Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-09-12

the locust pests were on the Little Mis-
souri, in Dakota. have travelled over
considerable of Montana, and nowhere
except in the eastern part, have heard
any one talk about grasshopper pests.
The boys out hunting only mention
grasshoppers as blessing, and this
year they are scarce. When grasshop-
pers are plentiful the grouse are fat.
and it is no trouble to get fish bait.
There are some things that the state of
Missouri has that the people of Mon
tana do not have, viz: Pawpaws, per-
simmons, cornbread, the opossum and
the raccoon, aud fat grasshoppers.
Some of the Missouri papers indulge
in considerable gossip about Senator
Vest avoiding Office seekers in Montana.
hardly think that fair. About all the
officers of any note were appointed be-
fore the arrival of the senator. lie has
been here visiting the governor and
other friends as well as enjoying the
bracing mountain air, which is much
better for a summer vacation than the
most favored spot in the sultry mias-
matte land Of the pawpaws.
In many localities the haying SEASON.
is about over. In a few places wheat,
oats and barley are just yielding to the
sickle.
The people are fast preparing for
winter. 1t seems to be but two seasons
here, winter and spring. Jack Frost
has been here and everywhere one
passes frost bitten vegetation, and also,
we have had several inches of snow. L
think winter commenced a fortnight
ago. Then the cricket ceased his chirp-
ing and the chipmunk his sports. Here
many animals hibernate nine months
in the year. AT present the weather is
very cool, about like the October
weather of Missouri. Cattle and horses
have abundant fine pasturage, and the
rancherOs tell me that SHOWS make the
grasses better. Montana excels Mis-
souri, in fine beeves. superior flour,
large mealy potatoes and barley. Butte,
Helena and Wood river arc yet lively
in mining interests. Butte is becom-
ing very rapidly thriving city. Since
| I came here, three months ago, proper;
and more than a million dollars have
been put into buildings. The copper
and silver mines are inexhaustible. The
costly machinery and expensive out
lays made in the past month here are
enormous. The hills are alive with
prospectors, who are finding rich mines
for rich men to develop. A poor man
has no chance for a bonanza, and yet
hundreds come here every week to
spend small fortune, declare Butte
City is booming, and leave wiser if not
Wealthier men.
Since my advent beyond the crock
les" 1 have seen many men made rich
and not few become penniless. 1t is
little sum to lose few thousand dol
lars to the sold timers" of Montana
We have several common labOrers, who
ten months ago could count their thou
sands. The curse of Butte is bad com
pany and drink. Many of the bright
young men of the states come here tC
become infuriated demons. Drink and
places of amusement are temptation:
open to young and old. The gambling
houses are well patronized Often peO.
pie preach that schOOlhOuses and mis-
sionaries go in advance of civiliZ itiOn
The first thing that makes its appear
ance, and the first thing the peOpl,
look for is the saloon aud the polit,
bar tender. Here barrels are rolled il
every day branded "BOurbOn county
Kentucky" The people do not drinl
"sod corn" whisky Whisky is twenty.
five cents drink, beer fifteen cents
The high license system is in vogue.
saloon pays 81 900 year 10 the coun
ty. and if it has female walters $l2i
extra tax per month is paid. Rev
Mr.. Russell, Presbyterian munster, i
now town treasurer at a large salary
He has fine opportunity for observation
as he goes around collecting city taxes
Here everything that has life is taxed
Every man that drives team in TIN
city must pay license.
have been made deputy collector o
taxes for the mines. We make eacl
; man between the ages of twenty-on'
and forty-five pay five dollars. W.
assess and collect at the same time. Ii
this way we catch every one we as
sess. We call two-thirds of this rOat
tax and one-third poor tax, beside thi
the mining companies deduct dolla
each month from the miners wages
The roads are worked here by con
, tracts. You see Montana is keepin.
abreast of the times This is the frs
year of the new road tax. When tn
state of Missouri stops paying roa'
=, Overseers to run the roads, and give
the work to responsible contractors
then alone the people will get the wort
:. of their taxes in good roads.
l LAFAYETTE Boy.