Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-08-17
BISMARCK WEEKLY TRIBUNE: FRIDAY. AUG. ~ 1894

II
marck this spring has about 100 able.
bodied men left, all of them just as eager
to avoid manual labor as they were then.
The diminution in number OF the army
is due altogether to the efficiency Of the
police service along the line Of march.
Seventeen OF his men we're arrested at
Baltimore in one band a few days ago,
and sent to the house Of correction. The
general hopes to get home with a few Of
his men sometime this fall. He has not
sent any forsgers ahead yet to let Bis
marck know what time he expects to
pass through but another month or so
may see some more Coxey excitement.
Taken Up.
One gray horse branded on shoulder
circle w. Had bride on. Owner can
have same by calling and paying charges.
THOMAS FORTUNE.
aLEsEH74E SOD Awhile uP, REPRESENTATIONS
The long continued dullness in freight
business from the west, over the the
Northern Pacific, seems to be at an end
says the Alert. Additional freight trans
have been put on to care for the rush of
freight now going east, mnoh Of which
has been delayed by washouts, the strike,
burned bridges, caved in tunnels, etc.
which series of mishaps the Old Pioneer
Line has had to contend with this sum
mer. a
Another cause of the increase Is the
beginning Of western stock shipments.
The cattle are in excellent condition,
never better, and stockmen are taking
advantage of that fact to get them on
the market early.
Morton Couldn't See 1t.
A Washington special says that the
governor of North Dakota addressed a
letter to the secretary Of agriculture
with regard to damage done by the Rus.
sian thistle, suggesting that the depart
ment send a special agent to make an
examination Of the wheat fields Of North
Dakota IN their present condition. Secre-
tary Morton, after full consideration of
the matter and in view Of the considera-
tions already made with regard to this
weed in 1892 and 1893, thought proper to
decline the suggestion.
Beaver Farming.
The New York Ledger has a North
Dakota correspondent, who furnishes
some facts as to beaver farming in Nc
Lean county which, by the way, re-
minds the TRIBUNE that it has a letter
from a n eastern man-who wants to
come west and start a beaver farm
wherever the natural advantages are
best. The Ledger's correspondent says
of the farms:
The industry and sagacity of the beaver
have often commented upon. But those
qualities have not prevented this animal
from being looked upon as a fair object of
capture. Its fur is valuable, and
therefor, it is much sought after
by trappers. Still, it may sur
prise some tpeople to know that in one
part Of this country, at least, there are men
who raise beaver for the market, just as
they might do corn or cattle. 1t is Mclean
county, North Dakota, that beaver farming
is largely carried Oh. The soil is very pool
and is not adapted, as are other parts OF
the state, to wheat growing. The Missouri
river runs along the western border Of the
county, and numerous streams flow into II
from among the hills to the north and east
Cottonwood and elm trees grow on the
banks of these streams, and it is there
where the beaver farms are situated. A
man who intends to start this industry pur.
chases, say, ten acres of land through
which a streams runs. A dam is built at
point where the stream is narrow and the
banks are steep. All that is needed is tc
fell q few trees across the head of the
stream and fill in with dirt and stones
This holds the water back SO that two OF
three acres Of land are flooded. thus form
ing q pond. The next thing to be done il
to erect a fence of wire netting, from two
to three feet high, along the banks of the
stream and around the pond, inclosing al
the trees that can be possible taken in.
Generally a colony of from 10 to l6 bea
vers is put upon a farm. They are oil
course, obtained from trappers. They are
placed in the pond in the spring and soor
become accustomed to their surroundings
In a few days they begint to build their huts
of mud and sticks and to show their wood
chopping abilities on the trees. There is
no return from the outlay the first year
but by the fall of the second year the. col.
ony has largely increased in numbers and
the farmer looks forward to having a regu.
lar income.
The TRIBUNE hasn't seen any beaver
farms-of late-and Mclean county
farmers may or may not be raising 'em-
and II they are-it merely proves the in.
exhaustlbility Of North Dakota resources
Come west, young man.
CROP BULLETIN.
County Reports Concerning the Crop
- tLH 49,.