The Ronan pioneer., 1917-11-30
ALL AGREE STATE
HAS FINE WEATHER
OLD TIMERS AND NEW COMERS
SEE MILD WINTER IN
NATURES WORK.
Pemberton Says Regular Weather Is
Feature of Montana and Present
Fall Resembles '96; Birds and An
imals Make Ready for Mild
Weather.

In the past fifty years Montana's S
winter climate has averaged very
we'll, indeed, according to William Y.
Pemberton. librarian Of the State
Historical library, who has been a
resident of the state since the early
COS, when he landed in the diggngs
around Alder gulch.
"This is regular Montana fall"
recently said Mr.. Pemberton. "t's
one of those Indian summer kind,
where men can work out in the open
until nearly Christmas, and that is
the kind that have scored the most
in the Treasure state since l came
here. OF course there have been cold
falls and extremely cold winters, but
they have really been the exception,
rather than the rule.
"The present fall more nearly re-
sembles the fall of 1896 than any
other of which l remember definite
ly. That fall it was summery, just
like it has been, until nearly Thanks
giving day, which was the coolest day
of the fall and winter, the mercury
taking a shoot some 20 below the
zero mark. Then it cleared up and
we had beautiful weather until after
the holidays"
Predict Mild Weather.
Old-timers seem agreed that Mon
tana is in for nice, summer-like Win
ter, that will rival in pleasantness as
whole the climate of California.
Most of them point to the wild ami
mails and to nature to furnish logi-
cal reasons for their predictions.
"Have you noticed the prairie
dogs?" asked one old-timer. well,
they are scampering around on the
prairie just like in the spring. You
see them everywhere, and if you
shoot one and examine it's fur you
will find that he has not put on very
heavy winter apparel.
Indians used to use the prairie
dogs as barometer for the winter,
claiming that invariably the little
fellows hunt their holes permanently
at least three weeks before the cold
period commences"
Flies and Mosquitoes.
From the valleys and lowlands
come reports of flies and mosquitoes,
playing their trades, and fishermen
say that they still bother them some
times when out on finy tribe hunt
Ing expeditions. In office buildings
the last fly of the season is yet long
way off.
Ducks, geese and other birds are
still flying and hunters point to this
fact as certain indications that win
ter time is not yet at hand.
fhn oE
ed warblers is still heard in groves
and orchards, the southland not hav-
ing been strong enough in it's call to
take them away.
Sparrows are dark in color and
that is said to be a sure indication
of bare ground.
Snakes and ground reptiles have
added their prediction to a late fall
and little winter as they have not
yet taken to their holes, farmers re-
porting frequently that they are seen
in the fields. They are said to be
the very best of winter prophets.
Farmers Are Best Prophets.
In eastern Montana, in the north
ern sections of the state, along the
of the Missouri, Yellowstone,
tlathead, kOotenal and their trlbu-
taries, on the uplands where the
wheat fields predominant, farmers
are adding their testimony to the pre-
liction that Montana is not going to
have an early winter, for all over the
state big plowing outfits are at work
and more land has been turned under
his fall, than ever before in the his
,ory of the state.
So the pioneer and the pilgrim, the
Did stockman and the fellows who |
nave cut up his ranges seem agreed
hat Montana is having some delight
'ul fall and that winter is myth in
he distance.
One old-timer forecasts it "Indian
summer in the fall, no cold weather
Until Christmas, break in the mid
lie and some bad weather before
;nring"