The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-11-03
MAGINNIS AND THE RANCH =
MEN.
The Candidates Desire to De-
prive Settlers OF Fencing
and Fuel.
SUCCESSFUL CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE
RANCHMEN BY MARSHAL BoTKIN.

Frop the Httena Herald Of October oath.
The assaults made by Major Maginnis and
his especial champion and defender, Col.
xIex. M. voolfolk, upon Mr.. Alex. Z. Bot
Vim, the Republican candidate for Delegate
10 Congress, have returned TO plague the In
yentors in an unusual degree. The charge
that he was physically infrm was resented
by the unanimous decency of the Territory,
and became as absurla as it was always in
famous when IL was learned that he was
making tour of the district that might nave
worn out the strongest man. The charge
that he Is a carpet-bagger lost eilect wneh IL
appeared that he had planted himself ana
family and all his little fortune In Montana
forever, while his opponent owned pothlhs
h, the Territory and was investingh his money
elsewhere.
Sometbirp new was necessary, and II was
s.nnd In the charge that Mr.. Botkin had at
tempted 10 prosecute persons who had cut
timber on the public lands. In making, and
sublishing, and peddling this attack Major
ksrinnis has slipped his hand" and exposed
HIMSELF greatly TO his disadvantage. The
fact n that since Mr.. Botkin became u. ..
Marshal there has not been seizure or pros
scution In timber cases, with the single ex-
csption 10 be referred TO. More than thae,
Marshal Botkin has never enforced or col.
iected one cent on the judgments That had
tssn recovered against those gentlemen who
sd cut timber on the public lands and had
been prosecuted therefor before he oecame
Marshal. ,
The exception spoken Of above, occurred,
A. sesms, under these circumstances: Last
winter a number of ranchmen living In
Madison county addressed TO him officially
complaint that two persons had erected a
ill On Nugget creek; that having some
quarrel with the people living In the vicinity
hey were proceeding to cut down, not only
ths timber that was serviceable for lumper,
Bat the young growth not four lnches Id
diameter: that this was left TO rot, ana that
eor this reason the ranchmen were LETT WITH
eut timber for fuel and fencing then and for
lsns years to come.
This complaint, In the performance OF his
6uty, and in the interest of the ranchmen
che were suffering this great wrong, Mr..
Dotkin felt called upon TO submit TO the
proper officer. lie did so In the following
correspondence:
MARSHAL BoTKIN TO THE COMMISSIONER.
OFFICE OF UNITED STATES MARSHAL, }
DISTRICT OF MONTANA,
HELENA, Montana, Feb. q, 1882. }
Hon. N. C. Mcfarland, Commissioner Of
General Land Office:
SIM have the honor TO forward here
With q copy Of letter from Francis Crane,
complaining Of trespasses on public LANDS.
however literally the law of 1878 may be
csrstrued, Il can hardly have been intended
&, AFFORD protection to mill owners who
strip Government lands TO manufacture
lumber for sale TO the deprivation Of settlers
,sho need the timber for purposes that are IN
fact "domesttc." At the same time 1t does
not appear that have any duty TO perform
IN the premises, save as process may be
Issued and placed in my hands for execu-
tion. Very respectfully,
(Sicned) ALEX. G. BoTKIN, U. 5. Marshal.
THE SETTLERS COMPLAINT.
SHERIDAN, Madison Co., Montana,
February 25, 1882. J
n. G. Botkin, Esq, Y. s. Marshal, Helena
Ny DEAR SIR want to make a COM
Vlaint TO the proper authorities, OF the whole
sale cutting Of timber upon the Government
lands on the Wisconsin and Nugget creeks,
In this neighborhood, by j. X. HART ana
Mr.. Smith, commonly called "Squaw Smith
(Hs married a squaw, and Is so-called.)
fhey are rival sawmill proprietors, and now
have each from ten TO twenty men cutting all
the timber in the neighborbood and have had
tAeir men 1t work for many weeks. They
are trespsssing upon the public domain.
10 not knew exactly what course to pursue
10 have this wholesale destruction of timber
. stopped. am a small ranchman and de-
BEND upon this timber for my fencing and
Ire wood, and as these men now have 1t put
up, (they having cut down all the timber and
wood in the neighborhood,) they propose to
make me and others pay them for what we
want to use. They have been cutting and
saving boards and timber and having it
hauled away twenty miles and selling 1t fot
croft. III II is your duty to look to 1t, wish
you would do so at once, and II not, you
Will please advise me whose duty 1t Is, OIL
notify me what steps are to be taken to put .
stop to IL. am ready to make complaint
In due legal form at any time. Please ad
wise me at once, and oblige,
Yours very truly,
FRANCIS CRANE.