Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-03-29

fully agree with our contemporary in every
sentence uttered, in the main We approve it.
lie says:
There appears to be a disposition on the
part OF many who are classed Us anti-railroad
mel to use such arguments in support OF
their views rs are calculated to bring an is
sue between the farmers and the miners.
This is to be regretted, and should be avoid
ed, as there is no cause for any bitterness OF
feeling between them, no matter what may
be the opinion OF the farmer III relation TO
the taxing of quartz and bullion, or the par
ticular ideas of the miner in regard to the
railroad question. Both parties have rights
which The other must respect but because
there is difference of cpinion, each adhering to
the view of the case inspired by his personal
interest, no feeling should be engendercd
which will be difficult to reconcile in the
end.
We look upon the grangers and miners in
this Territory as mutually dependent upon
each other, so that consideration of interest
should be sufficient to prevent any rivalry
except such as is natural to the advancement
OF their respective vacations. Stop mining
operations and Danish the miners from the
Territory, and the farmers will have but 4
very poor market for their produce and on
the other hand should the agricultural ele-
ment absent itself, the effect would alike be
disastrous to the mining population, rs the
necessaries of life could only be obtained at
mon there should be feelings in common.
which should look to promoting the interests
of both.
1t is but natural that the miner should
oppose q tax being levied upon quartz or
bullion, believing as he does that it is sound
policy on the part of the government to en-
courage this great industry, for by SO doing
all other occupations are benefited equally
with mining, and should excessive taxes be
levied many of the mines now being devel-
oped and giving employment to hundreds of
men would Immediately be Abandoned. An
equitable taX-though we think it impolitic
TO tax in any manner this industry-Would
meet with but little opposition; but ores
and bullion. taxed at the rate and under the
head of ''other property" would stop every
mill in the Territory. Again we repeat, no
prejudices or differences should be allowed
to exist between the mining population and
those who till the soil. The man who ex-
tracts the precious metals from the ore takes
the proceedsto buy bread. and II cut off
his source of supply he would likewise de-
prive the farmer Of his. If Thousands of
dollars are hoisted from the mines, thou
sands OF dollars are also scattered in taking
il out.
s1Vith these facts in view, and that both
miner anu granger nave muIudl lhtcIests,
we trust that when the railroad question
comes up, if it should, that prejudice will be
ignored and justice to both classes will tenn
per all remarks. so that by moderation in
argument and action no ill feeling will be
engendered.
The miner and the farmer are dependent
upon each other. and to Danish either indus
try would be a death stroke to the other,
but to say the mine product should not be
taxed as well as that produced by farmers,
is all bosh. Our friend, the editor of the
Miner, is entitled to his views and opinions
l,pon this subject as well as every farmer
and miner i'm Montana, and the fact that we
may differ does not necessitate prejudices
between us.
AS to the railroad the clause imposing a
royalty upon the bullion that will be ship
ped upon the road is deemed by many farm
ers an equitable tax upon the miners, and
we venture to say that, as a class, there is
no real prejudice existing between them and
the miners. The greatest opposition likely
to be brought up against any railroad is up
on sectional grounds, but this is not alone
confined to the farmers. 1t is very probable.
however, that Gould, Dillon & Co. will not
accept the proposition made by our late
Legislature, and should they not we think
it is in Il great measure attributable to the
recent Supreme Court decision known as the
~.'granger's victory" which gives the people
the right to fix the rates to be charged by
railroads within their State or Territorial
limits. 1t is the enormous freight charges
by railroads throughout the East that has