Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-11-06

terest, the Butte Miner, has a long article IN
it's issue of October 10Th upon the relation OF
the miner and farmer, in which it lays the
blame of the alleged differences mainly at
the door of the farmer, which it would nave
us believe is the result OF prejudice ana
shortsightedness. Now, we are not aware
that there are any great differences or anil
mosities between our miners and farmers as
a class. There may be, however, between
some of the representative men, but it is by
no means universal, and even though there
were. we doubt if they may be harmonized
by an attempt to prove the necessity OF a
privileged class. If the miners OF the Ier-
ritory have as narrowly contracted, views OF
Montana agriculture as does our cotempoFa-
ry, then, indeed, do we seriously doubt the
perpetuation of any greatdegreeo OF harmony
between these two interests. 1t it be true,
rs the Miner thinks, that the agricnltHraIist
of Montana must depend for all time upon
home consumption for a market, then IN
deed is the prospect Of future greatness tor
our Territory small, audit will grow beau
tifuNy less. A mining country alone can
not make a great and prosperous State. 1t
never has and probably never will. Up to
the present time, it is true, the supply OF
farm produce has not exceeded the demand,
but the time is near at hand when there
must necessarily be a large surplus every
year. Then what is to be the consequence
must production cease? Must the tiller OF
the soil torsake his calling, or will not the
49,. ~ $500 %N tho nr,nrnonnv0 and nI1r
surplus find an outlet to the great cities as
does that of other western Territories?
Nine thousand tons Of Utah grain, which
broughtst the. farmer from. forty to sixty cents
per bnshel, have BEEN sold in Cork during
the past twelve months at a remunerative
price, and Montana has as good freight rates
on incoming goods to-day as Utah, and we
do not see why special rates for shipping
grain may not also be made that are as good,
With the coming OF the n. 2. and z. & n.
railroads, which are already assured, may
we not reasonably expect even better rates
than Utah enjoys, for in addition TO two
great railways we will have the Missouri
river? The time when the Montana farmer
will no longer be compelled to depends upon
home consumption is near at hand. Our
contemporary has certainly a very indistinct
idea of the agricultural resources OF our Ter
ritory if it supposes. for a moment that de
yelopment must be subservient to home de
mand. And even il this. was. the case, If il
were necessary to develop a market for
our grain ere the production increased, il
must be remembered that, grain-growing
cuts but a comparatively small figure in
Montana agriculture. Our beet, wool and
dairy products are items of no smaE'cohsid-
Grafton and will readily bear transportation
ut the most exorbitant rates. Six years age
the same prophetic warning as the Mane'
utters was heard Of our stock industry
Seven and eight-year-Old beeves roamedsoul
hills and the miners assured us that the con
sumption must be increased, as the only
relief. But we now find the prices of oul
heeyes regulated by foreign markets. Tina
butter and cheese will bare shipment is alst
evident to the casual observer. Now shall
our beet, wool and dairy interests, which arr
wholly Independent of a home market, b.
made to pay tribute to any other industry
or. in other words, contribute to the supper
of a privileged class. Mining, we are wei
aware, is n risky business, but, like the call
ing of the last turn in /" fighting the tiger,
the stakes are in proportion to the risk. Th
farme has a sure road to independence, bu
it is slow and tedious and often requires tn
labor of a lifetime. while the miner plays 70
quick results and may make a fortune in
few months, or spend. his life in vain al
ten,pts. In life there is 40 eompuisior
: Every one may choose for hlmselfin wins