Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-02-15
SECOND EPIsTLE OF JAMES.
Hon. James Fergus Relates His Experience
In Obtaining Wheat Ground.

February S, 1894.
EDITOR ARGUS: Your issues of the
21st and 2Sth January just received.
Am surprised that my short letter of
the 14th has Matched out such a
brood OF replies and sorry that what
was. intended for a public benefit
should run into personalities. If you
will allow me space 1 will have some
thing further to say, both in reply to
what has been said and what is ex-
pected to come. Although born in
foreign country, James Fergus is a
true American, is in favor and an ad-
vocate both by word and pen OF
Americans, whether in Montana or
other states, using and consuming the
products of our own soil, and has
never bought or used an imported
article himself when he could get
homemade or go without. He was
therefore sorry to learn that We were
sending money out of our state to
buy wheat that we could grow at
home, and gave some OF the reasons
why the Lewistown mill could not al
ways make good -four, taking no part
for or against miller or farmer; simply
this and nothing more. There is no
doubt but the Colvers and few Others
have raised good wheat, but that is
the exception rather than the rule.
1t is claimed on the part OF some who
have grown poor wheat that the
spring before the mill started they de-
pended on seed from the states, that
it came in so late that some of it was
not in the ground before the middle OF
May-too late to grow good wheat in
this climate-and the spring was too
late last season. But be the cause
what it may, late sowing, wheat fol-
lowing oats, poor cultivation or foul
land, the fact remains c. w. or his at
torney, as the case may be, and c.
Colver to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, that a great deal OF the wheat
taken to the Lewistown mill was OF
an inferior quality, or my eyes de-
ceived me. Now l am not taking Mr..
Stiles part now or heretofore, my
sympathies are with the farmers and
my letters to Mr.. Stiles will prove it,
but that is no reason should find
fault with him. He is human and no
doubt has committed errors. We all
do, even those who find fault with
him. In starting his mill it would
have been better both for himself and
the public if he had only bought good
wheat, made good -four and made a
good reputation for his mill, but he
was too anxious to accommodate
and keep the good will of the farmers
and was sometimes imposed upon
The following conversational sub
stance if not in words-took place al
one time in the mill between the miller
and myself:
Els not this wheat frost-bitten?
MiIler-Yes, we bought it from q re
spectacle farmer near town on hi:
word that it was cut three weeks be
fore frost, and while it does not show
it much it makes poor flour and viii
do US much harm.
F., latter examining some othel
wheat)-Why do you buy such stuf
as this?
Miller-Tnat man claimed to hav'
subscribed wheat toward building tn,
mill (although he had not paid it)
and that he had raised that whea
for sale; finally we took it rather thar
have his i'll will.
F.-Well you better sell it for CHECKER
feed at half price.
! Another thing, limited at by c. Col
yer and which will probably come on
in q letter already written by Fre'
Colver, is my getting his wheat groun'
lin my name. There was nothin
wrong about that. saw a large bi
of old wheat at his place, asked hir
why he did not get it ground and b
said the miller would not give hir
-four enough. stating Mr.. Stiles Offer
As it was evident he and Mr.. Style