davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29
FERGUS COUNY'S SAD PLIGHT.

THOUSANDS OF words, columns Oh ar
ticles, have been written during the
past year telling OF the wonderful
prosperity OF Fergus county-of its
great resources, stock growing, agri.
cultural and mining; OF the great and
rapidly increasing nerds of sheep
which feed on the fertile hills, of the
immense acreage Of fabulously pro-
ductive soil. seeded with wheat and
oats and from which the yield was
unsurpassed by any section in the
world; Of the mines which each month
yield thousands Of dollars in net pro.
fits; we have boasted of a million
dollar output in gold, of the great
mills erected TO treat the mountains
Of ore, of the great prosperity of the
people and said that eighty per cent.
of them had bank accounts; stated
that our banks were prosperous, our
merchants getting rich and everybody
and everything happy and rejoicing
in the great harvest in this region
flowing with milk and honey, but we
must take it all back. Fergus county
is on the ragged edge of bankruptcy
at least it appears so from the report
of Assessor Pick, and though his fig
ures don't balance by about twenty
thousand dollars the Industries are
too far gone to mind a paltry sum like
that-it won't ave them.
When the Argus went to press last
week the assessors balance was of
about forty thousand dollars and in
the hope that these few things would
be found somewhere. in the cracks
of the sidewalk or possibly in the ash
heap, and would be promptly dispen-
sed among the needy, we waited be-
fore pleading the poverty which star
ed the people of Fergus county in the
face. Somebody found fifteen thous-
and of this Saturday and gave it to
the cattlemen, but the miner and the
sheepmen. the merchant and the
farmer are still crying for bread.
A few weeks since we obtained
from the land office-supposedly re-
liable-the statement that in the year
past final proof had been made on 40s
claims. which, allowing 100 acres to
the claim, would have added $3.50
to the assessment acreage, but AS
SCISSOR Pick say there are only 20,276
acres more than there were a year
ago. What a drop.
And last Christmas the Argus stat
ed that SITE, 900 had been invested
in permanent improvements in Lewis
town during the previous season; we
thought we were right, but somebody
misinformed us. Assessor Pick says
the increased valuation Of improve
ments on city and town lots in the
whole county is only $6S,3S1.
Then there's the telephone lines.
Last year Assessor Fowler reported
276 miles. but the poverty Of the
people has been so terrible that las
miles have been allowed to fall down
and this year Assessor Pick says there
isn't but l31 miles, valued at $500.
Probably all the lines in the county
could be bought for $4,000, but 1t
would have to be done by some out
slider, for there's no one in Fergus
county who has got that much money;
no. not all the people put together,
for Assessor Pick says they didn't
have but $500 in cash on hand March
LIST and only last week we saw two
packages arrive from Montgomery &
Ward, which must have cost some
thing.
But mortgages have decreased $685.
5S4, says Assessor Frank Pick in his
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

1t is quite likely the business men
of Helena will take Judge Henry {.
Smiths advice anc cultivate closer
relationship with the people Of Lew
istown and the Judith Basin when
the Montana railroad is completed.
There are but very few of the citizens
OF Helena who have visited this sec.
tion and the great majority have no
knowledge of the beauty and resour,
ces of this wonderful region by per.
sonal observation and investigation.
It is to be hoped that some of the
enterprising men Of the state capital
will shake up our farmers and get
them interested in the smaller pro.
ducts OF consumption. 1t will soon
be possible to place outer, eggs. poul.
try and vegetables on the Helena mar,
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29
recreation

We believe better assessments
would be secured in every county n
the state il the terms of assessors
were made for four years and the IT..
cumbent disqualified to succeed him.
self. This would prevent any posi-.
bility of an assessor using his official
position to prolong his tenure of office.
While We make no charge that the
present assessor Of this county has
been playing fayorites there is a great
temptation to do so on the part of all
assessors during their first term of Of
fee. An assessor always does better
work during his second term and it Is
then that he makes the most enc
mics,
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

Those young college students who
went to Kansas to work in the har-
vest fields are not finding 1t a soft
snap. In fact they "a not stand the
hard work and exposure to a burning
sun. This could be expected. The
transition from the class room to the
grain field was too sudden. Though
young and strong they were not ac-
climated while the water and altitude
had their affect. These young men
show a c~ommendable spirit but they
will do better as walters at some
summer resort hotel. While the pay
is not as good the work is light an
affords more time for pleasure and
recreation.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

We trust Fergus county will have
an exhibit at the state fair in Hell
ena. An elegant and complete min.
eral exhibit should be collected and
arranged for the Fergus county fair
and the same should be sent to Hell.
ena along with an agricultural and
stock exhibit. Surely. n of the
leading mining. stock and agricultur-
al counties of the state should not
be allowed to go unrepresented. in
fact there Is not another county IN
the state so strong in all three indus
tries as Fergus. We believe when
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

iePott' the people have ueeh Po''n7
their debts, that's where the money,
the crops, the wool and the gold a
gone. No. not even here is there con-
ISOLATION. for Monday Assessor Pic
said he had overlooked some mort
cages, about 10000 he thinks, per-
haps $4,000.
A few watches were purchased, for
their value this year Is 1926 more than
last; and a few books, increased val
ue 1850. and as the merchants could
mt sell their goods they had $5,222
more in stock March LIST.
Farming utensils, no longer OF much
value, have been left out to rust and
rot, the loss on which Assessor Pick
says is s2,519. Range horses to the
number Of 2,571 have been driven OF
and sold for what could be got; TO-.
PA head of cattle have gone to the
shambles and none bred or purchased
to replace them; 1884 more sheep
have died than have been born and
the stock industry is gone up the
spout.
The worst, however, is yet to come.
But we will make a clean confession
and have 1t done.
The poverty of the people was such
that last winter every grain Of wheat,
oats and barley VS. consumed-there
wasn't a pound left March LIST.
And the mines, could we not have
been spared this blow?
Somebody said that the Kendall
company alone had invested two hun
dred thousand dollars in improve
ments, and were making $50, 1000 n
month. But it's wrong, all wrong.
They have only / 5000 worth of ma
chinery and their whole plant, three
hundred ton mill, power plant and all.
is only worth s63, 1926. And in twelve
months they have only made $125, 00c
The Barnes King-who was 1t wanted
to give a million dollars for the thing,
only made $4,000. The Gold Reef
company went behind and the sap
phire mines lost about $1,000. But
somebody's been telling and the coun.
ty commissioners say the Barnes
King Co. made $6S.OOO more than they
know of, SO they have raised the as
SCISSORS figures to s125,000.
And the banks, poor deluded NOR
tails that we have been. Proud of
our banking institutions, why
shouldn't we be, when one boosted
of a capital stock of $4,000 0 and sur
plus, undivided profits and special re-
serve of $152, 900 more, while the 9TH
er bank placed in big letters its cap
ital stock of $4,000 and $751; 900 more
in surplus, undivided profits and re-
serve. a total of s45S,0 0 Wrong
again, Tie StOCh 10 WdtcIcu, uOpcu, vi
we read the figures wrong, for Assess
or Pick says the two banks have only
S239,166. Two hundred and twenty
thousand short the report says.
We are done, acknowledged every
thing and never again will we place
any credence in the tales Of prosper
ity.
But one ray of hope is left. The
county commissioners still won't ad'
nit the terrible calamity and last
week raised individual assessments to
the tune of s1S9. 9O2. Perhaps they'll
hnd some more; but why nourish the
hope. Fergus county is busted; AS
SCISSOR Pick says so.
Later-This Tuesday morning the
assessor announces the work balanc.
ed, Accountant F%roembling having
found the $21,218 which was missing.
The totals. increases and decreases
will be found elsewhere in this issue.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

Though the law of the state says
that the assessor shall nave complet-
ca his work and deliver his book,
properly balanced. to the clerk on the
second Monday of July, and forward
TO the state board of equalization his
report. the Fergus county assessor is
way short. That date was ten days
ago. but the books don't balance by
about fifty thousand dollars and the
assessor gives it up. He can't do II,
and his deputy says were up against
e.. and may as well acknowledge 1t"
Later-Assessor Pick has engaged
Deputy Cannon, of the clerks office,
anu accountant F%roembling and they
have about $4,000 of the lost. Later
They have found 5000 more. Later
The county commissioners met this
Monday morning and were talking
It over when the assessor says he'll
have that balance tonight sure.
Later-Clerk Hazen has been called
IN and perhaps he can help Them out.
Messrs. Cannon and Froembling work
ed all night and found so many err
rors that they had to wait until the
stores opened to get more figuring
blocks. Later-An error OF $751; SIS
as been found in the valuation Of
stock cattle and the balance is now
only off $2l, 512. The commissioners
have gone home. Later-Mr. Froemo.
ling has found 1t, scattered about in
amounts from $50 to s10,534.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

Mrs. nelen NJ. Rockwell died in
Chicago last week at the ripe age of
100 years. 3 months and %. days. Mrs.
ockwell had the honor of being pre-.
scented to General Lafayette on his
return to the United States. and she
had lived through the administrations
of all the presidents except Washing.
ton. She was a native of Connect
iant
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

Grasshoppers appear to be doinl
considerable damage to grass and
crops in the Yellowstone valley. UT
to date the Judith Basin seems to be
exempt from the ravages of these IN
sects. Their existence in any part
of the state is a source of regret and
1t is to be hoped they will take their
flight before another season.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

p. A. O'Farrell. the editor of the
Reyille. Heinze's Butte organ. got
what he has been inviting some time
past. Mike Sullivan did the job as
neatly as 1t could have been done by
the great John L.. After two blows
O'Farrell took the count.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

Now comes a German scientist VINO
declares that those addicted to the
inordinate use of the ~succulent oys.
ter are subject to violent fits of insan.
ity, 1t is not the oyster but the price
that drives one crazy in Montana.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

All lovers of the national game OF
base pail in Lewistown and included
in the list are probably a majority CT
the substantial business men Of the
place. should consider the matter Of
securing new grounds for the future.
It is very apparent that the present
grounds will be covered with dwell
ings in a year or two, the new county
high school building making the loca-
ton very desirable. Now would seem
to be the time to ecu grounds else
where in order to get them near the
city. Il will be some time before Lew
istown will have a street a line and
a ball ground should be located within
or at the edge of the city so that II
can be reached without expense for
conveyances. On the bench west If
town could be found a very desirable
location. There have been some gen.
erous offers made Of ground in this
locality and a committee should be
appointed to investigate the matter
and ascertain what a be done. VI
grounds can be secured by donation,
purchase or lease. we feel sure that
the players and the management
would make them the equal of any
in the state. With a railroad IL will
not be impossible to get teams here
from a number of cities and towns
in the state. We understand the
grand stand erected for the Fourth
of July celebration will be donated
to the club. which is al important
acquisition. Who will start the bal
rolling"
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

With two mines yielding approx.
mately 5000. coo a year gross, it would
e that the net output should ex-
coed slS2,000. Operating expenses
must be heavy.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

the time comes the railroads will
agree to carry such exhibits free Of
charge, or at a very low rate. This
matter should be given the attention
II deserves
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

An agreement has apparently been
reached between Russia and this coun.
try whereby Manchurfan ports are to
be opened by the Chinese authorities
to American trade.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

The people Of Ireland may not pre-
sent King Edward with a horse or
loving cup but he will probably get
all the recognition he deserves.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

After all King Edward is no cow
ard, He is at present making a tour
of Ireland.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29

Cole Younger sens to take pride in
the fact that he was not as bad as he
might have been. He was bad enough.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29
rr,cIAL PAPER OF FERGUS COUNTY.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY
JOHN N. VROOMAN, Editor and Proprietor.
aALSEY R. WATSON, Business Manager.
LEwIsTowN, MONT. July 20. 1909

Fergus county wool is now being
offered for sale and bringing a good
price.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-22
Prices Went Up and Down
During the Day.
SUPPORTING MEASURES
The Efforts to Prevent Break Met With
Easier Success than Was Anticipa-
ted-Closng Easy and With
Net Declines Ruling.
tBy Associated Press.)

NEW YORK. Oct. 21..-The news before
the opening Of tho stock market To-Day
Of tho suspension OF tho Ftdaral VA.
tional Bank OF Pfttsbug, caused fears ol
a violent break IN tne na'h re-; - ne q
opening In some of the leadinR stoehs.
and declines ran to po.ht ~ ieI
cases. Pressule WAS severe lp'n ~
OF Ia Eea,s for the resul, III the mar.
ket were the more acute. oWiag TO- tIe
part played In yesterdays cons,aera, az
recovery BY the publ he'd assui aces int
the FEDERAL National nh',k Vas n9t ~
need Of assl ,tance. 1t was believed. there,
fore that the threatened IN inst nsws NJ, M
morning caused hasty measures for say y.
porting prices. Tno effectiveness OF thsse
became voty promptly manifest. wv the
picion, owing to the belief In tho arti.
ficiai nature OF the demand. ihJ.e on
tho floor were ST., Drised at tho Gus.
it was easy to perceive taat o.ie..nss 81 81
light scale al Tho buying was theIeu, on
renewed with, vigor. and the ma, ma. he ~
carried upwa.d quite Complementary 20
the axtent OF q point or more. fncea
retraced their course during the LAT.
ter prt Of the DAY and d ae s'esffs
day except wncrc the ea..ly gains had
been above the average. The eatse as.
signed for the failure. namely, the WILL
drawal OF deposits By small banhs. vain
had been ofiered hgn rate OF interest
by the failed bank TO attract thee ae.
posts. was a result from a cndition
known 70 have become suIf.c emily geo.
eral 10 be the subject OF wide 5pread CRIT.
cIsm. Notwithstanding the lao reaction
in tho market ats tone was accepted as
rather convincing evidence OF n mae.u'e..
able restoration Of confidence. in view OF
the factors TO be conte. .ded with. y
these must be added the threatening
aspect OF labor conditions with the Man
haitian Elevated. The market din not
take well the announcement that some Of
the anth. ac.te collicr.es Will close down
for sbout q week owing to the gu OK auc.
cession OF ho.days within tnat Ter %.
trhe local money market was quite unAf-
fccted by tho large sh pmehts OF mo"e5
to Baltimore. Reports were current OF
further large grain exports. and the frecr.
movement Of cotton was also viewed WI. h.
satisfaction.
The boLd market was very broad and
widely varied at generally Advancing
prices. Bond house, report u notable Ia
crease In the investment demand. Total
sales OF bonds, par value. were S5.as6,.
coo.
United States rs advanced IL. the old
Total. sales OF stocks 10. to-day were
CO.. 600 shares.
MONEY AND EXCHANGE-CLosE
Money on call. steady, at cGi2 IL: closing
:.Gp2 49, time. loans. eaay; sixty days aid
s eans menf PAPER i Rss Ss sSriin s
change. firm. With aetual :. business sls y
bankers bills ct - y eyn4 % Is for de-,lS "a
posted Fate si.y3 and $3.50 ~: comn1er-
ciaI bills. Asa LII bar sill err, 81 IA: ale1l-
can dollars. rs ga.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-22
VETERANS
NORTH. STATE
------------------
Annual Reunion Being Held
in Raleigh.
TWO THOUSAND GATHER
--.-.-------------------
Parade Under Command Of General
Julian S. Carr--Fu Ily Twenty Thous-
and People Attended Races at
State Fair-Pick- Pockets.
Especial to The Times.Dispatch.)

Special to The Times.D ispatch) 49,.
RALEIGH, n. c., October 2l--Confed-
crate veterans have held sway In Raleigh
to-day. Tho reunion of the North Caro-
lima Division Is being hold in connection
with the State Fair. About two thousand
are here, most OF them In the camp.
This morning prayers were held at head
quarters at 9 o'clock by Chaplain Belts.
The parade started from camp at IL
o'clock and proceeded to the Fair
Grounds, under command OF General Ju-
ian s. Carr and division commanders
General p. C. Carlton. OF Statesvi!le; Gem
eral James I. Metts, of Wilmington; Cen
eral j. NJ. Ray, OF Ashoville
Other notable veterans here are General
Matt. w. Ransom Colonel John r. Lane,
Captain C. Frank Sller, General W. r.
Cox, General w. p. Roberts and many
more.
The day was spent in the fair, and the
old soldiers reassembled In front Of flo
raj hail ut o'clock and marched to the
Agricultural and Mechanical College,
where a dinner WEB furnished by the
Ladies' Memorial Association OF Raleigh,
the Jollnson-Pettigrew Chapter. U. c. ",
end c. and L. OB. Branch Camp, U. c.
" At O'clock the annual election or the
division and brigadier commanders was
held ut the auditorium at the Agricultu-
raj and Mechanical College. All the old
officers were reelected.
STATE FAIR: -
The attendance at the fair to-day was
at least 10000. Six cases of picking pock-
etu l1avo been reported. and one man. CIV
ins. his name as Wilson Hayes, was ar.
rested and released on $1,000 bond.
The races at the fair to-day resulted as
fellows:
(: Class o:so-pacing, --Ave. heats-Bobbte
H., 9, 9, !. /, /; Mary NJ, /. 2, 2. 2, 2:
RAJ man. !, 8. 3, 8. Time. s:22 IL. 2:24
ia. 2:A 10, 3:2a IA. 2:2S IA.
Glass 2:24-trotting.. four heats-sam
Patch. /, 8. /. 1; Samuel Stokes, q !, 4. =;
Kate Campbell. 4. 2, 2, a. Dan F., 3..4,
q, 4. Time. aga IA, a:2l. 2:23 II, 2:S2 IL:
At meeting OF the State Cotton
Growers, Association, In which thirty
five counties were represented, a resolu-
ton was adopted advising farmers to
hold their cotton for ten cents. An es-
innate Of the crop in this State based
ON reports Of delegates, makes the crop
about seventy five per cent of last year'9.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-22
COTTON MARKETS.

new YORK. Oct. 1.-THE cotton market
opeLed strons at au advance OF ,0lls points
on active covering and buying for long account,
following cables that were higher than expected
by considerable margin, including an advance
OF 10 points In the Englikb spot market. In ,ad.
diton TO the higher cables the outlook wus for
lighter receipts for the day, md while the
weather was nearly ideal so far as late develop.
uent, picking and the movement were concern.
ed thu. market continued steady to firm after
the cali 10 spite. OF heavy realizing sales By re-
cent buyers, who were operating on the reactiop
thelry. All sorts OF bull talk was heard on the
Advance. Continued buying OF December By a
leading local operator gave rise to run,ors Of 4
corner IN that outlon, and after a slight set
back around midday the market was rallied to
a not, gain OF 1924 points BY reports that the
New Orleans bull leader was bidding for large
blocks Of March IN the Southern market around
1Oc. The estimates for tO-morrow's receipts
Mt leading points were rather Irregular, Houston
and Galveston being large, while New Orleans
was light. The Southern spot markets, however,,
were generally nrm and unchanged to Side
higher, and this helped In the spread of bulllsh
sentiment, as DID also private cables from Iiv-
crpoo, attributing the advance In TINT market
10 the demands OF spinners. who they. said had
become alarmed over the smallness OF spot Of
(crings. The advancing tendency was also en-
cournged by the large exports for tho day which
footed up a545S bales The reported failure of
q national bank at Pttsburg had no effect on
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-22
CONVENTION ENDS.
WITH OYSTER.ROAST
Junior order. United Amerl-
can Mechanics Elect
Officers for Year. ., ,..:
(speclal to The Tlmes-DIspatch)

especial 10 Inc lIIHSS-DlSpdNCu)
NEWPORT NEWS, VA. October 2l.--
Tho annual convention OF the State C,oun-
Gil, Junior Order OF United American Mo-
chanlcs. came to an end this afternoon
with u big oyster. roast at, Buckroe
Beach. ,st
The delegates returned to the city late
In tho afternoon, and~m most Of them left
on the 5:S5 train for their homes.
This morning officers were elected and
Danyllle was decided upon as the next
place of meeting. Tho officers follow:
state Counclllor-Charles -. Todd, Nor
folk, Va.
Alexandria. Va,
state secrotnry--Thomas y, Ivy. Peters,
burg. Va.
mond, Va.
pert News, VA
Warden-George II. Duke, Eastern
Shore.
baclsvillc
outside sent'nel-c' "a Wursha'' Dam
vile. 6 ,4.8f y ~ ;, S4t
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-22
ALL NOW SERENE. :.
IN=9W VI MQ 3 + |; !, 4 |!
Mr.. w. R. Crabbe Has With
drawn IN Favor. of W. r..
s 6. .SydnoT,5 <.
:lspeoiar 10 The 11mes-pispatch.l

W'ARSAW.-vA., Oct. 2l..Things polit-
ical in Westmoreland took another turn
to-day. Last "Wednesday the. county
Chairman Of the countless met and de-
cleared Mr.. w. r. Crabbe the party nom
inee fort House of Delegates.J Dr.. w:
r, Sydnor, his opponent In the primary,
filed n contest. This contest was heard
to-day One vote each at. Wicomioo,
-Hcathsyjlle7.an and Lottshurg District Was
dropped from the Crabbe column, making
LEGATION was stopped here ana the com
.mttec decided that there was no .non1i-
nation
At this juncture Mr. Crnbbe arose and
said that he was not willing that the
party should be without nominee. and
Toved that the honor be bestowed upon
DR.. SydnOr, which was done.