Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-03-01
Is THE CASE CLOsED9

As Messrs. Stiles & Waldorf will
not reply to the articles OF Messrs.
Colver and Weydert we presume the
controversy is at an end. We were
in hopes it would continue until there
was a fuller expression on the subject
ranchmen, and some of the wrongs
complained of more clearly set forth.
As the case now stands it is very un-
satisfactory to everyone. No doubt
the farmers who have written express
the views and experience of the ma
OF those having dealings with
the millers, but whether with equal
cause for complaint or not is a ques-
ton. The chief complaint seems to
he that good results are not obtained
from No. l wheat, or if the first grist
is good the second is inferior. Why
this variance from the same wheat is
not easy to understand unless it be III
the difficulty OF always giving flour
from the wheat brought to the mill.
We understand that the millers say
they will not grind any more grists,
but will pay fair prices for good wheat,
that which is free from dirt and not
injured 10y frost. Our farmers are in
great need of n cash marketfo wheat,
while this plan should enable the
mlIllers to make n brand of flour that
they can warrant. But at the pres
ent prices for wheat on the Chicago
market there will be no big money in
it for growers anywhere in the west.
There is no question but that agood
deal OF poor wheat has been raised i'll
this county in the past two or three
years, n fact which ranchmen do not
attempt to deny, and this Is not par
ticularly strange considering that
many were novices at farming, with
unclean seed, seasons unfavorable and
scarcity of machinery for cleaning the
wheat. When a mill was proposed for
Lewistown there were certain men
who were very skeptical on the ques-
ton, prophesied failure and no end OF
trouble, and pointed to the difficulties
encountered in older sections of the
state in making a Touring mill pay.
They predicted just what is now being
experienced. Still a majority OF peo-
pie believe we can raise first class
wheat and make "a good understandable
brand of 1our. But this cannot be
done without great care and labor on
the part OF the farmer. He should
have the very best OF seed, clean soil,
and get his crop in Is early in the
spring as possible in order to harvest
il ahead OF the frost.
The best wheat is raised in favor
able seasons on the high benches.
Irrigated wheat is liable to begreen or
frosted to somee~ extent, especially that
grown near the bitches. Considerable
wheat was injured last season by rain
while in the shock, and it would seem
that if grain cannot be threshed earlier
it would he safer to stack AS in the
older states.
Ii the chief trouble lies with our
milIers then we can see no redress un-
I'll times improve sufficiently to erect
"A cooperative mill OF the situation
invites some one with capital to in
vest in such an enterprise. Oppose
ton might improve matters some
what.
Ranchmen and millers are not alone
interested in this question. 1t is
something that vitality concerns the
business men OF Lewistown. Many
contributed money toward the mill
for indirect benefits, and they look
with regret upon any discord OF mis-
understanding that will check wheat
raising. Without attempting Il locate
all the blame for the trouble, they be-
lieve that something should be done
before seeding time to encourage our
farmers. some OF whom have lost
heart in their efforts to realize onthelr
wheat crop.