The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-01-04
Written For the Holiday MINER.
MOntana's Agricultural Resources.
BY HON. f. b. WATERBURY,

In the settlement of all new mining
countries the most permanent, indepen-
dent, and not unfrequently the most
lucrative occupation, is the one least
sought after and the last to be properly
appreciated by treasure-seekers. The
history of all gold countries substantiates
this position, as may be shown by refer
e to California and other mineral
fields of foreign countries. For years
after the first gold excitement in Cali
fornia, and after the State had been over
run with fortune-hunters, while as
productive a soil as any in the known
world lay idle, or was torn up in search
of mineral little or no attention was paid
to the cultivation of the soil. Hundreds
of fortunes were made in shipping car
goes of provisions from the Atlantic sea-
board, 1000 miles away and the newly
settled Territory of Oregon was enriched
with gold in exchange for produce be-
fore the attention Of Californians was
properly directed to the productiveness
of their own soil and the cultivation of
the necessary articles of daily consump-
ton. So little did agriculture attract the
attention of the early pioneers that the
most enormous prices were paid for the
damaged products of foreign countries
rather than drop the seed into their own
unequalled soil, and without compare
tive cost gather their crops at their own
doors, fresh from the bosom of mother
earth. But so it was, and as history is
apt to repeat itself with slight variations,
sc it is to-day.
Inc young farmer of the middle and
Western States grows tired and restless
upon the old homestead and longs to get
out into the world of adventure. The
hum-drum life of the husbandman is
too tame to satisfy the cravings of youth
full ambition. He looks back at the
genealogical tree, at the placid farmer
life of his ancestors, and although posi-
bly, by their prudence and economy
finds himself possessed of a good patri-
mony, yet he is not satisfied. Neither
his grandfather nOr father has risen to
great wealth o great eminence. He has
read of colossal fortunes being found
literally picked up from the ground,
and immense incomes secured in 4 few
months. These attractions are too often
contrasted with what he deems the
monotony of home life. He emigrateS
to a new field, little dreaming of the veX-
atious privatiOns and disappOintments
to which he is liable in his mad search
for treasure. A farm has no attractions
for him in his new home. Had he been
disposed to cultivate the soil, he tells us
he would have stayed upon his old
homestead, where he had good build
ings, the best of fences, outbuildings,
and everything comfortable at hand.
No farming for him. Nothing less than
becominga banker, a princely merchant,
or Il bonanza king will satisfy his am
bition, however reduced in circum-
stances he may have become in the al
Turing pursuit. Thus the practical farm
er's experience is lost to agriculture, and
the cost of his subsistence, instead of
being absorbed by and added to the
wealth of the Territory is, without de-
Law, transmitted to older States, or
possibly to foreign countries.
The agricultural interests of a new
country, and more especially of a mining
country, cannot be over-estimated nor
too early stimulated and encouraged, for
they are the best interests of that country,
bel located where it may. But our loca-
ton deserves a passing notice in this con-
nection. We are about being connected
by rail with the great marts of COM
merce, thus furnishing increased facilities
, and inducing greater transportation as