The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-01
IMPoRrArr 70 OUR FARMERS.

An order has been issued from the War
Departasat. snd circulated iii Idaho, accord
fng to the Boise Statsman, ard which we
prssune y general lii its application, that
will be OF the greatest benefit to our farmers,
relieving them from rsstrictiens that have
operated heretofore to their disadvantage.
This order evinces q spirit Of fairness on the
part OF Government to small farmers that
win aase y gratifying effect not only to
farmers, bat to the Government ITSELF One
of the most serious drawbacks to successful
farming In this Taliey has been the fact that
our farmers have relied mainly upon the
Government post Ut Eort Ellis for market
for their grain. AS q general thing they are
snsn Of small means, employing help in the
cultivation Of their crops, and purchasing
supplies on time, all to be raid from the pro-
reeeds OF the sale sef the forthcoming CROP
Hence, a'sale Shgs to be efectsd as soon az
the grain is threshed, and here is where the
contractor saves his Jack" Knowing that
pressing demands force the ranchman to dis
pose of his crop. even 1t any sacrifice. Mr..
Contractor has heretofore regulated the price
to his own satisfaction and profit, leaving the
farmer but little, II any margin, for his sea-
sons hard labor. Under this system con-
tractors have become rich almost without
turning their hands, whist our Woodworking
aEanehmen have not received 4 sufficient COM
pcnsation to Justify them tor their labor and
the ordinary risks Incident to farming. This
new order will give to our farmers and stock
raisers something they have long needsd-an
equal opportunity to compete with large Con-.
tractors. II will stimulate them more than
anything that could have occurred 1t will
give them IN independence Of contractors
that will be Of general benefit to, our whole
county. The deaineering spirit of army
Contractors has paralyzed the energy OF our
farmers, and limited the products Of our
county TO ut least one-half the quantity that
would have been raised, had they not been
compelled to submit to the dictation of these
kid-gloyed gentry Is to what they should sell
sheir grain for, and the manner of its deliy-
cry, etc. This order relieves them from this
incubus, aud we predict new and salutary
order OF things, resulting in great good
10 the producers OF our county.ggs tfi8e
We.eopy the following in regard to the or
der referred to above from the Boise States
man: Fsg4sta s3ss4 @4sihs58 Essa s.9 i tt
Ma5br Hammond, OF Fort Boise, has fur
nished US with copy Of order No 81 recently
issued by the War Department in regard to
the purchase Of supplies Tor military posts.
The substance of the order is as follows:
In advertising for contracts for supplies IL
animals, or of forage for military posts. the
conditions Of petition should be always such |
as to open to settlers, farmers and stock rais- |
ers, nesr the point of delivery and cons,tinp- /
ton Of the supplies needed, the opportunity
of selling their products directly to the United |
States In such quantities as may be conven-
Hlit and advantageous for both parties.
such local proposals will be received up to T
the same hour as the competition terminates
ut the Office of the advertising officer at
Headquarters, and viii be opened by the
Post Commander, with recommendation as
TO sward, reliability of bidders, ETC., to the
officers who issues the general advertisement
at Headquarters.
No award will be made until after the local
are received and compared with
those at Headquarters. I'll
The design of this order 10 to give farmers
and stock growers an equal opportunity to
compete With large contractors. They will
be permitted to bid and furnish in small guam
titles, on aniequal footing with large bidders,
The practice has been, heretofore. to accept
large bids, even at higher prices than small
ones. The consequence has been that the
farmer ard stock grower who had limited
supplies must sell to the contractor at . re-
Ilucsd price, and they were sure to bear down
the price to the farmers, SO as to make q large
profit themselves. This order is as it should
be. and we trust our farmers will accept the
opportunity offered and lind market at fair
prices, whenever supplies are wanted.