Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-03-20
SMITH RIVER, BY A PILGRIM.
EDITOR

our many new-made friends in Diamond
City, our retrospective glance convinced us
the hearts left behind were whole souled
and up to the acme of generosity. Behind
a spanking fo~ur-in-hand, with Dick Warren
handling the ribbons, and making the cris D
morning air resound music by a twelve-foot-
thirty-two-strand-silk-poi pointed -b%uckskin-lash
why should not our spirits bubble over with
joy?
From "Dick" we gathered many items OF
interest only to be subsequently confirmed
by personal observations.
Our ride of four hours duration was
pleasant in the extreme, listening, as we
did to the many incidents and episodes of
frontier and mining life, and viewing on our
trip the -gorgeousness OF scenery not to be
surpassed in the whole wide world, out ri
yaling the grandest, and in sublimity re-
minding one of paintings made in heaven
and superintend by angel poets whose
thoughts were only Of. the beautiful.
Up the mountainous road to the top of the
divide, then down a splendid grade-bear-
ing a trifle of snow and ice-to Watson's,
where we were entertained with free lunch
by the big-hearted miner, thence over pleas
ant roads made cheerful by glowing sum
shine, and a calm which made one think of
the "sweet by and by" until we reached
Stephens Bros, at RAIDERS ranch, where we
stopped for dinner, and a good time it was.
At least forty smiling ~countenances rec
nOniynd thn fact that q cfrananr xuuc II, fhoir
midst, and, though other strangers We're
present, they must have been there two
hours or more, for they seemed to be ac-
quainted. We were acquainted inside of
thirty minutes, by-a-rail-fence, and every in.
dividual member of the assemblage found.
ways from there.
The hospitable manner of the Stephens
Bros. with the open-handedness and cheer
full bearings OF cattle, sheep and ranchmen,
whom we met on this occasion, resolved our
mind in a different direction from that orig
inally intended at the outset from Diamond.
We propose in this letter doing up a few
items of substantial interest to your many
readers, as seen by a pilgrim.
After d pleasant nights s%ojourn we are
seated behind the trotters of Stephens
Bros. and spinning up the beautiful valley
of Camas creek. The first ranch encoun-
tered is that of Thos. johnson, agricultur-
alist, government contractor, etc. A pleas
ant location has he, and a much pleasanter
Three-fourths of a mile further up the
creek l.. d. Burt 6 Co. are located. This
firm deal exclusively in wool and sheep.
Upon enquiri1g we learn that Messrs. Burt
& Co. have imported to this territory q 600
and this coming season will intro
at least 1O,Oo0>more. They are doing
on an extensive scale and employ
many men the year round. They have five
sheep ranches in full blast and intend erect
ng several more this next summer Their
bands with increase this season will
rive steady employment to 30 or more men.
If. Burt, of whom we had often heard,
royed to be a plain-spoken, shrewd busi-
man, with sharp eyes, intelligent look
complexion the color of an old copper
emit. He is in tue saddle or buggy almost
ay and night, andis rich. His success may
Q attributed to his thorough attention to
The wool clip this year from
& Co.. flock will amount to 10000 or
1000 pounds, the money for which will be
Il dropped in this country as salaries to
hen and improvements. hence you will
iake a note Of this much benefit to the ter
tory at large. Be kind enough to figure
900 sheep at 81 per head, aside from a
early increase of so per cent. and then
'onder no longer at benefits derived from