Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-10-30

l. IboD4 4 II oVs AOto'
THERE are perhaps some living in the ia
away East who imagine that the people o
the Great West owe the general government
a debt of gratitude for the privilege of fre'
pasturage which they enjoy, when in reality
it is the nation that owes the frontiersmen
debt of gratitude it can never pay. 1t is thu
stock men of the Rocky mountain regior
who are %subjugating our willy Indian foe
Yes, it isthe " cowboys" of the Far Wes1
that have subdued the wilderness and laio
the foundation Of civilization in the beauti
full valleys Of the Rocky mountains. The
desert did not blossom as a rose, for such
was not their bidding, but they paved the
way for the stalwart yeomanry, who are
turning mountain slope and valley into
grain-fields and nook and dell into orchard
and garden. True it is, indeed, that success
in stock husbandry in the West is rapidly
achieved. But who are more deserving
than these hardy adventurers? With reyol-
vers at their waists and Winchester in their
hands, their home is in the saddle,
and they are first in every agricultural dis
trict. Even the military, which is claimed
to be in advance Of settlement, seldom ven-
lures where the cowboy has not first made
the country familiar with his presence, and
is ready to press further on to fresher fields
and pastures new" 1t is to these fearless
present security, and not to our skeleton
army. We have nothing to say in dispar-
agement of the army. 1t has done good
s~esvice, is ever ready to do what it can in
it's own way, but if left to itself alone it
would soon be at the mercy of a savage foe.
Stock %husbandry is highly remunerative,
but not more so than it should be for a class
Of men WhoalWays sleep on their arms, and
that, too, with one eye open; who are ex-
posed to every danger Of Indian warfare
year in and year. out, are deserving Of their
rich reward. What matters it though they
do Craze down our natural meadows and
pastures. They lay the foundation OF a less
wild and more productive husbandry. The
herdsmen and shepherd are gradually
crowded further on to make room for the
tillers of the soil, who build up cities, towns,
schools and churches. We have serious APP
prehensions that the present movement to
secure a change in the public land law,
whereby large tracts of the Great West may
be bought up for pasture lands, may find
favor with a class in the States who regard
our system Of stock husbandry as all un-
shine. The eastern farmer, who must pay
a big price for his land and finds he can't
compete with. western grown beef, is not
likely to stop to consider the merits OF the
case, but will clamor for a change, forgetful
Of the fact that the proposed changes will
only multiply their imaginary grievances.
"A speedy development Of the country's re-
sources should be the great aim of the gov
eminent. And to insure this it is necessary
that there be some inducement to settlers.
Nothing less than free homes and unlimited
pasturage is sufficient. With this the Rocky
mountains have made more progress in 20
years than the Mississippi valley did in 80.
Without it it would have remained a great
unknown country. The greatest revenue
that the country can receive will come for
development, increased production and &C
cumulating wealth. This, under our pres
emit system, is assured, and it is Tar better to
bear what ills we have-if they are to be
called SUCH" than fly to those we know
not Of"
THERE is no doubt that the Sioux are
raidinp the region of the Judith. MusSelShell