Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-05-23
TWO PICTURES.

he Immigration euiiof VI iit tItit-
ma journal is making himself ridicu-
lous by floundering around in the dark
when speaking OF the resources and
settlement OF Montana. In IA recent
issue OF that paper the editor says;
"Montana's area of fertile land lacks
but one-third OF being as great as that
OF Oregon. yet her farming population
in no approximate degree approaches
that of her sister state. There is an
apathy to, not ( o say prejudice against
new corners in the farming industry
that has but recently commenced to
give way before the unanswerable facts
and figures presentend by the friends
OF immigration. This opposition pre-
sumably grew out OF the antiquated
idea that in agriculture there is some
thing hostile to the mining industry.
There are those who still persist in
this idea, though they can produce no
argument to substantiate it. Oregon
combats the boom. She discourages
fictitious values and all the attributes
OF "A real estate craze, but, soberly and
sensibly, she invites and induces a
class OF immigration that is distribu-
tttt iut WI tbN
state and directly becomes n part OF
the wealth-producing, home building
population. This Is Montana's need.
An example worthy Of emulation IL
found in Oregon"
Ii anyone in Montana has ever
held that Sin agriculture there is
something hostile to the mining
industry" it is certainly a new dis
covery. There may have been some
hostility to the agriculturalist in the
past on the part OF stockmen. but II
has never deferred settlement. The
fact is the agricultural development OF
the territ DRY is too far ahead OF other
industries. Furnish the consumers
and all the available and productive
land in Montana will be placed under
cultivation. Farming without a mar
ket is discOuraging business. MOnta ana
is not Oregon, nor does it desire or
invite the same situation OF affairs As
exists on the other side of the range
to-day.
The River Press, OF n recent issue,
contains an interview held with a
gentleman OF the ShOnkin who re-
cent? returned from Washington and
Oregon. 1t hardly tallies with the
Journal mans glowing picture above.
He says:
| "rhe towns OF Oregon are sleepy
and "old fogyish." Many OF the old
timers are wealthy, but they lack the
energy and disposition to encourage
progress. 1t is no country for a poor
man. Lands are high, but labor and
labor products are very cheap. There
is some fine country, but it has all
been taken years ago and there is no
longer any inducement for the immi-
grant. Washington terrific DRY is over
run with immigrants, labOrers, vaga-
bonds and tramps. The latter are
seen erywhere-camping out in the
woods, alongside log piles and fences
living on what they can pick up and
what the more fortunate see fit tn give
them. There are ten labOrers fOI
every Job, SO the price OF day labor Is
down to the lowest notch. Lands ar.
Outrageously high, and i'm the cities
town lots and outside acre property
are SO high that none but the rich car
afford to invest. Everything is in
flated and exaggerated beyond al
reason. Thousands have come and
gone away Disguised with the coun
try and the methods adopted to foo
people into going there. Other thous
ands have been wheedled by real estate
sharks into investing their money in
first payments on lands, sold at ex
horbitant prices. that are really not
worth the price OF the first payment
The I.rudent and far-sighted bushes:
men and sober thinking citizens depre
cate this state OF affairs and are look
ing and preparing for the crash that
will follow when the bubble bursts and
the excitement subsidies. They pre-
diet that the reaction will DE wOrss
than that which struck southern Cali
fornia"