Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-08-28
Written for the AvANr COURIER
OUR HOME INTERESTS AND THEXH
PROTECTION.

- Some of the Territorial Newspapers ha,
recently urged the people of Montana I
use caution against the movements {
rognes WHO. favored by the near approac
of rail road. have introduced themselve
in our midst and have commenced con
> mitting depretlations.
MIR. Anceney here gives the details o
one fire and how it was cxtinquished
Having given the substance in last week
, COURIER we omit that portion of Mr
}. Auceney's letter.-EDIroR CoUR1ER.)
! Stockmen alone realized the importance
J. OF protecting their ranges from fire. w,
e have not forgotten the prairie fire in 1871
: when tie greater portion OF the ranges be
tween the Madison and Gallatin rivers
were destroyed. The fire was not confined
0 to the west side Of the Gallain but crossed
the river from Noble settlement to ELI
Grove and in spite of the efforts Of the
settlers of that neighborhood the devourino
monster marched on TO the mountains and
destroyed Il great deal Of our best and
handiest timber.
then ,earL y great many persons say
that if the settlers lad turned ont IN mosse
when the fire was first discovered it could
have been easily extinguished, and our re-
cent experience here demonstrates that if
the settlers only turn out the fire will soon
be under their CONTROL. OF course the
sooner we turn out the better. We must
learn that the protection of our lives and
|
selves. If our country has been prosper
GUS it is mostly due to the fact that we
have been issolated from older settled COM
munities and their acquired advantages and
have had to rely on our own resources and
industry. Regardles Of what the railroad
advocates may say when trying to per-
suade US to mortgage our property to a
foreign corporation in order to sooner get
communication with the states. Montana
can to-day, in her issolation. count more
wealthy, honest, industrious and well cdu-
Gated people in proportion to its popula-
ton than any state in the union. If some
OF our laws are not as effective as they
should be. and others when put to the test
are found useless, we are but repeating the
history of newly formed countries. In the
early history OF Montana some men were
found among our law makers who were
evidently more inclined to evil than good.
In early days should a man bring suit to
recover a stolen horse he would be very
apt to be met in court with band of dis /
honest witnesses who would swear that |
the contested properly belonged to the
thief in whose possession it was found.
Thus the honest man was not only robbed
of his property but had to pay the eXpen-
ses OF the suit as well. Evil was SO en-
couraged by such transactions that organi-
Zations of obbers were formed under the
name of Road agents. These soon became
too modest to be thieves only and COM
menced numbering. Then. to protect their
own lives the people formed vi2ilante
and in their operations it was
discovered that several prominent per-
sons. and one identified with the courts
where the laws should be enforced were ,
with the Road Agents. The {
Vigiantees soon rid Montana of its brig
,nds and they deserve great credit for their a
,ctive and successful operations. They 1
we're the original saviors of Montana.
Then began Indian troubles. The Gov o
to protect emigrants. in 1866 e
;losef, the most natural immigrant road to ii
Montana and we were left with the imni- s
grafton we obtained in 1854 and 1868. 7
What increase we have had since that time s.
consists mostly of the increase OF our n
antilles. 81
In the years following the early settle o
nent Of our Territory the Indians made Al
many hostile demonstrations, and would s,
ave succeeded in driving US from our "
ZONES had it not been tor the firm resist II
nee OF our pioneers. who with prompt Or
ction. inflicted punishment on the Indians 81
early every time they committed depre- h.
alton. One among the notable ones in =,
his county was, believe, in 1869, when a ~,
arty of hostile Indians murdered some of -.
lr. Meadows herders on Twenty-Five NJ
ard creek, and killed some cattle on the
pper part Of Dry creek. No sooner had
ur boys heard of it than they were In hot
ursuit. They followed tile depredators
, high peak at the head of Sixteen Mile
eek, at the top of which the Indians had m
'rtitied themselves by digging trenches de
I'd building walls. Our boys saw at once nc
le great disadvantage at which they We're pr
aced. but, undaunted, they made an as RI
ult at once. ,l;n.hed the steep hill with Gil
peated hurrahs, AID kille,. nine L. ans no
1t Of eleven, leaving only two to report al
the balance of the tribe how funny it tn,
rs to deal with the Montana boys. The kn
pedition fitted out in Gallatin County, he
hich explored the Yellowstone and Big 70
orn country, also gave the Indians an mir
ca that they had better let MOntanians ha
)ne. jur
Now, when we begin to feel safe from brt
dian assaults, ruffians commence to ten
Ike their appearance in our country. of
lose who are setting the prairies on fire bu.
n just as we'll burn our grain, hay, or sell
uses. In principle, they belong to the dea
ne class that have robbed our banks, our kin
,res, and even the mess boxes. of our
lighters, as has several times been COM
lined of this summer.
There being some hungry people in our
nntry only shows that they are deter wa
ned TO do anything but work, for there er
10 excuse for any one to go hungry in a roa
lntry where there is plenty of work and Ell
sad, and where any one who SO desires one
make an honest living. We cannot unt
pect entire protection by the authorities ate
must rely on ourselves to find out who Tor
committing depredations in our midst. pre-
ither do we want any more such cases ea'
that Rooster lawsuit. Our county can the
afford such unnecessary expenses SIM oy
: for the benefit OF persons who by it the
IN but few dollars and much unpopu- rios
ity. The most of our county debts that esc'
now resting on our shoulders were " q
lsed by the encouragement our laws Ject
e to quarrelsome dispositions. Instead secl
peace and harmony among wol
which is something most necessary for ana