Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-08-02
The Cactus Commission Finishes Its
Trip Through the District
Affected by the Weed.
The Feeling of the Farmers is that
United Individual Effort
Will Eradicate It.
The Commission Will Probably Make
a Trip Into the French Weed
District Ere Long.
The Cactus Commissions First Trip.

Moure, Sargent and Ransom, has been
completed, and the members of the COM
mission have returned to their homes.
The trip began Monday, July %, and
lasted the whole of last week, q large
area of the district being driven over by
the members of the commission. At the
towns of Cakes, LaMoure, Monargo and
Lisbon the commission was met by citi-
zens of the several localities, and the
various phases of the cactus question
discussed. A report of the trip has been
prepared by G. S. Buck, secretary Of the
commission, and it states that the men,
bers are satisfied that with the concerted
and united efforts of the settlers in the
districts visited q short time will see the
pest under control.
The disposition among the settlers
whose farms have suffered from the
presence Of the pest is different than a
year ago. There is evident and ex-
pressed determination among them to
meet and do battle with the cactus, on
it's own ground. The ideas of farmers
regarding the weed have undergone a
change. Senator J.. w. Stevens of
Dickey county, who was last yea1 fear
full of the inability of farmers to cope
with the weed, was one Of the settlers of
Dickey county to discuss the question
with the commission. He is OF the
opinion that if each township will take
hold of the matter earnestly, and each
farmer make an honest attempt to clear
his own place, that the thistle will be so
far subdued this season as to divesg the
situation of the danger which was
thought to threaten the farming COM
munity Of the southern portion Of the
state.
10 show what work will do toward the
eradication of the cactus, the case of a
farmer named Euker is cited by the COM
mission. His farm is in the heart of the
cactus district, but is entirely free from
the weed. When questioned regarding
the matter, he answered that he was
bothered with the cactus in the same
manner as his neighbors, but by dint of
hard work had cleared his farm, and
kept it clean, adding that if the same
effort was put forth by his neighbors the
task would be much easier for all con-
cerned.
The greatest trouble experienced, how
ever, is from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. weeds
which are uprooted and blown about the
country to seed large areas. For dis
posing of these, some Of the farmers sup-
gest fences, and others trenches. They
are encountered mostly upon trails and
highways, and it is in these places that
the most care must be taken by town.
ship officials.
The cactus burners, which were ex.
tensively advertised last winter, have
not, it is said, come up to the expecta-
tlons OF their inventors, in efficiency as
d%estroyers. Another invention, which is
on foot now, is a cutter, resembling a
surface pillow, which can be driven over
the fields and will cut off the plants
close to the ground. The weed does not
grow from the roots, and this plan. it is
believed, will meet with greater success
than that of burning. The commission.
however, has made no arrangements vet
for the trial of any of these methods.
From the statements of those whom thew
met on the trip, they believe that the
weed can be controlled and finally eradi.
Gated by the township assessment plan.
if an earnest endeavor is made, without
the expenditure of funds by the COM
mission any further than is necessary to
bring the farmers to see the necessity
and the possibilities Of. individual &C.
tion.
The commission will make another
trip in q week or SO to the northern mart
OF the state, where the French weed ia
troublesome. This pest is confined go
far to the upper Red River valley. and
the commission will determine, by inter.
views with those in the affected dis.
tricts, what means can best be EMPLOYED
to the eradication OF the weed.
Briefs Filed.
The attorneys for the parties TO tha
electric light suit filed final briefs in
the case Tuesday, embodying references
and citations to cases which the al.
torneys deem in point. The briefs ara
quite long, and contain numerous refer.
ences to cases similar to the one at issue.
The matter is now closed, so far as aron-.
ment is concerned, and is being consid.
cred by the court, who will probably
render his decision in the case this waak
HE earnings Of the Northern Pacific
Tor the first two weeks in July amounted
to s6l4,5O4; forthe corresponding period
in 1894 they were s25,647, an increase Of
S5S9,S57. The small earnings last year
were U by the strike on the line Of
the road,