Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-09-09
ROUNDUP, MONT, AUG. 30, 1910.

EDITOR LEADER: As we enjoy
keeping in touch with III old home
friends through the columns of the
LEADER, we thought they might also
take an interest in a short description
of the doings Of the Canton colony
now located in what will soon be one
of the most productive sections OF
Montana. AS is we'll known, we were
unfortunate in being delayed by wash
outs on out trip out last spring, then,
| as all who have ever tried homestead,
ing have discovered for themselves
that 1t is no child's play to start out
with all ones worldly goods on wagons
for a-3O mile trip I'VE an unknown
country, with only an occasional
shack, land that, usually unOccupiedj
in all that distance, in case of a storm
or any other accident, and where
there are little children or older
people in the undertaking, the diff
culties are multiplied, but since we
have all got established on our own
~hOmesteads, and got things comfort
ably arranged, there has been no word
Of dissatisfaction and we all have I'M
limited faith in the speedy develop
ment of this section of Montana.
There are very few farms to be
taken now, but there are several that
are open to contest, as the owners,
single men, have built their shacks
and then gone away to work In the
mines in Roundup and made no pre-
tence Of living on their homesteads.
The majority of this neighborhood is
settled up with good families from
Illinois who intend to make it their
permanent home. A man from Chi
cago filed on the farm joining me on
the east, he died last spring and his
widow has just sold her relinquish-
ment to the farm for 5000 which
proves the land here is considered
valuable. MI. Braithwaite, J. J.
| Richardson and Grandma Haw have
farms joining in a fine section 8 miles
east. Roy Scott and AL Carter each
have good farms 81 miles northeast
Of us and Jim Glaze 81 miles north
and all are we'll and prospecting. Roy
Scott is employing all his spare time
in hunting down the festive mice as
the game law prevents his indulging
in any nobler sport, and as the lively
little animals are rapidly making way
with his ezra supply OF winter under
<.1ofl,nC 1o h0~jno fn In va cro va ~
"prehension as to his condition when
| the winter winds strike this section.
Should any fatality be reported from
his section during the winter months
case of cause and effect.
The rest Of the men have just
finished putting up the second crop
from a 400 acre field Of alfalfa on
Flatwillow Prairie. Grass is very
short this year owing to the extreme
dry weather. 1t has been the dryest
summer known for twenty years the
old ranchmen say, but grain that was
put in early made a good yield and
the quality is excellent. Mr.. Jens'
| void on his Experiment farm IL miles
north OF Roundup, had some fine
fields of grain which proved what
! could be accomplished If science as
we'll as muscle Is employed.
There has been a party of railroad
surveyors busy in this section survey
| ing the railroad land, as a great deal
will be offered for sale next spring-a
fine chance for anyone Wishing to in
vest in real estate, or to get a good
home cheap. We have no school In
this section yet but confidently expect
a district will be established this fall
as our application with a sufficient
number OF school children enrolled
has been in the Superintendent
office since July, but no new districts
could be formed before September.
We met two weeks ago and organ
lied a Sabbath School, and last Sun
day at our first regular gathering
there were 43 present. Not so bad
for a beginning. Mr.. Fassett, a
neighbor two miles from us, has
kindly offered the use of his home till
we can get a suitable building erect
! ed. He Is centrally located, has
plenty of room and a fine piano,
making it very convenient. BY the
way. there are FIVE pianos in this
n%eighborhood, and some good mu'
sicians so we feel quite civilized.
II there is anyone who would like
to learn more about this western
country I will gladly nswer any
Questions and will state the simple
facts as they appear to me without
using any of the varnish employed by
real estate agents. With best wishes
for all Lincoln county friends, l re