Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-10-04

THURSDAY, tCiUtSEE 4, 1914.
THERE e is no better index to the prosperity
of IL country than the turn out and display
TO be found ut the annual Fairs, and from
The success of the late exhibition OF the
Montana Agricultural, Mineral and MeclaI,-
lcal Association. at Helena, it is fair to pre-
sume that our Territory is in a most pros
porous condition. Yhe gate receipts were
larger than usual, and pool selling and bet
ting were brisk, all OF which are indications
of good times. The display of racing stock,
the only branch Of industry encouraged to
any considerable extent, was very fine. The
collection Of. flyers, and the speed exhibited,
was evidence that the sporting fraternity
were alive to their interests, and the record
of the week. was one which would have done
credit to the courses Of the Jockey clubs of
the States. But with the exception Of this
and the ladies' department, the exhibition
amounted to nothing. Not a little county
fair ia the remotest State but what would
have excrlled it in the way of fine stock,
outside of the racers. E.. g.t5s te aa
The display of beef and wool producing
animals, paramount stock interests Of our
county, and the only ones that yield any
revenue to the Territory, were Il complete
failure. There were no sheep at all OH the
grounds, and two COWS, four bulls and two
calves We're the sole representatives of the
bovine race. The exhibit in farm horses,
mules, roadsters, etc, was also light. The
swine yard and poultry family made but a
small showing, the latter being represented
by a brahma chicken, a pair OF geese, and 4
few stuffed ducks. The reason of the failure
In these several departments is owing to the
lack Of encouragement on the part of the
Association. Last year the stock interests
of Meagher county were well represented,
and came away with a majority of the prem
iums offered, but the prizes We're not suffi-
Gent to pay one-fourth Of the expense in
CURED, although our breeders practiced
economy by leading u camp life during their
stay Oh the grounds. The stock men of
other parts OF the Territory had a like ex-
perience, and it is not likely that they will
repeat the experiment, when the successful
competitor gets nominally nothing but a
foot of blue ribbon, There would have
been alarger turn out of people from this
county had it not been for the Indian troub-
les, but our stock growers are men of too
good judgment, to drive to an exhibition
when there is nothing to win and all to lose.
and we feel that we echo the sentiments of
the enlirc industrial interests OF our Therri-
tory when We state that if the Association
continue in It's course of giving such large
purses to running horses and such beggarly
premiums to all other competitors, the eX-
l,ibition will grow less from year to year,
until II will at last come to be admitted that
II Is what 1t virtually is to-day-a racing
meeting. And sooner or later h generous
public will withdraw their patronage from
MI institution which does not seek to foster
and encourage the leading interests of our
country, the interests which constitute the
chief wealth Of the Territory, and by which
our people earn their livelihood. I've make
these statements because they are true, and
not to injure the Association, since the ex-
hibition for this year is now over, and there
Is ample time to remedy all defects before,
next season.
THE Germantown Telegraph, of the 10Th.
ult., chronicles tie glad tidiligs Of the full
restoration of confidence and the return of
business throughout the States. The wreck
hrS wI,n havn so 10Nsr pa,,snH otornot;oO Is,