 birds
.c.h, The shooting will take place at Olin's
tiao , probably before the foot race.
!Mr. A.J. Davis who is building a ten
etamp mill at Butte says he will put it in op
eratlon complete for $20,000 and treat ores
at $15 a ton, Of course. he does not pro
'pose to work roasting ores, but netwith.
standingr will ihave done a -good thing for
Montana in building a goodl mill and work
ing silver ores for those figtfres.
V. A. AClark. Esq.. is delighted With fle
Centennial exhibition. In speaking of the
Montana mineral exhibit he says: " There
was an award granted the Montana exhibit
a few days since. It is inferior to some oth
ers in point of avoirdupois only. In point
of merit it is superior to others except Chili
which exhibit some very valuable and beau
tiful silver ores."
GENERAL NEWS.
A telegram from Cheyenne reports that
all of Deadwood has stampeded to Wolf
mountain on the frontier of Montana, where
marvelous gold discoveries have been made.
--Independent.
The orchard of Gideon King, of Iienry
county, Ky., will yield from 2,500 to 3,000
barrels of apples this season.
A circular has been issued in Spain strict
ly limiting Non-conformists' worship to the
interior of chapels and cemeteries.
Wild Alask wheat is being raised with suc
cess in Oregon. It grows luxuriantly, and
is said to be a superior kind of grain.
The Bank of' Clifornia has levied the
eighth and probably the last assessment of
ten per cent. to repair the capittd of the
Bank.
The Senate of Buenos Ayres has passed a
homestead law, to grant 100 acres of land
forever to each family of immigrants, to
gether with seeds cattle and food.
For the year ending September 3d, the
total transactions at the New York Clearing
House amounted to the enoilnous sum of
$22,892,316,274, while the average daily cur
rency exchanges were $70,349,427.
During the month of October there were
shipped over the Union Pacific from sta
tions on the Mountain Divisions (North
Platte to Laramie) 400 car loads of stock.
The total shipments of stock over this di
vision for the four months ending October
31st, 1870, numbered 1,420 car loads.
The Colorado Legislature contains seven
teen merchants, fourteen miners, thirteen
stook-raisers, nine lawyers, eight farmers,
two surveyors, two capitalists, one editor,
one railroad official, one abstract attorney,
one contractor., oine prospector, one miller,
one physician, one hotel-keeper, and one in
terpreter.
The small-pox epidemic is reported to be
dying out in San Francisco. The disease
now attacks only those who are brought in
to direct contact with it. The circle of con
tagion is becoming daily smaller and small
er. The total number of cases reported up
to the 28th ult., has been 1,010, and the to
tal number of deaths 285.
CONSTANTINOPLE, November 10.-The
Porte has not yet replied to England's con
ference proposal.
NEW YonRK, November 10,-Senator Ilay
sa just received a special dispatch, which
says that "Boss" Tweed has stolen the
steamship Franklin and escaped.
PARIS, November 10.-The Count of
Chandordy has been appointed French del
egate to the conference of the powers on the
Eastern question. It is expected that the
conference-will begin its session in about a
fortnight.
LoNDON, Novethber 10.-The Post says:
An arrangement has been reached by the
master and operative cotton spinners of
Blackburn by which the threatened great
lock-out is averted. Other papers on the
same information do not consider the mat
ter as finally settled, but regard an agree
ment as:highly probable.
CLOSE OF THE CENTENNIAL.
PHILADELPHIA, November 10.-Great
numbers of people are in attendance at the
Centennial Grounds to witness the formal
closing of the Exposition. Shortly after
2 o'celock President Grant, escorted by Gov.
Hawley, asoended to the platform, followed
by the Centeadnial Commissioners, Board of
Finance, Foreign Commissioners, and ir.
vited guests. After the excitement of the
multitude occasioned by the presence of
General Grant had subsided, the orchestrfL
under the direction of Theo. Thomas, p~er
formed Wagner's inauguration March, omIU
posed for the opening exercises on the 10th
Concluded on 7th Parg