Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-02-22
TWO READABLE MONTANA LETTERS
Former Vernonites Tell Something Of
the New Empire

EDITOR CENSOR: 1t being nearly two
years since we left Vernon county, per-
haps some of the readers of the CEN
SoR will be interested to hear how we
are getting along in our western home.
We are enjoying good health and are
happy and contented. The CENSOR is
a welcomed caller in our house every
week.
Last was an exceptionally dry year
in the west, government reports show
ing less precipitations than any year
since 1890 The record for last year
was about four inches, while the aver
age for twenty years is about fifteen
inches. Consequently the crops were
rather light. Nevertheless there were
a great many favorable yields. Thorn
as Amundson's wheat made an average
yield of twenty bushels per acre. The
entire average yield for this vicinity
was ten bushels per acre, flax, oats
and corn yielding in proportion.
In the issue of January a, 1911, | no
tice among other things an article by
Mr.. S. S. Kile of Miles City, Montana,
formerly of La Fargo, Wisconsin, in
which think he does Montana a grave
injustice. AS to the weather conditions
here 1.-TWO days drive from Miles City,,
thus far we have had no billiards. We
have had few light snow falls. have
fifteen head of Wisconsin bred cattle
running on the range and they are in
excellent condition. l cannot under
stand why the prices of provisions are
so high at Miles City. At Glendive
best flour is worth SO. so per cwt., oats
81. 40 per cwt., potatoes 81 per bushel
and hay IS to $40 per ton. There ar
no idle men around here and wages are
$40 per month and board. As to the
comparison of the values Of LAID there
is lots of land here one acre of which
| would not trade for twenty acres of
land in some parts of Vernon county.
Land in this vicinity IS selling at an ay-
erage of $50 per acre and on an average
will produce as much as an acre of land
in Vernon.
Perhaps it will give your readers a
better conception of the development
of this country if should STATE that in
eight townships in the immediate vi
cinity of Bloomfield there are 10000
acres under cultivation at the present
time and there are 10000 acres con-
tracted to be broken in the spring.
There are ten steam and gasoline out
fits ready to begin work early. | admit
that Vernon county has some advan-
tages, but think the opportunities for
young man are great deal better in
the west.
| extend our best wishes to the many
readers of the CENSOR. J. K. REED.
Bloomfield, Montana.
EDITOR CENSOR: | have now been in
Montana ten months and can say that
/ am still well pleased with the country.
The climate is ideal; we have had no
snow to speak of and less than week
of real winter weather. December was
like Wisconsin October with the ex-
ception of the last days which were
pretty sharp. Since then the weather
has been fine.
Land around here is all taken up by
set of hustling farmers and houses,
barns and fences have sprung up where
year ago there was nothing but bare
prairie. We also have a good school
within one mile of our claim. Crops
here the past year were fairly good
Considering the drought. We are not
discouraged and expect to put IN big
crop next year. Prices here are some
higher than in the east, but we expect
ed that. We can buy potatoes 81 per
cwt., -four So so per cwt.. oats 81. 55
cwt. and good baled hay Sl4 per ton
There is plenty of good coal and wood
for the trouble of getting them. The
homesteaders around here seem happy
and contented. If any of them are on
the point Of starvation, they deceive
their looks. OF course you find man
once in a while who has Crouch
against Montana, but inconsistencies is
his trouble and paradise would not look
good to him compared to Old Wiscon-
sin. CHAs. w. CAREY.
Tenay Montaua