Fergus County argus., 1886-10-07
Governor Hauser's Report.

Governor lIauserhas sent his annual
report to the secretary of the interior
Ii occupies nearly three columns Of
the Helena Independent, and is an
able and exhaustive review of terrific
rial affairs. We have only room for
the most important portions OF tn
report. lie refers briefly to the
drought, and the consequent loss to
the territory. lie says:
Many interests have suffered greatly
Agriculture has been almost "a failure. Ger
tainly not over half II crop has been raised.
The long continued drought There having
been lit tleOr no rain for over hrce months)
and the fact that the fall Of snow last win
ter was less than half III the usual amount
resulted in drying up many OF the streams,
consequently II has been difficult to procure
the necessary water for Neutrality-suspicious.
which it is impossible to raise crops in this
territory, save possibly ia few localities
\ great portion of our in.lny valleys along
the larger streams and rivers will not be
utilized for agricultural purposes until
there has been proper system oiirrga ting
canals built; with these, even the drought
Of this year would not affect our crops.
lrrigatins canals. however, are expensive,
and their const ruction will he greatly re-
tarded. II not indefinitely postponed, il the
Desert Land Act IL repealed.
sTock INTERESTS.
The Governor makes "a good suggestion
in regard to the winteriny of cattle on the
large Indian reservations. After referring
to the condition Of our ranges, he says:
Should the winter prove long and severe,
great loss must inevitably follow. Inantic-
ipation Of such an event, some of our large
stock owurrs are driving their herds north
to the British possessions. 1t is u matter
of such urgent aud exceptional Importance
that ] would urge upon YOUR department
to secure by friendly interposition the priv
el,ge. on such terms as may seem just, Tor
some portion Of our stockmen. who can
best avail themselves thereof, to pasture
their herds during the coming winter upon
the extensive Indian reservation north of
the Missouri river. and those south of the
Yellowstone river. The Indians have little
or no use for this pasturage. They have
little stock aud the large game is gone. II
not fed off il is usually burned. AS soon as
grass starts next spring this stock will be
driven back tn it's accustomed ranges. |
cannot too zcalously urge upon your inIne-
diate attention this suggestion to avoid, or
lessen the danger of loss that threatens so
important an interest as that Of our stock
of all kinds. whose numbers and value have
pttH r''tins untii u rtItftStil'S
a vast aggregate Of wealth-probably $780,
900, 900.
on the basis of an estimate made last
year counting the large natural increase of
last spring, and the large importation be-
fore the drouth began, ourcattle must now
number ,5oo.OOO head our horses $780,
600 head and our sheep =, ,ooO, 900.
The Governor mildly twists the nose Of
William Andrew Jackson Sparks, as fol- !
lows:
Owing to n want of knowledge, no doubt |
al our peculiar situation and the purposes |
of the laws of congress adopted in 1878, in |
reference tn the catting of timber on min ,
eral lands in the Rocky Mountain states |
and territories, there have been many 1
seizures for violation of law during the past I
summer and many instructions aud inter /
pretations and applications of the law,
that have generally beer regarded by our /
people as unwarranted and fatal to their /
interest. Under the regulations since pre-
seribed by your department il IL believed |
hat all coniict and irritation will disap-
pear. unless too restrictive an interprrta-
tion or construction is attached 30 the /
words of the law eonfinins its operation to
mineral lands.
INDIAN RAIDS ASD RESERVATIONS.
Between the reservations north of the
and still more from the tribes in
the British POSSESSIONS and the Grow res.r-
walton IN the southeastern part Of our ter-
ritory, continually raids are being made
back and forth through settled portion
pf Montana, for the purpose of stealing or
under the pretext of retaining stolen
horses. II unsuccessful in getting Indian
horses, they have little scruple in taking
hose of our settlers, as there il no ~ ~.
u j. heavy tax tha, our people ought
lot 20 lie compelled to hear. and will not
,l~aye patiently submit to, no M, tier
hat the consequence. !, must be O. den,
rom very little consideration that Z. will
lo' bc polite Ia Great, any permanent In
ii''a rt>"rNati',lo an or near ia. border