The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-10-27

lected how the price OF wood advanced now
the citizen who had o few cords at his door
or ranked up in the woods apprehended daily
the service of summons upon him, and how
thousands of cords were measured up and
put under guard by Marshal Wheeler. We
recollected how we were called timber
thieves" In Congress, and how the battle
waged and ragged there. until finally it was
determined by statute that we were entitled
to the use of it for domestic and mining pnr-
poses, but In such ambiguous language that
II required western Secretary of the 1nte-
ror like Teller TO knock the bosh out of the
verbiage and make ruling that had some
sense in it,. We. recollected, too, how, sue
ceeding Marshal Botkin and L. S. District
Attorney Dryden's appointments, these pros
ecutions had suddenly ceased, despite the
ambiguity of the law, and how another Uni
ted States officer who might have compelled
them to enter suit said ~ will resign rather
than do it," We had also conversed with
Marshal Botkin on the subject and had every
reason to believe that he was In hearty sym
patty with the settlers of Montana and who,
to put 1t mildly, had no disposition to
harass them with timber prosecutions. 1t
was therefore an " astounding development"
indeed If all this time he had been deceiving
us and the people and had been cooking up
"a scheme to revive the wood seizures" and
that Maginnis had marvellously discovered;-
and with omnipotent benefcence thwarted,
| the dabolical outrage. And then we read
the great e1pose' What "a Great Ado
About Nothing!" What splendid spread Of
headlines over pointless article! What a
| big setting hen on a adjustable, Con-
occasionally -medicated, plaster of Paris, po-
litical nest egg! And how straightforward,
honorable action by Marshal Botkin in the
quest, of a good citizen of Montana had been
distorted and tortured into q monstreus
mares nest on which Major Maginnis was To
4 hatch. out sfeeds to bear him,Back 70 Wash.
ington. The correspondence duplicating
Marshal Botkin Is published and here IL 10 :
A SETTLERS COMPLAINT. -.a
Il lhuls0H w., hloulald,
- February25, 1882.
A. C. Botkin, Esq, q. s. Marshal, Helena
4 sfMY DEAR SiR-f want to make COM
plant 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. K. HART and q
Mr.. Smith, commonly called "Squaw Smith,"
(He married a squaw, and Is so-called.)
They are rival sawmill proprietors, and now
| have each from ten TO twenty men cutting all
the timber in the neighborhood and have had
theirfme at work for many weeks. They
are trespassing upon the public domain. L
do not knew exactly what course 10 pursue
/ to have this wholesale destruction of timber
stopped. / am small ranchman and de-
pend upon this timber for my fencing and
fire wood, and as these ineh' now have 1t put
up, (they having cut down allthe timber and
wood In the neighborhoed, 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 1t
hauled away twenty miles and selling IL for
profit. IL IL is your duty to look to 1t, / wish
| you would do SO at once, and III not, you
will please advise me whose duty II Is, or
notify me what STEPS are to be,taken to puta
stop TO 1t. / am ready to make a complaint
in, due legal form at any time. Please adj
wise me at once, and oblige,
H T9' Alb Yours very truly, I'D 30
| FRANCIS CRANE
-.4ay MARSHAL BoTKIs's. RELY. S
OFFICE or. UNITED STATES MARSHAL,
| av..ag,.y DISTRICT OF MONTANA, p.
HELENA, Montana, Feb. p, 1882. J
Trascis Crane, Esq: 5s.s ...r-,' ,.ss.-,5
| DEAR SIR:-Your favor of the 25th. inst.
Is received. have forwarded copy TO the
Commissioner of the General Land Office at
Washington In the.hope that he will initi-
ate measures TO prevent such depredations
as those that you complain of. or course,
settlers ought hare the first Yightso timber
In the vicinity of their ranches, but know
not how the law may be construed. 4 have
no duty, or authority in the premises, except
to serya process issned by a'U.; s.. court or
Commissioner, but ]. am willing 10 give you
1.-THE best assistance In mypowef.f Truly,
1 (Signed) ALEX. G.. BoTKIs, US. Marshal:
L, MARSHAL noTKIS TO THE COMMISSIONER.
OFFICE OF UNITED STATES MARsHAE,
sme,e.. DISTINCT OF MoNTATA, 80.
M HELENA, Montana, Feb. ~, 1892
Hon. N. G. McFarlaad, Eom,aissioner 0,
| General Land Office.
Il Gill; udtE buC nOHDT W lDIMAIa nGl
with acopy OF letter from Francis Crane
complaining Of s.trespasses on public lands,
However literally the law OF 1878 may b
construed, 1t can hardly have been intended
TO afford protection 70 mill Owners who
strip Government lands TO manufacture
lumber for sale, 10 the deprivation, of. settler,
J srho need the timber for purposes thai are IL
fact adomestic" AL the same time il doe.
not appear. that have any duty To perform
e In the premises, save as process may b,
Issued and placed In my, hands for execn,
ton, ,s..s Very respectfully, t,sa Isatt.s
II (Signed) ALEX. G. BoTKis, Y. >. Marshal
n Awful, isn't ita A settler has taken up
ranch aijacentto timber. Two rival saw
mill men with ten Or twenty choppers com,
In Tho rear 81 bis, farm aud slash down thu
trees. great and small, depriyiug him ant
his neighbon VI The timber. necessary for ths
very purpose, tho .wisest laws recognize q
right, and tries 70 protect them 10, and wher
The citizen appeals to the United State.
Marshal and th- Marshal prompt
~ and properly takes an Interest
In the case and reports Ii t.
the proper authority, It Is trumped NJ
In The next campaign under astounding
fscare heads TO befog and deceive thoughtlesl
voters, III the cause OF Maginnis Il no,
desperate; II Lis friends have not lost theil
senses, II Botkin Is not invulnerable to anJ
reasonable attack upon bis record, W can
not conceive Why snch rubbish was attempt
ed 70 b nsed'aeainst him, for II il worse
than idIe--it will rscoil on those who a.
tempt TO make capital Of II. Marshal Bot
kins action was In the interest Or The settler