The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-09

more bitter opponents than the
Rocky Mountain HuSbdndmdn of
White Sulphur Springs, a paper which
occupies an enviable position among tho
essentially agricultural publications of
the West. 1t had never overlooked an OPP
portunity to pohoo the idea. On every oc-
casion il has attempted to divert public
attention in the direction of irrigation and
irrigation enterprises. Not that Mr.. Glib
son is opposed to irrigation; far from it.
lie believes in irrigating to a certain extent
| whenever the water can be had for a rea-
sonable cost on lands situated near
streams. But his idea is that only n small
per cent. of the land of Montana can be
cultivated with the assistance of irriga-
ton, while the vast domain of so-called
grazing lands will have to lie idle until
the federal or state government comes
forward and appropriates something to-
| wards their reclamation. 1t will probably
be many years before this is done. Now,
| IL Montana is to become n great agri-
cultural state her CT liens cannot af-
ford to sit down and wait until legis-
lation or private capital comes forward
and establishes systems of irrigation.
| hey must do the next best thing, culti-
vato the bench land farms. That has
been MIR. Gibson's id "a from the start. He
saw that IT much of the land in y orthern
| Montana is to be cultivated it must for
| the present be done without irrigation
and for that reason he has advocated and
| demonstrated the scheme. Now the Rocky
| Mountain Husbdndmdn, as already stated,
always cndeavors to throw cold water on
what it ii was pleased TO style Mr.. Glib
sons hobby. But the paper appears to
have experienced a change of heart of
late, for recent issue contains an open
lott e.
umn and a half, in which the writer, Il. y.
Sutherlin, one of its editors, who was here
at the recent farmers institute, admits
over his signature that bench land farm
ing Is not so bad after all. Mr.. Sutherlin
says in his opening paragraphs:
"Since attending the farmers institute
which convened in your city at a recent
date and listening to the experience of
those farmers actually engaged in bench
land farming, we feel far moro capable of
preparing paper on farming in your Sec
ton, and offer this as a second edition to
what we have already written. The mar
velous success of c. L. Stork on a bench
land farm with only few little springs
aifording water for irrigating n garden is
convincing proof that there are many To- |
cations in your vicinity that can be sue |
cessfully farmed without artificial water
of bench land farms yielding 20 bushels of |
grain per acre, and hear bench land farm
ers talk confidently of growing .5 bushels
OF hard Fife wheat per acre on an average
one year with another. So long have we
devoted our energies to farming by irriga-
ton that we are unwilling to risk the pos
sibilties of loss in farming without il. but |
II must be admitted that there are few
sections of the older states that have
chronicled better results in farming than
have been secured by the farmers about
Great Falls"
The writer marvels at the fact that the
report of the Royal Milling company of
this city showed that the quality of wheat
produced here is $50 much superior to the
wheat received by the same company at
its plant in Minneapolis"
Certainly our system of irrigation"
continues MIR. Sutherlin, cannot improve
on the quality of grain raised in your Sec
ton, although 1t would increase the yield
to material extent. il has long been
conceded by the farmers of Gallatin val
ley that the non-irrigated fields produce
the best quality of hard wheat, and the |
success of wheat raising in your section
strongly points to the production of the
bread supply of our state in the near fut-
lre from non-irrigated fields, and we as
sure you that you will have our hearty CO.
operation in furthering your endeavors to
grow bread-making grain on your vast
able lands.'
Other portions of the letter. which is too |
ong for republication entire, is in a SINH
ar strain and go to show that Mr.. Gibson's
appeals for the bench land farmers of :
Northern Montana have not been in vain.
The article is indeed splendid tribute to
Mr. Gibson's forsightedness.
Inquiry has been received here as to the
of Martin A. Bradley, 81
ears of age, dark complexion, with dark
lair and eyes. He left Washington county,
Missouri, in June, 1890, and when last
card from was in Fergus county, this
tate. His father, Nathan Bradley, living
t DeSoto, jefferson county, Mo, would
Ike to hear of him.
Richard NJ. Wells has recorded a deed :
rom Sherman W. Crum for lot 4, block
Dc; consideration $3.50.
Il. A. Ammon, manager and owner of
ne Gilt Edge mine in Fergus county, who
as recently summoned to his home in
ew York, is expected back this week.
Rev. j. II. Croker, pastor of the Un,-
lrian church in Helena, will occupy the
Il pit of the First Liberal church in this
ty next Sunday, exchanging with the
aston, Rev. Mr.. Reid, who will preach in
ev. Mr.. Crooker's church.
The enterprising citizens OF Hollywood
re contemplating the erection of a hall
IT the use of public entertainments in
lat locality. 1t will be built by a sio K
'mpany. Considerable money towards
le enterprise has already been sub
ribbed.
A few evenings ago the friends of Mr..
al Mrs. w. Il. Hedge gathered at th.ir
sidence on Eighth avenue and Sixteenth
rect north, to celebrate with that worthy
'up!e the 18th anniversary of their we'd
ng. Some very handsome presents ~.
ere made, among which were a 81
ina dinner and tea set, a beautiful lamp vi
I'd numerous household articles. An ali
,ur or so was spent in conrratufatinc or
c couple, after which. to the tune of lei