Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-01-01
THE COW TOWN KNOcKER

Once in while the newcomer will
come III contact with man who has
resided in this section Of the state. all
the way from 10 to 26 years, who will
shake his head obviously when the
subject Of raising crops is being dis
cussel. These doubling Thomases
can he found rs numerous as the pop
nlatiOn in the exclusive sheep or
cattle towns in this section. They
don't know the meaning of the word
'bOOster, and wouldn't become one
when they learn that it means hard
work in pushing something along.
The lazy ones are natural knockers,
while the other breed knock in order
to establish a reputation for possess
ing superior wisdom in regard to the
agricultural possibilities of the coun-
try. They don't stop to reason why.
The fact that they have lived
here Il quarter of century and
haven't seen any crops raised
to any extent. is sufficient evidence
to convince them that none can
be raised. They don't tell the new
conner that the reason that agricul-
tural pursuits have not been extern
sively engaged in during the many
years past was that the products
would have to be hauled in wagons
for over a hundred miles to the near
est market and that the market was
not Il very good one after they arrived
there: that the sheep and cattle men
made plenty of money without any
labor whatever, and spent it lavishly
with the handful Of business men in
the COW towns nearest them. 1t was
easy money for the few, AMI times
were always good. No. they don't
tell the newcomer this.
The intelligent stockman-- and they
are all intelligent is different
proposition. lie is u booster for his
country, and an empire builder. The
fact that he saw the opportunities this
great country offered for the raising
of live stock. and took advantage of
the same, showed Intelligent enter
prise and interchangeable energy. lie
is still booster. lie believes the
country is Oh the eve of a great agri-
cultural development. lie knows that
soil that will produce wild grasses
nutritious enough to keep his stock
fat winter and summer. and made him
rich. will also produce agricultural
products that will make the tillers Of
the soil rich. They are all boosters,
and it does the new cOmcr's heart good
to'talk with them. They have made
the soil and climatic conditions
study, and they know what they are
talking about. They eve not respOns-
ible for the cow town kickprs, only in
the same sense that the horse is re-
spOnsible for the presence of the
pestiferons horse fly. The cow towns
are rapidly passing into state of
inocuous desuetu,.e, and will finally
become only Il memory. In the mean
time the handful Of residents are
tIlc it,
velopment that is sweeping this sec
ton Of the country in the hope Of
retaining the easy money period of
the live stock industry. Ii they were
wise they would get ont Of the cow
path they have been following for, 10,
these many years, adjust themselves
to the changed conditions, make up
their minds to go to work with the
workers. take off their coats and
boost with the boosters. help get set
tiers in, and encourage them after
they get in. make thtirtown attractive
as a trading point for the new settlers
and thus earn rigE, to partake in
the general prosperity that will sure
ly be the portion of the Industrious
and frugal tiller of this !iciI soil But
the COW town knocker is not wise:
therefore his days are few and full of
trouble.