Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-03-22

THURSDAY, AIl&It ", 1910
The great problem now at hand for the
people of Montana to. solve is, what is to be
her destiny, what is there. awaiting, what
lies yelled in the closely %shrouded, unborn
future? Do we see her rise to wealth and
influence, or must we plod on in the weary
old way, growing less by degrees as time
bears us on? Ten years ago we drew bright
pictures of what the next decade had III
store. We saw, in our minds eye, our rich
valleys crowded with farmers, our high pla-
teaus, rolling prairies and extended plains
covered with tlocks of sheep and herds or
horses and cattle. We heard the din and
clank of factories where the wild cataract
plunges; saw busting villages, large reduc-
ton works, peeping out from among our
mountains; heard the shrill whistle OF the
magic messenger of prosperity echoing
through our hills, as great blue lines of
smoke rolled back over long trains hurrying
away with the rich products of our country.
But, alas like the dreams of our boyhood,
the fancy pictures have failed, and we are
where we were in the long ago. Countries
with soil scarce half as productive, whose
pastures are good only one-half of the year,
and wholly without minerals, have become
populous commonwealth, while everything
here has gone gradually down. Our popu-
lation has dwindled slowly away, and this
season finds us with fewer people than any
previous year.
wv, oo, la,r ccL r.,1of ,hvf2 Ernpn vnQY
to year our people have flattered themselves
that the bottom had been reached, and that
henceforth we would commence to advance;
and true it is that some branches OF industry
have flourished. but others have fallen away
and our population has year by year de-
creased, and the question is, haye we yet
reached the turning point? Will we turn
now to regain our former status, or will we
continue to retrograde.
One year ago, when u people were hur-
rying away to the Black Hills Eldorado
we consoled ourselves with the thought tha
like all other instances of the kind a reaction
would take place in the fall, and the hun
dreds of disappointed gold-seekers woule
return to their old home, accompanied bJ
many Others. But we witnessed no suci
thing. There were thousands of disappoint
ed miners and pilgrims in the Hills, but few
found their way to Montana. This spring
we hear the same story. Emigrants ar
~thronging to, the Black Hills by thousands
and we again grasp the hope that, finding
that country %overdone, as they assured
will, they will push ahead to- the unpros
pected region of this, Territory.
Will we wait the slow progress of time t
settle up the intervening leagues which SCI
arate our country from civilization, or wi
we put forth an. effort to induce people
track the waste to our oasis within. Soutl
ern California, Texas, and even Florida wit
her orange groves and flower-emboWere
homes, found it necessary to organize imm
grafton societies. Then, may we not be es
spected to do the same. What matter
stock do grow wild upon our prairies, or
our soil is rich and our mountains checkere
with gold and silver leads; people will nc
come to a land they know not. We mus
rouse up our dormant energies, and make
noise in the world, if we would attract tn
attention of those who are looking out fc
new homes and fresh fields of labor.
IT matters little what calling may b
chosen, success rarely ever crowns til
efforts in life without a long and perslstel
struggle. In every country, and in almos
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