The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-09-16
WILL RUIN THEM.
How The Silver Question Az
fects The West

0fitI In a Private Letter--But We
hope the Picture Will Not be as Darh
As he thinks-Some Personal Refer
enees.
Elk Mayor O'Kelly received from
Hon. E. G. Brooke, of Whitehall
Montana, private letter on Satur-
day from which we make copious ex-
tracts. Although Mr.. Brooke has
been gone from Mergantown about
two scores of years ne is still widely
known and very kindly remembered
by our older citizens. Anything
from him is always read with in
terest.
After disposing of some private
matters Mr.. Brooke says:
The present has been an unusual
IL busy season with me. | leased
my river rancho to my son-in- law
thinking | would be carrying out
the advice Of my wife and other
friends, but l soon Sound that / want
ed something to do, so took charge
of ranch adjoining old Whitehall
(or as it is now designated White
hall Brooke) belonging to an old
neighbor who lives in Boulder City
80 miles away. have just finished
the hay crop. did the cutting and
stacking. One hired man raked,
hauled to coral and pitched on to
stack or rick and | did the stacking.
Have just finished a rick l05 feet
long, l5 wide, so feet over top from
ground 10 ground. | had an extra
man help pitch after the rick be
came too high for one man During
the first 10 days the mercury mark
ed in the shade from IA NJ. to p. NJ.
80 TO log How did stand it,
kept linen handkerchief in my hat
crown well eosked in ice water How
many men have you IN Monographs
who can stand it.
have never enjoyed better health
than | have since shaking off the
last attack of la grippe. My appe
tite is good, | sleep well and always
feel thankful to God for keeping me
in health.
| was greatly grieved to read in
the New DOMINION the obituary of
poor Nate Kiger. You will please
bear to the bereaved parents, broth
ers, and sisters my great sympathy.
Alas, it seems to me that the family
name of Kiger of precious memory
to me is passing away more rapidly
than any other.
| had hoped until quite recently
that | could make protracted visit
during September and October to
West Virginia, Pennsylvania and
the Mountains of Maryland taking
in the Worlds Fair, but owing to
the great fall in silver our people
are more damaged than all others.
Silver mining being our greatest in
dustry our hope is that a'democrat-
ic congress may remonetize ii by pas
sing the Bland free silver bill thus
restoring the silver dollar to the
same value placed on it by Wash
ington and his compatriots during
the first so years of the government
or until it was demonetized in 1878.
| think one half if not three
fourths of our people will be finsn-
cially ruined, myself included Prop
erty has suddenly dropped to moth
ing. Land that | was offered $50
per acre for last fall cannot be sold
for $40. 1t is only the few who are
out of debt that can stand
| have some security debts to pay
and debt on 800 acres Of land pur-
chased from the Northern Pacific
Railroad Land Company, on which
have expended in fencing, buildings,
irrigating bitches and conducting
water on land over $4,000. IL / fail
to make the last payment all is for
feited to the company. In order to
protect myself | borrowed money
and gave mortgage on other prop
erty, for which | am paying 10 per
cent. Now if | shsnld be sold out a
bankrupt and continue to enjoy good
health | will by perseverance, rise
again. l hoped to be able sell one
or more car loads of horses this fall
but the failure of the wheat crop in
the Dok otas has thwarted that idea.
John G. Fear writes me that the
drouth has ruined pastures and
shortened the hay crop in West Vir-
ginia so there is no market there.
This country is overstocked with
them.
/ must tell you about sitting on
my moving machine and catching
trout. White tail Deer creek, q cold
mountain stream from the top of the
Rockies passes through my home
ranch and the ranch on which | am
haying. / could and did stop my
machine on the bank of the creek
and threw in my hook and in few
moments drew out the speckled
beauties. In addition to catching
trout on my moving machine / also
cut the heads off number of rattle
snakes. Evidently they do not be
long to the wise serpents referred
to by Christ in admonishing his de
ciples to be as wise al serpents and
as harmless as doves. You see by
my process l make them harmless
by the same method some people
make good Indians.
/ am rejoiced to know that old
Morgantown is advancing to the
front. hope she may continue
there, but regret that so many of
her old citizens have passed away
before witnessing the fact. Please
remember me kindly to all my friens
in West Virginia and Pennsylvania,
Another Challenge.
To the Pickenpaugh Clothing
House Band.
We hereby challange the above
band to meet us in a band concert