Milk River Valley news. [volume], April 20, 1904, Image 1

About Milk River Valley news. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1904-1908

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
Milk River Valley News.
VOL 1.
ALFALFA IS THE
COMING FEED
Large Amount in now Being Sown
In the Milk River Valley.
‘ GROWS THREE CROPS A YEAR
All Kinds of Stock Thrive on T^his
Great Flesh Producer —Easy
To Raise.
One of the most interesting features
of farmers’ institutes recently held in
Eastern Montana was an alfalfa talk by
8. D. O’Donnell, of Billings, one of the
progressive practical farmers of the
Yellowstone country. In recognition of
his advocacy of this valuable forage
plant, the title of “Alfalfa O’Donnell”
has been conferred upon toe speaker,
who probably has given more attention
to this subject, and is better qualified to
discuss it than any other citizen of the
state. Mr. O’Donnell’s remarks being of
interest to Mon’ana stockmen and far
mers who, for various reasons, may be
Vunable to attend the meetings at which
. he will speak, the substances of his ad-
Bdress is given herewith:
| Alfalfa is ns old as the hills. It has
' been cultivated since civilization and
was familiar to the Egyptians and Per
sians. It was known to Greece 450 11. G.
Tbe Bomans tale*-med it highly as a
forage crop for the horses of their army.
Its cuhivatior Das been maintained in
Italy to the present time. From Italy it
was introduced into Spain and by them
curried into Mexico during the Spanish
invasion. Ine Spi niards also carried it
to South America, wh-re it now grows
wild in places.
From Chile it reached California in
1851, where the fir o t Held is still growing
it rapidly spread eastward and is noW
grown largely throughout the humid a
well the mid nMer. The Mo:m< ns to* k
it up H>tbe< .irly days, and-one of th ‘few
„ maxims left by the great colonizer, Brig
ham Young, was to “Plow deep and seed
Alfalfa.”
The secret of its treat success would
seem to be in its rout penetrating power.
I’laut^ four or live months old are known
to have roots five or six feet long, and if
there is, any moisture the roots will pene
trate the hardest hardpan. It is com
„mon to find roots twelve to fifteen feet
long, and F. D. Coburn in his book on
alfalfa mentions a place in Colorado
where an aHalta root was found at a
depth of odo hundred and twenty-nine
feel.
Hero in Montana it will grow on most
any hind of soil, sandy loam being the
best, bowevef, it does well on gumbo, on
the highest bench lands or-on the lowesi
river I ottoms. It will come nearer mak
«4ug a crop on gravelly land than any
other plant. It is about the last crop to
be killed put by alkali. It will, after
once well sei. come nearer to making a
crop without water than any other one
I know of. On the other hand it will
stand morf water and uftenerin the not
season if proper y put on and off than
Any other plant.
If a farm* r does not care for hay it’s h
paying crop to let go ro seed, there being
a great demand for the sihne. You can
cut as much hay from one crop of alfalfa
as from any other b y and still raise a
crop of eted if.ui is as valuabl^as the
Tivproge crop. "
[twill produce fro n three t seven
tons of hay to he acre. It will produce
from five to fifteen bnsheN of feed to the
ere- without in y trouble. It is the
u a rest to * balanced ration of any crop
grown. I has u ore protein Hmu wheat
bran. It will conic Dean r crowding out
al! foul weeds and grasps than any other
plant.
The dige4ibi;ityof iiifa'fa is changed
less by the proems -f curing rant Hint of
any other forage plant, Dry alfalfa in
the suiHfUer 1^ hh palatal le to tL<» dairy
cow as green grass.
It contains : rgely the succulent qu .1-
ites of green gra-s in June, keeping the
digestive o ^ans open and active, .md ii
bus a cooling Hit* i on the blood.
Steers will put one pound to a pound
and ha f per d iy < n straight alfalfa and
if fed a grain ration will put on double
that amot>u . Thirty-five pounds per
day makes full feed lor three year-old
r steers.
Sheep fol on alfalfa wll gain from
eight to fifteen pounds in seventy-five
days, and double that with small grain
ration a fded. Thre * pounds per day
makes full feed f fattening lamb*.
Five pounds per day makes full feed for
fattening ago Hheep. Alfalfa at $1 per
ton and wheat at 51 per 100 pounds will
furnish sheep for mark » cLeape than
$8 to $lO sorct niugs at St. Paul.
DETVOTED TO THE GREAT AGRICULTURAL, STOCK AND IRRIGATION INTERESTS OF THE MILK RIVER VALLEY.
JAIL NEEDED HERE.
County Officials should erect a
Plac^-^r Law Breakers.
For several years past the little bust
ling city of Harlem has been sadly in
need of a safe and secure place to place
criminals who violate the laws of the
state and county, but up to the present
time nothing has ever been done, to our
knowledge, towards placing such an in
stitution here.
While the residents of Harlem are
strictly a law abiding people, and have
had little use for such a building, it is
always a wise plan to be on the safe side
of things, and when an emergency
occurs, to have a proper place for the
safe keeping of any criminal or criminals
that might be taken into captivity in
this vicinity.
At the present time the county.does
not even own a calaboose here, and if an
important arrest is made, the prisoner
must be closely watched, or locked up in
one of Jim Hill’s freight care, and thocar
guarded night and day until they can be
sent to Fort Benton or some other place
for safe keeping.
This matter should be investigated by
the Industrial Association'of this city
and some action should at once be taken
in the matter before it is too late.
Bad Honey Warning.
Local officers have lieen advised by
the United States se/ret service officers
to be on the lookout for counterfeit half
and quarter dollars, made in China and
shipped to Seat lie, whence they have
been distributed to many points in the
northwest. The imitation is Very nearly
perfect. The coin is of the standard de
gree of fineness, the weight is from one
to ten grains short, and too design is al
moet perfect The irregularities are so
slight that some of them cannot be dis
covered without fhu aid of a magnifying
gimp, and none of them can be noticed
unless a bogus coin is plmed title by
side with a genuine one. These counter
s’ . w* re fi< -r. no’ei'-rd about a month
ago, when one of th^ Seattle banks sent
a small amount of money to the sub
tieamry at ban Francisco and it whs de
dared to bo spurious. The secret ser
vice officials deciare that th- re is no one
on.the coast who is capable of making a
com as nearly perfect as these, and that
there is not the slightest doubt that they
are made in China.
Remedy for Sheep Disease.
According to the Helena Record, u
remedy for the new sheep disease prev
idem in certain parts of northern Mon
tana has been prescribed by the state
veterinarian. Dr. Knowles, who bus been
investigating the matter for several
week pi st, is quoted as saying:
“Ihe certain cure for this trouble is
one part of nitric acid to five or eight
parts of water, this solution to be up
plied to the sore after the scabs have
been removed tied Ibu-ulcerated portion
thoroughly cleansed. My attention was
was fir*t called to this dfSeaso about six
months Hgo, and since that time I have
thoroughly investigated it.
•'Several sheepmen have told me that
they have been aware of the malady, in
a mild f< rm, for the pnU two yeMF. It
is important that ail beepmen take
prompt action in an < (Tort to stamp out
tbe disease, ar d 1 urge them to do eo.
The disease r» t p-mds promptly to ireut
moht, and <ne application is ususlly
। sufii. i/. but two sii’.uki < ure in any
I cate.”
For Garden Seeds go to the Drug
Store.
This ofiire is iu receipt of a circular
from h compiir y in SouH; Dakota invit
ing us to become a bunco steer or for
them. The proposition is to have onr
friends 1 st their | roperty for sale with
this fine, wm to collect Ji h u guarantee
of good sap h, kr<q iug S and Herding
them th© oilier. J h o! when the property
is sold we are to gel our “divy.” The
firm fh\u you “j:iit i.dv< rt Fe.” Not. on
your life, Mr. Man. Any SJ we get stays
right here in MoutHUa. Try that other
(‘feller.”
For sale
One good Hereford I nil. on- team of
general work liotihm an • one fivo>year
old mare. Inquire nt h\ery barn of
Dodge & B/tch. Hi Hem.
NOTIC J
t
Wo have for sale 15 Chester White
Pigs. Ono week old. to bo delivered in
30 days from now. Price ‘3 00 each.
These are well-bra pigo Harllji Mek
CANTfDE Co.
Harlem, Montana, Wednesday, April 20,1904.
TO WORK DESERT
LANDS NEAR TOWN
Experimental Station to be Run
by Industrial Associ
ation.
JAIL QUESTION IS BROUGHT UP
C. V . Phelps Objects to Dead
Animals Lying Around Town.
Board of Health to In
vestigate.
Chairman Smith presided at the meet
ing of the Harlem Industrial Associa
tion at tne school house, last Saturday
evening, and while the attendance was
not ns large ns it has been in past
months, great interest whs manifested
be all present and many important mat
ters were disposed of.
(In regaid to the school bouse propo
sition, Mr. Sadler, hh a member of that
committee reported that the school
trustees had posted notices for a special
election to vote on bonds for • the new
building, nnd that the election would be
held at the school house on Wednesday
afternoon, Aoril 27th, at 2 o’clock.
It was suggested that, the Stock
Yards company take charge of the
cemetery proposition and operate a city
cemetery in connection with the feeding
yards. This caused considerable dis
cupeion and the matter was continued
for another week.
‘ The committee' on wool warehouse
were discharged from al! further duties
thia year, ns it was thought impossible
to h».ve such na institution located here
t hi- season.
Mr. Vennum, of the committee on the
Snake Greek road proposition, reported
that said committee bad met with a
snidl obstacle on account of the road
cr< ssmg the Pfanr ♦ state. He stated
that ho had written the county attorney
about the matter, and as toouus a reply
was received the committee would pro
ceed with the work of laying out the
road, as they already bad perm.ssion to
cross (he other property concerned
J. A. Sadler brought up a very good
point, which if carried out, will mean a
big advertisement for Harlem and bring
man abundance of sett lers. His sug
gestion was that the association buy or
lease n small tract of land in the Cherry
Patch Ridge country, sink a well on the
property to determine ths character <»f
the water there, and seed the same to
alfalfa, or some other seed, and then
carefully watch the growth of the
grasses to planted. It was also sug
gested that a capable man be employed
to look tht crops so planted and That
the said tract be used us an experi
mental statiou as far as possible. A
lengthy discussion followed the intro
duction and the matter was finally dis
posed of by Chairman Smith appoint
ing J. A. Sadler O. H. Barton and T. M
Everett hs a committee to solicit sub
sirlptions to carry the work to com
pletion hc fast ns possible.
1 h" bird in question ft Flluated E
i bort distance of the city, and while th£
l> n I is of a desert nature, it is said to be
marvelously rich. It is generally nnder-
Ftood that iho Si. Mary’s canal project
when completed, vi'l pass near this
large ar.-n of hind. 11 wnl then bloom ;
fir never before and will be tilled then i
with a happy and c mlenjLed people.
J. C. Elder said that the commi'teo oil
the north ro id wm umdile to report, and
Ihe same was continued another week. |
At thi-» point the meeting was ad-’
dressed by C. W. Phelps in regard to
* something beirg done idnmt the num
erous dead cattle lying around the city. |
\r sifjnmrr approach-s they ^wid be I
! como dangerous to the hetiillr of tb«|
community. At he present time, |
( it is stated, there a large num |
1 ber of dead carcasHes floating in Thirty- 1
Mile creek, oil' of which many people
' are n-iog water. Mr. Phelps suggested ■
that th-* AFsncifr iou drnfc re^ululiona to I
the next hgishiture asking lb it body to
• evise wa>s and marine of caring for
r-ngH cat!le so Uiat they would not die
vs eiervhtion in a country ho blessed
I with an nhnrdance n’ hay. The Associn
iiion <le<id«d ■» ask tb. conn y cbm- !
1 miaaionrrH to nmo'e the carcosspß. Mr. 1
• Phelps being appointed a committee of
, one to bring^he matter befpre that nu
i gust body.
'1 he mnttjrof a a 1 here wrb brought
up and the question ciecusFed for some
। lime. It wag »-so suggested that the
; attention of the two constables of the
city be br ught to he large nmonnt of
drunKenucse and vile language used on
the* fit reelfl. No action, however, was
taken in the jail matter at this meeting.
IN NORTHERN MONTANA.
Newsy Items Gathered from our
Exchanges.
Glasgow Review: Archie Blue, of Saco,
is eaid to be an aspirant for the nomina
tion of sheriff on the republican ticket.
It ia said that Mr. Leather Griffith, of
thia city, feels tough enough to stand a
stroke of political lightning from tho
same source.
Great Falls Tribune: Complaint hav
ing been made that several live-stock
companies of this county have inclosed
vast areas of the public domain, the
United States attorney general has or
dered an investigation made by a special
officer end has directed that prosecutions
shall follow, if it be found that the facts
are ns stated in affidavits presented to
him.
Glasgow Review: Sunday evening the
big dsm on Willow creek, due south of
Glasgow, broke before the immense vol
ume of water that came down the chan
nel and the embankment was partially
swept down the stream. The plant was
owned by Messis. Truscott, Patten and
Gutting, and was built last summer at a
cost o^^bout $9,000, representing, be
sides thMam, a long dike and many
ditches. ;•
The press dispatches report that prep
aratiot s are being made to move large
h^rds of southern cattle to the northern
ranges. There is said to be a drouth in
western Texas, Arizona and New Mexico,
arid heavy shipments of cattle will be
'made to Colorado. Wyoming and Mon
tana.
Aaording to the Great Falls news
papers, the management of the stage
line from that city t<s Lewistown pro
poses to put in a nwHir coach service.
I’be trip of 123 /mlee occupies about
twenty-four hours under present con
diiione, but it is claimed that a motor
coach could cover the d stance in eight
bouts.
Ihe word “Junction’’ is now a thiug
of the past jr connection with Shelby.
Ibe word never was recognized in civic
affairs. Money orders made on Shelby
Junction have been tinned down. In
railroad circles the town was known as
Shelby Junction, but the agent a( the
depot lias been notified that in the future
the name •’bhelby,” without any frills is
the order.
'ILe Great Falls newspapers state that
tiu Cascade county coroner has received
an inquiry from Mrs. Fritz, of Allegan,
Mich., asking for news of her brother,
Edward McGaw, who came to this sec
tion about a year ago. Ihe letter stak'd
that, the missing man was a sheep herder
and bis sister feared bo may have been
murdered by stockmen, as the eastern
newspapers hud re|xrrted several out
riig^softbat kicd. Mr. McGaw has
bv«eu in Fort Beaton for several days
past, and will notify bis anxious rela
tives that he is still alive.
Iwo sections of land lying north of
Hinsdale, in Valley county, have been
withdrawn from entry by the Washing
ton authorities, and will be included in
the Milk river irrigation reserve. River
Prets.
J. B. Long of the great ebeep firm of
J. B. Loi.g Ar Co., arrived in Grefit Falls
^Monday from St. Paul and Chicago says
a dispatch. On his way home Mr. Long
visited 3Iolt«, Harlem ami Glasgow. His
company bus 25,000 bend of sheep in that
region. Mr. Long Hays he has made
careful inquiry about alleged* loMee
among th" flock?, but that he could find
no material loss. Mr. Long says that
five per cent, will cover the damages to
bis holdings, and tLift other owners will
not Bill! r to a greater ex'ent than tbe
five per cent, stated. Feeding Pas be
come general, nud the animals are in a
good condition.
Big limber Lender: Chaplain Geo. C.
Stull, turmerly reprtaentHlive »n the
Dgislature from Yellowstone county^
who has l-een doing service with the
regular army in the Philippines the past
two or three yeais, armed m Billings
last week and was received by bis numer
ous friends. When Brother Stull closed
his labors with tbe Mnnt»na legislature
he wen home to Billings the next Sun
day aul sorrowfully julnnti ilia’ he
was the only Christian man in tbe whole
bunch. It to be hoped tn^t the g«>od
parson has been more successful in dis
pensing tbe gospel among the swatlies
and natives of the Philippines.
Lewistown Democrat: Near Harlow
ton a portion of the Montana railroad
bm been washed out by high water
caused by the melnug snows. The
warm sup of the past few days has melted
much o' the heavy bo iy of snow in the
(ootbill®. at d the Bmnl) streams and dry
creeks ure fas: le Mining rwh^ torrents.-
Several hundred rods of t|ie Montana
railroad traokj uro said U ba under
water.
PLEASURE RESORT
NEAR THE CITI
Citizens of Harlem Contemplate
the Erection of Boating House
from Town.
TO BE BUILT AT' BIG RESERVOIR
Dancing Pavilion Could.be Erected
at very small Cost Scheme is
A Good One.
With the advent of spring there has
been considerable talk among the busi
ness men of the city in regard to fixing
up a small summer resort for the benefit
of the citizens of Harlem and vicinity
that would be easy of access. Others
hearing of the scheme al once became in
terested in the matter a» d after several
sites have been examined and talked
oyer, it was finally decided that if any
thing was done that the proper place for
such an outing ground would be at the
big reservoir, two miles west of town,
near the head waters of Thirty Mile
creek.
A large dancir g pavilion could be
erected there at a slight cost, and it
would make an ideal place for picnics.
The reservoir is a very large one, and
while the water is not very deep, it would
answer the pn pose f r row and sail
boats, and taken all in all,it would make
a tine resort, not only for week days, but
on the great national holidays, which
come along in tbegooa old summer time,
as families could congregate 4 here for
the purpose of enjoying themselves ac
cording to their own pleasure.
The reservoir is said to be nearly five
miles in length, with ago( d and sufficient
width. Rowing and sail boat racing
cou d be indulged in and prizes offered
to the winners, while from under the
shade trees the races could ’be watch* • I
with interest by th spectators. w to. r
any exertion on their part wba ever.
Ibe reservoir is eaid to contain large
quantities of pike, pickerel nnd cet fish
and when the Mi'k River Valley rancher
goes < nt for an outing be c> uld combine
pleasure witirmi er things and I roll for
the festive cat fish in these waters.
It is understood that the matter is
being talked of seriously, nnd it wiil in
all probability be only a short time until
the citizens of Harlem will have a plea
sure resort that will be equal to that of
some of the larger ciiiea of the country.
Let the good work go on.
HEARD ABOUT 'IWN •
Rumor bus it that two young men had
cousioernble trouble in getting home
from the Agency Sunday evening. Oi e
of the parties losl his horse, and the
animal has not )et been found, while
the other felltkv had tbe wheels of bis
buggy transposed. Both are being
joshed consideraoly by their many
friends over the mactor.
An ardiuury hobo adopted a novel plan
to get something to out the other day.
He called at a home on tbe south side
aud told the lady of the house that be
ind bis family had just moved into h
bouse a few doors uway. It was after 6
o’clock and he said i e would like to
borrow a few slices of bread and some
cold meat to give to his children. Just
us soon as-he could, he would run up
town and buy a few things, enough lor
breakfast. “D is job of moving is a bard
j< b, ’ be said, “and my wife is tired out,
and the children ure getting irritable be
cause we have nnd to neglect them to
day. Moving is a killer, isn’t it?”
The good ho isewifo filled a basket
with eatables and told the good husband
toeomobacu after more ii ne needed
them. “Here are aC w ban inns f«.r the
children, and, oh, )t.., take this bonh* < f
milk for them, too." The tramp went
away in good spirits, and he enjoyed the
feast of his life in an old shack down tbe
track. And the bii^kst never came buck.
Tho bead of the house has “the laugh”
on bis generous m suspecting little wife,
but the tramp doesn’t care. He’s to busy
to care. V
Paul Kloko, of Harlem, who has been
in custody for ^e»erul weeks on a charge
of insanity, bad an examination in tbe
district court t >duy, and wha committed
to the state any hud. His afiliclion it, of
a harmless nature, • i>n«isiing < f the im
pression that lio is being persecuted by
tbe United Statestupreme court and the
trusts. River Press.
* Furnish jour bouse before wo close
out our furniture mock. We will not
have any m«e after this is gone.
French Trading Oo
LODGE POLE NEWS.
Pay day at Fort Brlknnp on Monday.
The government bojs went in after their
dough.
Oliver Brisbo went to the river on Sun
day last on business.
Frank Ktrkaldie went to Harlem after
supplies on Monday.
The progre^hfe rancher, Mr. Daniel
Kuhnehan, who Dasi been ill for some
time, has fully recovered.
Sub Agent D. A Rii g and family re
turned from Fort Belknap on Wednes
day.
Wonderful Jim Brown pasted through
here on Sunday on his w«y to the Co
burn ranch.
Chas Ohlerking was over from Big
Warm on Monday after supplier.
Ihe Horse Roundup on the reserva
tion will start on April 20th. 8 ock
man Bolster will be captain of the round
up.
The festive LaGrippe Microbe has
been very much in evidence at the moun
tains in the past ten days.
Bill Ball, of Cow Camp Coulee, was in
town on Sunday last.
Mrs. Lee Cum whs out on the speed
way behind Medicine Girl on Sunday.
Alox 'lhtimb was a visitor at Lodge
Pole last week.
Dan Kubneban arrived from Harlem
on Friday last and says H.triem is
growing ♦ very day.
Building Notes.
C. A. Smith is contemplating a number
of improvements on his residence build
ing.
J. C. Eider will improve his residence
shortly. A stone foundation will be
placed under the Louse and other
changes will also be made.
W. D. Dodge and J. A. Hatch are hav
ing their homes neatly painted this
w»»ek.
Samuel Goff will shortly begin the
। ivciion of a cottage in the A ouzo
Smith addi ion. 'l’be building will be
32x32 in s.ze end wb-u fit isned will pre
• •-♦it an •p-iirA'Ce. B G. Thomp
son ib the aruDiuct in cbaige.
_Alf. Wntkrns has made several im
provements ip bis ranch hutne during
ib« past week. Emil Nelson, the genial
contractor, n .viug charge of the work.
\V. H. B-ck'it will Boon -begin the
erection of a two story building,south of
(he one being now erected by H. C.
Willits. It will be 20x30 feet m size and
the upper riKims will be used as a lodging
house, while the ground floor will tie
rented for h reetHurar t. Thompson and
Nelson have tho contract, which insures
a first class building in every respect.
Everett Sadler Ijhr also made several
improvements at bis ranch home recent
ly-
WILL FINISH WOHK.
Geological Surveys of the St. Mary’s
Cathal Project to be Finished
This Summer.
It is understood that within the next
week or so, that field operations of the
government geological survey will be
instituted. I’bo work will be under the
charge of 0. E. Babb and H. E. Baldwin
and several different parties will be out
fitted for tbe work at Havre, during the
next’ few weeks, for the purpose of
getting thu work started.
Tbe work ibis summer will complete
the surveys for the Bt. Mary’s irrigation
canal, and when the engineer’s final re*
port i< filed, the Secretary of the In
terior will decide upon the feasibility of
the plan, and select one of the several
proposed routes fo£ this great irrigating
scheme.
The St. Mary’s project is a very prac
tical one, but so many different routes
have been proposed that final action in
the matter has been delayed from time
to time in the matter, unUi the last sur
vey and also the supplemental surveys
have been completed.
Work will also be commenced on tbe
large dam across tbe Milk Kiver, near
Dodson, dining the coming summer
months. This wilj be the point of diver
sion for the government irrigation pro
ject in Western Valley county, as the
plans of tbe geological survey contem
plate tbe construction of the lateral
canals, both north and routh, of the
river in that section.
This will c-rtumly be good news for
tbe hundreds of ranchers living in this
vicinity, and it is expected that tbe work
will b« finished before the arrival of the
early fall snows.
E. E. Wood was thrown from a broncho
Wednesday morning and in striking tbe
ground bad bis face badly lacerated.
His left ankle was also bndly s, rained
and at the present time he is reported to
be resting an easy as possible under the
care of tbe local physician, Dr. Rooney.
MO. 5