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Milk River V alley News. VOL 1. WILL BAHT FDR THE BIG FAIR Western Scenes on Canvass will be Displayed in the Hand some Montana Build ing. —" CHAS, RUSSELL WILL BE ARTIST. Cowboy Art st Has at Last Won The Fame That He So Richly D< serves. Charles M. Russell, the cowboy artist of Montana, him taken New York by. storm. Only this last week Leslie’s Weekly devoted two whole 'igee tp tell iag of this alever young painter and re producing several of hie well known pictures and a photograph of himseif and Mrs. Busssl. 5 For years Russell has been known far and wide throughout the West, but eastern artiste seethed unwilling to give him recognition. Today this has all been changed. While Russell was in New York the last two months he was wined and-dined and banded about in ths art-oirclee of New York as one of the great painters of America. At last he is famous. Since returning to Montana be has communicated with Mr. Schatzlein of Butte and promised several pictures for the Montana building at the World’s Fair in St. Louis. Among these pictures will be found the following: “The Prairie Lovers.” This represents a wide expanse of prairie in the early •O’s. Au ox team is hauling a prairie schooner; an old man walks on due side of the team, while on the near side saunters the yoang daughter with a youth by her side. He is evidently, in love with the prajri^^jrl nnd wm’ in tendon winning her regard. Tbs lights and shndowi-oJ tbeweetie show the hour to be^ttye odeae of day. Far in the distance lieiwrW^hjih lighted by the ex quisite Wtllute^frjtnd oo| y W mountain regions. ' rhrrwW* look ot peace in the picture that is in harmony with the love^edeaif^iiHbe foreground. Of quite addthwr cbwracter is the pic ture entitled, “tW Ambbsb." Indians are shown out&e top of h bluff watching an emigrant trails as ft* winds along a stream approaching the bluff. The red in the foregrdundis shading -bis eyes while’ anoa&^MumS|^cf the back ground, is ib Warning to others in life caution*. Th- picture is tulUft»»bif^»ed activity and is characteristic ofßuseell. The ‘tHudson Jtay Trappers” repre sents a needs familiar to the early settlers ot the Northwest. A party of trappe s returning from a successful hunt is shown to be surrounded by a circling band of Blackfoot Indiana. The trappers have bad three of their number and two horses killed These are being used as breast works from'behind which the others are shooting at the Indians, as the latter ride swiftly by io a circle—the Indian mode of battle. One griraily heauftd old trapper n.u* uio guu oo pointed that it wurna to be hinted directly at the one looking at the picture, giving one rather a creepy feeling —it is all so realistic. A picture of particular interest, espec ially at the World's Fair, wilt be the one entitled "Lewis and Clarke at the Falls of the Missouri.” Clarko is standing on Iha bank of the-river pointing to the fallat behind him stands York, his oolor edwervant, and seated on the ground near his feet i« the young Indian women, Sacajswea. This ths Indian woman who guided the party from the Mandan country to the Jrtter»on riyar, from whence sho had been carried by the vic torious Maadgna years previous. The picture is beM^tui >u ^ta timings, the lights aad shadows, blending ii snob harmony there is no beginning and no ending. Russell is noted for the activity shown in bis pictuiee.but thia seems even more pronounced than usual in the pictnie named “Indian Buttle," There is a fight on between the Blackfoot and- Bionx Indians. These were ones the two largest tribes in the Northwest country, ths former predominating in numbers. The struggle for supremacy between these tribes was florae and ended only when the Blackfoot Indians woie nearly exterminated. This particular battle is fall of lh borrors of wsr. Dead men and bore- e are scattered about like cotton balls after a tornado. An )mm*me Indian is lying ill the foreground so dead_j«"king that one knows fee is dead;lor* » lying a short distance to the right with tba blood streaming from bis mouth, while in the center stands a Blackfoot chief covered with war-paint and feathers fac ing aHioux and looking So fiercethut the onlooker instinctively draws back fr m the picture. This is considered one of Russell's masterpieces The battle rages so fiercely that one is fascinated and ihe colorings blend with the foreground in such manner that they are not noticed. “'lhe Surrender” is another picture depicting intensity qf life. This repre rents another battle but one between the cattle “rustlers” ai d a band ot cowboys in Wyoming. In the early days of the i\ est a warfare raged between ti.e cattle “rustlers’’ and cattle kings The rus'ler were men who gathered heids Of their own trim among the strays of the large owners. As a result the latter were con stantly using their cowboys in an effort to nips out the rustlers. This picture shows a fight between the two in 1886 with Ihe rustlers getting the worst of i.. Thore are a number of dead strewn over the foieground end one tall, g.unt man is standing lo.king generally dis reputable and with his head bandaged, holding aloft a white rag on a rifle barrel, w bile the cowboys swiftly advance on their ponies. It is a powerful scene and is true true to-life in the early days of the West. All of the men are alert and intelligent looking, scintillating that 'force and activity necessary to the up building ot a new country. | BEARD ABBOT TOWN; During the cold spell of a week ago it was not an unusual sight to see three and four men, in a well-known up-town resort, playing draw poker for tobaeco coupons, and when all the “money" was in the center of the table it certainly looked good to people who were stand log near by, bat on closer inspection, and also from the talk of the players the mistake was soon discovered. "I will raise you one ootipou,” Was frequency beard and ao-the game went on the more in tereatiag it seemed to be to all con oerMd. It is understood that hundreds of these coupons change hands nearly ovary day in the many different reports of the city. She had droppad into a local furniture store to inquire about bed springs. Tbia woman usually knows precisely what one wants, but it happened that this time waa an exception. Instead ' f de mending a-woven wire spring or a patent spiral arrangement, she asked to lie shown the beet, the More afforded. “And what kind of style do you like best?" asked the accomodating salesman. The answer waa quick. “I U. wW Up ou o,,,ibg ovy.os, BU said. “Just show me tbe beat you haw.” “Speaking of the prevalence of super stition at the present -day,” remarked a well-known business man ot Harlem a day or so ago, “I know it ex sts to a con siderable extent, parti nlarly among women. For instance, a woman member of my family lately broke n little oliiua cup. She was grieving over it. “ ‘Do yon believe,’ I asked b-r, ‘that three cops or eennere, or wlietov-r ihw number, must be broken before the epell has exhausted itself?' “ ‘Believe in it!' she exclaimed. ‘Well. I ahonld think I do. So much so that I deliberately go about breaking the other two things in order t« have the thing settled and the suspense over with.”’ Land is Withdrawn. - Register Burlingame and Receiver Benton have received notification from the interior department at Washington of the withdrawal from .all kinds of dis posal of another large tract at land ! in the Great Falla land district on account of the government reservoir projects. This land is situated in the western portion of Valley county and baa been withdrawn for the site known aa the Mnd Lake reservoir and the Malta survey project, on the recoommendation of the director of tba United States geological survey. ' ” The land withdrawn main les all of eeotioneU, 2^23.24. 26.''7. ”3, 33 mid IM; south half of iwotiona 13 ami 14. north half of sections 23 and 29, sori th half and northeast quarter of sectlou 31 and north half and southwest quarter of auction 35, al! in township 32 ' east Also the north hd’ of section 1 m leap, abip al north, range 31 east; roctions 4. 5 and (band the north halt of Section 3 in townsAip 31 north, range S2ea»t; seo tlone 26. 27 and 86; the srnitli half of section 25, and the north half and aonlb eagl quarter of section 24; in township 32 north, range 81 east. Subscribe for the Mir.n Riteii Vai nrr Nbwi and w* t all rhe news -I the vudey. Suba-npt on price, $2. 0 per year. Harlem, Montana, Wednesday, March 23,1904. frialm in Mill Rm VaM Vos—oa ■■■■ ■ ■ —■ ■ So much has been said about irriga tion in the famous Miik River Valley about^what has already been acoomphsh ed in tlib way of the reclamation or its fertile land when water is once secured, that a few words about what may yii be accomplished m iy b- 1 acceptable. Irrigation in this now justly fan one region is merely in its infancy. We have merely mad- a good start, with the land placed under irrigation by the govern ment, as contemplated, the valley will indeed be the grainery of Montana. Reports have been circulated calcu lated to throw doubt upon the govern ment irrigation project, yet notwith standing these reports the people of the valley still believe that every acre of land susceptible of irrigation will yet be watered, that the people are energet io e nongb and capable of doing it them selws should the government fail, and that long before it was ever dreamed that lhd national government would go into the irrigation' business these plane were being quietly worked out, and that the government is merely going over the same ground. Today the people of ibis valley are a mong the most well to-oo of not only Montana, but the entire Northwest, and let it be knowk that this wealthhas been wrest from the soil, most of the\ sett less arriving poor, it is frequently ^eeerted that our prosperity is due to .our im mense stock interests, but let me ask bow many lead of live stock would this entire valley support in the absence of the irrigation canals to produce the bay so much needed for winter feed, and taking this year especially, with our loss of lambs and our inability to market cattle at a price which our stockmen felt was profitable, is it not again th.■» irrig.' t.-.-l land and the small farmer with hia sur plus bey and grain, also hia winte. ".’rd beef and mutton who has relieved the financial situation? A great deal has been said about the profits of wheat production, yet our di versified farming is the surest basis of dur future wealth, and ill fares the day when our farmers obtain the mistaken idea that all their land must be plowed up and seeded to wheat, about the surest road to future wealth Hee through the alfalfa and clover field for the Milk River farmers. The people of the MHk Biver valley do not, as yet know the possibilities of their soil, and surroundings; and ,it is a noticeable fact, that whan some of them make trine tn Utah. WvoWiing. Colorado, or Washington, where msuy-of the-prob lems cow confronting na have already been worked out, they invariably return with a much stronger faith m their own locality. Who has not noticed the wonderful productivness of a comparitively small piece of land well bandied and irrigated. Suppose we should divide up our land and this practice becomes general, it does not need the eye of a prophet to torsee ths wonderful result. vucu tut) ({uroUuM 18 asikuU OU DuW small a tract of lund an average family conld be maintained in comfort? Opin ions differ very much in this matter, it has cot been lasted in this valley yet, some will maintain that a man will starve to dyalh on 160 acres of irrigated land, yet near Harlem during tbe past season 1 am informed of several 160 acre tracts which in hay alone yielded a net reve nue of SI,OOO shove cost production, would a man starve on such a revenne? Suppose this land had been in alfalfa, would it not yield a greater revenue? I am confident that tba tyrmere iu the vicinity of Harlem can do a well as tbe farmers of tbe Yellowstone in the vicinity .of Billinga when pn^,to the test. I’rof. Wylie at Botemao oUbpeep annual reve nue et per here train his alfalfa, in the GaUapu valley While I. D. O’Donnell I understand secures a 'net' revenue of S2O per sere yearly frllm bis large lilfal famcadowe. . The eubarcemeni in tlm vajua of patented land whief will accrue by rea son of increasing eetllem-uf, apd the üb sorbtion of tlie free government laqd jpto small holdings v-dl cana-, a gradual breaking up of t^eae larger farma, men will arrive iu the v dk.y Wlio will want 40 and SO acres on which to build a borne irnd who will be wilting co t>av a fair valuation, the result on these small holdings will justify al! Hist I have said in behalf of snob emill farina, these men •i 1 obtain tire greatest possible yield, will engage in gardening, dairying, freul grow ng, vrg.-iidil«u. o>'. aud will not only support ibem-elvna.o^ fasaHmaT nut !ny by son-Mhi-g lieddee. It any one doubts this let4hem take n i trip to L,llm M b.u.<l Missoula where there are a number of 5 and 10 acre farms, nnd where in many instances a greater net revenue is being derived from these than on many a 160 acre farm in Montana to day, and a trip to Utah where tamil.es are being maintained ou as small an area as two acres would be a revelation to such. Recently while on a trip to Benton we beard one very outspoken radical gentleman, loud in his deuounciation of the so called outrage which Was being perpetrated upon these people. He made the statement that they would starve and freeze to death, yet I was later informed by neighbors of this man that ha himself arrived in Montana some ten years ago a very poor man indeed, and labored for wages on a farm for several years, finally baying s tsam, then taking a buck herd for a seaeosf then later a band of sheep on shares, that be lived two years in a tent, and is counted among one of the wei.ltbieat today, yet be denied that others possibly just as bright and intelli gent could not do the same. It can usuually be set down when one bears a man so express himself that it is dne to selfishness on his part, he proba bly wishes to restrict the development of the state that be may use the range for hia own s|ock. I expect to-live to see the day when many industrial enterprises will be sup ported in tbe valley, such as woolen mills, creameries, canning factories, flour mills, cheese factories, etc., thus adding .much to our wealth and prosperity. We often hear doubts expressed about our ability to find a market for our pro ducts; Montana is importing something near 810,0(0,000 worth of food products yearly, when we supply this then it will be time -u worry about a muiast. When all the land susceptible of irri gation baa been aecia tailed in thia great valley, there will yet remain a vast mount of land from which a greater revs nue will be obtained in-time. In Utah,' and Washington Crips are being pro duced upon similar land which ten yea. a ago was deemed worthless, yet by a sys tem of farming revolutionary in its character, they find thia most productive land today, I refer to the great benches laying along tbe Canadian lloa and trib utatary to every town of tbe vol ey, it is merely a matter of time until this to will be put to profitable use and will oon tribute its wealth to our coffers, already this is being tested with every indica tion of success. V was rumored that there was a possi bility of a large Boer colony arriving ia tbe Milk River valley. There is more then mere rumor to ttis. We have heard that some objections have been made to their locating among us. Tbe intention is to place them where there will be uo peoplSHo object, and where they will have a clear field. It would lie decidely in the interests of any of the enterprising towns along tbe valley to have this colony locate tributary to them. Contrary to the general idea, theae peo ple are not paupers, bnl many can buy and soli the objeotois, having sold valu able farm u in South Africa to incoming Englishmen, and who are now seeking a place to invest tbsir wealth. I’''”’ 1 ’''”’ I have observed one thing which ar gues well for tbe future of Harlem and locality and that is the unity of senti ment Huong her prominent citizens in any matter calculated for the upbuilding of that locality. When anything is pro. posed which will promole tbe general welfare they at once stand as n unit, and there lies your greet strength while it is right that many other localities are failing to secure the prize. They seem able to overcome tbe email differences which naturally arise in any community, and I want to Congratulate the Nawe in bar-ng such a plass of peopls to support it. Possibly no one in Montana realizes more fully how these matters ere con *trned by prominent railway < ffieiale and iaveetore. Tima alone will prove ni ,ny thing*. * W. M. WOOLBIDOB, niusdalv, Moutima, March 18th, U 904. Their Official Tailor. A special order iwned by General Superintendent Blade of the Great Northern has boon received to the effect tb«t the company has appointed an official tailor and that all uniformed em ployees must purchase their clothing from the official tailor- The contract for drereiog conductors, brpkemen and por has been awarded to one firm Sy tbe bnd the employee* must govern theme-fives accordingly. Dn'il Jhe issuance of the special oder the men were allowed to buy their clolh- lug wherever it suited their convenience Under tbe new regulations the company aiteciliru wnb great detail how tbe em ployes m ist dress. Pisseugor and dining car conductors and ticket exchangers will be required to wear brown duck vests between July 1 and Sept. 1. All uniformed employee must wear white linen, with black peek lies, and no employe will be considered fully uniformed if he wears flaune) shirts, colored linen or colored neckties. The shoes must be of black leather, well polished, and employes must be clean shaven or have beards nearly trimmed. Tbe wearing of gaudy or heavy watch bains or jewelry will in no case be per mitted. The use ot tobacco and the carrying of toothpicks will not be per mitted. The new order provides for uniforming conductors, passenger and dining and sleeping-car ticket exchangers, passenger brakemen, news agents, sleep ing-car porters, parlor and train porters and agents. The agents' uniform will consist only of a cap with the word “agent” in silver letters across the front. BANK FOR HARLEMT New Brick Building will' Be Erected Soon for its Home For some time past tbe matter of es t ablisbing a state bank has been dis cussed by the business men of the city, audit isr understood that tbe matter of erecting a new building io a central por tion of the town is now being seriously considered by the promoters. Harlem should by all means have a bankii g in stitution located here, not only for the convenience of tbe merchants and tbe general public, but also for tbe bun ereda ot ranchers who live tributary to the city, for under the existing ciycnm stances all parties concerned are com pelled either to take or send their money to the nearest bank of their choice, which at times is not only inconvenient, hut. also bssardona. The new building when erected will in all probability be a two story brick of file-proof nature and when finished will present-w.yary. handsome appearance both on the interior and exterior and and will be a credit to the only growing city in Chouteau county. Tbe bonk will have ample capital and it is understood that all of tbe officers of the new concern will be chosen from among the sterling business men of this -city. •SGHOOLNOTES] Ou account of the inoleateut weediei the attendance for the past few weeks has been very irregular. A few pupifs are losing much valuable time out of school on account of sidk neea. Tbe pupils of tbe grammar room have recently organized themselves into a literary society. The following are tbe officers, viz; Polly Watkins, president; Mnlile Ellis, sice president; Eloise Wood, secretary; Ruth Colgrove, treasurer; Rex Barton, sergeant at arms. The first effort of Ibis society will be put forth next Friday afternoon ut 3 o'clock. Tbe subject for discussion is “Resolved that the United States would be justifiable in espousing the cause of Japan in her pre sent struggle with Russia.” Arguments for the affirmative will be presented by tbe following: Mabel Ellis, Rex Barton and Clara Pefaur. The negative will be represented by the following: 8. Mit chell, Siyy Larson and Knrl Dodge. Tb.ee appointed for recitations are Rhea Jouuson and Bertha McConnell; tor reading, Cha". McDaniel; foreesay, Rnth Colegrove. Visitors are welcome as at other exercises of the school. Tbe school district baa recently pur ohaaed several volumes of library books to be used as supplementary work. Resolutions of Respect. We, tbe directors of the Harlem School District, having noticed an article pub lashed in the Harlem Republican re flecting upon the good name and charac ter of one of our lady teachers, do here by condemn said article aa an unrewon able*and vicious assault upon snid lady, and in justice to the said teacher we hereby wish to state to the public that she has been employed by ns for nearly two years, and receives oar unanimous endorsement together with the endorse ment of all parents sending children to her school, not only as a teacher, but as a perfect lady and a cred.t to our com munity. E. M. Kbxnedt, Alok'zo Fhith, W. E. Fnnucn. Trustees. STOCK LOSS IS BELOOVERAGE Crust on Snow bothers Range Stock somewhat and Chinook would be welcome. MARKET CATTLE BEING WELL-FED Prominent Helena Man Buys Milk River Country is advancing in grout strides. A. J. Davidson, of Helena, who was in tbe vicinity of Harlem last week looking ottr bis large stock interests, between here and Chinook, reports that stock baa not suffered much from the winter in tbeee sec ions, and although tbe winter has been a little severe, the stockmen aa a whole are satisfied with the average small loss already sustained. Mr. Davidson in speaking of tbe stock foteruH in the Milk River valley said: “Most of tbe ranchers in the Milk River valley have been feeding their stock pretty regularly during tbe winter in and around tbe barn corrals, but the range cattle, wno have to bustle for a living through the crusted snow, are not doing so well by any means, and unices tbe cruet on the snow soon breaks up there will be a large loss of range stock, not only in thia section of the country, but all over the state, as the same con ditions exist in all sections of Montana. Mr. Davidson is of the opinion that there will be fewer cattle imported into tbe state thia year than there was last, which was not a record breaker by any means. Inr derstand that tbe big cattle men in Texas are at tbe present time asking 820 per bead for tneir cattle, which is a ridiculous price, as tbe home market there only brings 815 and 818 per bead, and I would expect to get the stock tor that money if I wanted it very bsdly. “Just at the present-time tbe markets are glutted and the prices of all kinds of stock is very low in both Chicago, Kan sas City and Omaha, but a reaction is bound to sot in soon and then I look te see the motkat value of stock go up to wards tbe sky. “Wfade in Chicago a short time ago I had occasion to go to the stock yards, and I waa told that over 50,000 cattle had been offered to the big packers that day, besides large quantities ot sheep and hogs. Moat of the cattle were gone over but there were at least 10,000 hold overs tor the next day, and it is no won der to me, or to any one for that matter, *-o will take the trouble to visit the stock yards in any big city where pack ing is carried on to cause them to open their eyes. As long as this practice is kepi up there is very little room for im provement,” On speaking of tbe Milk River coun try Mr. Davidson waa enthusiastic in deed, and spoke of tbe rapid changes made in this section of the country. “A f> w years ago there were only a few irrigating ditches to be noticed in a days journey,” said he, “and now the whole country is interlaced with them, all of which proves that the country is being rapidly settled up and is fast becoming tbe paradise of a large number of desir able emigrants from tbe eastern states, who are faat learping the once difficult ways of raising diversified crops by means ot irrigation." Card of Thank*. I desire to express my heartfelt thanks to those who donated monay for my sup port during my recent illness. Especially do I wish to thank those who Mmt.ms many dainty dishes of edibles and for ths loving care of my friends. Luoktlb Jayhsb. DODSON. NOTES. Mrs. J. O. Elder and childraA of Hai-' lem are visiting friends here at present. Mrs. Vogel’s brother and sister, are visiting in Dodson. A petition is being circulated around hers to prevent tbe pardoning of Joe. Proulx, who committed aa unmention abls crime near thia place. Everyone who is iwked to sign tbe petition, do it und it is safe to say that it a petition will help any, Mr. Proulx will serve a tew more years before being turned loose. £ Miss Florence Fuller visited Mrs. Robert Smith Sunday. (Ihas. Parsons is bsulir g wood to thia 'place. Robert Smith was visiting at Ben Stoven'i Saturday. IM. N.Jludolph is. hauling bay from this place. It looks very much as it Wagner was going to have two school teachers. . INO. 1.