The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1886-10-06
GOVERNOR HAUsER's REPORT.
A Valuable Paper Full of Meaty Informa
ton and Good Suggestions.

terror: S1R-In compliance with your re-
quest, I herewith send you some OF the
principal facts concerning the condition
and progress of Montana during the year
past, with few suggestions that COM
mend themselves to my judgement, to ad-
vance her interests.
DROUTH AND ITS EFFECTS.
4 Many interests have suffered greatly.
Agriculture has been almost failure.
Certainly not over half crop has been
raised The long continued arouth Ohere
having been little or no rain for over three
months) and the fact that the fall OF snow
last winter was less than half of the usual
amount, resulted in drying up OF many
streams, consequently it has been difficult
to procure the necessary water for irriga-
tion-without which it is impossible to
raise crops in this territory-saye possibly
in one or two localities. A great portion
Of our many valleys along the larger
streams and~rivers will not be used for ag-
ricultural purposes until there has been
proper system of irrigating canals built;
with these, even the drouth of this year
| would not effect our crops. Irrgatlng
canals, however, are expensive and their
| construction will be greatly retarded, IT
not Indefinitely postponed, if the desert
land act is repealed.
But the most serious Of all losses, the
full extent Of which it is as yet impossible
to estimate, is that of our natural grasses,
our sole dependence for the vast herds of
cattle. horses, sheep and other stock both
winter and summer. Our ranges are al
ready bare or SO nearly so that our stock is
in poor condition for the winter, and should
it prove long and severe, great loss must
inevitably follow. In anticipation of such
an event some of our large stock owners
are driving their herds north to the British
possessions. 1t is a matter of such urgent
and exceptional Importance that would
urge upon your department, to secure the
friendly interpisotion, the privilege, on
such terms as may seem just, for some
portion of our stockmen, who can best
avail themselves thereof, to pasture their
herds during the coming winter on the
extensive Indian reservations north Of the
Missouri river and those south Of the Vel
lowstone river. The Indians have little or
no use for this pasturage. They have lit
tie stock and the game is gone. Il not fed
; off it is usually burned. AS soon as grass
starts next spring this stock will be driven
back to its accustomed ranges. / cannot
too zealousIy urge upon your immediate
attention this suggestion to avoid or lessen
the danger of loss that threatens SO impor-
f tant an interest as that Of our stock Of all
kinds, whose numbers and value have
been steadily increasing till 1t represents a
: vast aggregate of wealth-probably $780,
: 900, 600.
) Another loss, that has been greatly in
: creased this year, by the extended droutfl
! is the fearful destruction Of our mountain
5. forests by fire. These fires occur every
$ summer. They originate generally from
the carelessness of hunters and campers
E (white or Indian}, sometimes from light
! ming. In former years the destruction has
E been comparatively limited. This season
4 they have prevailed generally, covering
< immense districts. More timber has been
destroyed in the past six months BY firt
than would supply the wants Of orr peo
Pile for fifty years, and more than will bt
- renewed by growth in a generation.
While the season has been so generally
unfayorable for ranchmen, farmers ano
: stockmen, the owners OF sheep were Tor
y tunate in passing the winter with little
!. loss, saving large crop OF lambs ant
), shearing large crop of wool, and realiz
r ing therefor an average Of cents pc
S pound better price than last year. Con
e sidering both the increase of yield ans
e price. the amount realized this year from
e wool alone will be from $500, 900 to $500,
y 900 greater than ever before.
II INCREASE OF STOCK
a On the basis of an estimate made las
it year, counting the large natural increas
S of last spring and the large Importation
e before the drouth began, our cattle mus
d now number ], 500, 900 head, our horse
S $50, 900 head and our sheep 2, ,O00, 900.
e In. favorable seasons even twice thi
s number of stock could be nourished Oh
our natural growth Of grass through win
ter and summer, but the experience Of thi
g year admonishes us that the limit OF safet.
l. is reached until our borders are enIarget
tS,a Sne,c