The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-08-28

Bathgate Sentinel of the day previous, in
reference to stealing timber from Mr..
fuckers lands in Minnesota.
It appears strange that q gentleman of
Captain Thompson's honest proclivities
should assume 80 whining tone in his
flimsy defence, as honesty is usually sup
posed to carry a bold frcnt. Captain
Thomson seems to think it is the duty of
real estate owners to give away their
property to those who do not wish to
purchase the same, at such times and at
such prices and i'll such quantities as such
parties may afterwards assume to be
suitable to them. He also seems to be-
licve that "taking is not stealing" which
takes us back to the time of Oliver Crom-
well, when some parties brought for
ward the doctrine that "killing is no
murder probably one of Captain
Thomson's ancestors if lie ever had any.
There doubtless have been some set
tiers living OH the prairie whose means
would not allow them to purchase timber
land for their own use, but for these
can say to their credit that all they took
was little down wood of trifling value
and that they have in almost every in
stance, given notice of it and explained
the circumstances-these men have in no
instance, that am aware of, cut or des-
troyed standing aud valuable timber
they took only what necessity called for;
they worshipp.d in the temple whilst
others made it "a den of thieves" steal
ing valuable logs, cutting them into cord
wood and selling il to their more sancti-
monious ncighbors.
Ii seems strange that Captain Thomson
should speak Of Dakota as being settled
by honest people-alas, could we "sce QUIZ
selves rs others see U.S." can well under
stand that men who have passed their
early lives in the back woods Of Canada
think they are squandcring their time if
they have not al axe in their hands and
a tee to chop at. A tree is natural
enemy to all men from that part of the
world, and there ii is favor to destroy
the timber OH their neighbors farms, but
this will not do in Minnesota and Dakota
as timber is scarce and valuable in both
state and territory, and if settler UNDER
takes to clear his ncighbors farm he
must be prepared to pay for it, or he may
find it to prove u costly amusement.
Captain Thomson undertakes a COM
paratively easy task when lie only under
takes to correct reports; had he under
taken to correct the morals OF himself,
Mr.. Garnet and Mr.. Reid-a trio that's
hard to equal--hc might possibly have
found more difficult task. However,
u laxity of morals may well he looked
for in some parties after two years bad
crops and four years supply of winters
wood laid away to shield the little ones
from Dakota's cold and wintry winds.
1t is funny that man so well poste d
as Captain Thomson must necessarily
be to fill the onorous position of a justice
of the peace in Lincoln township, should
not know where the timber lands owned
by Mr.. Tucker in Minnesota lie.
think that hud he taken the trouble to
enquire of Mr.. james Thomson, Jr., his
own son, who made almost daily visits
during the winter of 1883 and 1854 to
section 4, township 159, range so, Kittson
county, Minnesota, for the purpose of
drawing wood therefrom, lie could GER
tainly have posted him with the names
of the owners ofthe land in that neigh
borhood, 70: lie was repeatedly informed
that the said tract was owned by Mr..
Tucker and cautioned OH several occa-
sions not to take wool thcrefrom. Pos
sibly however, Captain Thompson did not
know his own son under the name of
James Hueston.
1t is gratifying to lean that Captain
Thomson and Mr.. Garnet have been at
pains to advise the residents of their
neighborhood to make reparation for the
wrongs they have done, but it does not
appear that their advice las had much
weight, as l cannot recall TO mind u
single instance in which any member of
the organization has made any attempt
to do so-somc of the members them
selves having moreover told Inc that they
are bound under fraudulent promise,
made to the heads Of the society, to do
their best to defeat the ends Of justice
due to Mr.. Tucker. Had the old wolves
not formed themselves into a pack for
this purpose it might not have been
necessary to hunt their cubs over the
prairie at night. Yours respectfully,
]. &. CANNING,
Agent.