The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-23
CLUSTERS COUNTY SEAT.
Miles City People Take Good Care
Of the Stranger Within Their
Gates.
Losses on the Ranges as Esti-
mated by the Growers In
Convention.
What tho People Arc Doing to nuiid Up
tbs City and Adjacent Country-An
Ingentous Lady.

Tho stockgrowers' convention at Miles
City the past week was the most largely
attended Of any meeting of the association
for n number of years. Not only was II
largo in numbers. but IL was a most repre-
sentative gathering. nearly all the heavy
growers being In attendance. The subject
that excited the most interest was that OF
the steps necessary to rid the ranges OF the
volt pest. Various plans weEe proposed.
including a la, gel bounty. to be paid either
Nv the stockmen themselves OF the county
commissioners. This did not meet With
the approval of n majority Of the conven-
ton, because IL was realized that the drain
would be sufficient to bankrupt either the
stockmsn or the county. It seemed to DO
the unanimous opinion that poisoning by
s~trychnine was a failure. the animals either
refusing to touch poisoned meat. or II they
did the result wat not fatal. Others advo-
Gated each grower procuring a pack OF
hounds. but this also was considered inn
practicable. Finally tho entire subject was
left to q committee of five to devise q way
of Kidding the range of them.
The losses of cattle during the winter did
not occasion an much discussion az the
wolf question. though the former has been
by no means uncomfortable. There was
not a unanimous opinion a. to how great
the losses would be, and they cannot be
determined until after the branding season
10 over. Thu most severe sufferers are
those whose cattle range In tho Milk river
country, in tho Bear Paws. and in the far
eastern part of the state. The estimates
run from 20 TO 80 per csnt. The loss was
not oooasioned go much by the severe cold
in January, as il was from the fact that the
cold hold on so long. Az late as March II
the thermometer registered fifteen below
zero along the line of the Great Northern
railway in Choteau and Valley counties.
Another bad feature was that this ia the
latest spring seen in Montana since 1868.
While the ground is now in flne condition.
the weather has been 30 cold in the north
ern and eastern portions of the state that
save in a few spots in the foothills, there ia
no new grass Whatever. Consequently
oattle are in a very weakened condition.
and many that went through the
severe cold. have suecumbed since.
Notwithstanding this, however. the
outlook for the cattle interest
as a whole is good. 1t is believed that
prices in the Chicago market this year will
be better than for many years. and 40 the
supply ia believed to be- below the average,
there is every reason to think good figures
will rule the season through. MNN
Miles City put on her holiday garb to
welcome her visitors. and after they had
arrived entertained them royalty. There
were probably 300 or 400 strangers within
her gates. but nc one wont hungry and all
had a place to lay their heads. In addition
to other advertisements. a cowboy enter
tainment was provided. consisting of races
and ropinQ steers against time. The races
went off all right. but the steer part of tho
programme was not SO successful, owing to
the distaste of the steer for the sport.
The animal ran way with a saddle, and
the latter was only rescued after a cowboy
had jumped on the steers back and ridden
1t in such fashion as take the life out Of 1t.
so 1t laid down and allowed its riden to re-
cover his property. The last night there
was an enjoyable dance at the MacQueen
house. the Fort Keogh band furnishing ths
music.
While Miles is not quite such a booming
city as it was six or seven years ago. 1t is
enjoying a healthy growth. and every year
witnesses improvements both In the resi-
dence and business sections. A large and
rich agricultural and stockRrowing coun-
try is tributary to it. and there are half a
dozen extensive mercantile establishments
whose total business runs into the hum
dreds of thousands OF dollars annually.
The city also has ample banking facilities,
an electric lighting system, md this wear
will build q CITY hall and a new opcra house.
A wideAwaks board of trade looks out for
the business interests OF the CITY. md there
is enough local capital to aid any legiti-
mate enterprise that looks to the upbuild-
ing of the town,and the surrounding country.
No city in the state ia az we'll supplied
with artesian water as Miles. There are a
number of wells in the city, constantly
flowing, while Judge Stevell has one on his
place just outside the city limits, as has +.
A. Lisk. These are tho pioneer artesian
wells in that section. and both have an
ample flow to-day. Both Judge Stevoll and
Mr.. Lisk utilize the wells for gardens. and
demonstrated the a~daptabiljty of the soil
and climate for the growinRhf those crops
now raised by the farmers. Neighbors
within a radius of a mile are supplied with
water for irrigation purposes and the result
is that in the summer Miles and vicinity il
. brilliant mass of foliage.
- M
One of the ouriositiss in the vicinity of
the city is a brick dog-housa and In the
front there is a headstono, The >house was
designed and built by 4 youARJ$dy and
both in conception snd' s~Srkmanship