Mexico Missouri message., 1902-03-27
FROM MONTANA.
The Country and the Audrain
Settlers.

chronicle Il few thoughts. Altho
nearly 1000 miles apart, it may
seem strange to you that we have
Fridays Globe Democrat and the
MESSAGE for our Saturday night $
reading. They usually come to us
arm in arm on Saturdays "over-
land" Verify, we Americans
are rnstlers of the first dye.
Affairs in Northwest Montana
and the Bitter Root valley are tax
ing on new impetus as the farm
ing season approaches. You can
hear the dingle of the implements
in the different tool houses as the
sturdy farmer proceeds to make
thoro inspection to see that every
article is in apple-pie order, bright
and sharp. Natures God with
balmy days and beautiful rays has
lifted the white blanket that has
kept old Mother Earth hid so long.
1t was spread the 9TH of December,
and surely the people of Missoula
have had sleighing to their hearts
content this winter. The noun
tains still retain their wintry night
caps, and will for some time yet.
st. Mary's and Lo Lo, two peaks
of the Bitter Root, have perpetual
snow.
The eastern emigrant and tillcr
of the soil who has been fortunate
enough to cast his lot in the north
west has not forgotten that blank
ct of snow is almost equal to
light coat of manure, and is look
ing forward to bountiful results
from his labor this season The
acreage of vegetables will be quad
rupled, at least in the northwest,
this year.
Our trains are loaded everyday
to their utmost, and someti mes,
and that quite frequently, the over
land is divided into two or three
sections of ten, twelve and fifteen
cars each. OF course quite a
number of these will return and q
greater number will settle down to
grow up with the country"
Many of these will be non-produc
ers and will have to be fed, so you
see the average American is awake
to the emergency, and we are max
ing preparation for our share of
the profits.
Our winter has been a pleasant
one, and, according to old timers,
is an average, if anything, a little
warmer than common. According
to Government standard, which is
quicksilver test, the weather has
been % below. The mercury
thermometer registered % at one
time. When we have any wind
(Which is seldom) it usually occurs
at night time and calms at sun
rise.
We will close with ii few items:
We first speak of Dr.. Benette,
of the Methodist church, who was
sent to the Missbula charge two
years ago. He certainly is stall
wart in the cause Of Methodism. !
Mr.. Benette is a thoro ScOtchman,
and by his energy and persever-
ance liquidated from the church
here Il debt of 81 900. They had
Il iOllifcatiOn meeting, conducted
by Elder Miller, and burned the
mortgages and notes in the pres
ence of large audience. The
Doctor told us that he had the
promise by the Bishop of remain
ing. in MissouIa until his youngest
child had graduated from the State
University, and his youngest is
two weeks old, The membership
presented him an envelope the
same evening, containing 500.
He stood upon his feet about five
minutes without utteriLg II word.
The elder remarked that that was
the best speech of his life,
Our horticultural meeting of one
week duration was worthy of great
praise, Mr.. Siegel, the world-re-
nowned mandolin player, gave us
an exhibit in connection with the
meeting which was free, and just
fit our purse strings. We cau't
do him justice, so will let him pass
without any comment.
DR.. Bert Corner, of Butte, Mon.
and DR.. Putney, of Missoula. per-
formed surgical operation on
Mrs. Nealy Barnes, of Bonner,