The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-08-27

southern Montana In 1913. The
country was settled about 1910 to
1914 by homesteaders when the gov
eminent opened the land for entry.
1t was opening the land for entry
then and not the building of the
Great Northern In 1887 which was re-
sponsible for the settlement taking
place. The lure of free government
land always brings settlers In great
numbers almost entirely regardless
OF the ultimate value of the land to
be obtained.
'sYou have done this territory and
the Great Northern railway an in
justice. You have also done an in
justice to your readers, most of whom
are as uniformed as the writer of
the article. The measure of the in
justice depends upon the extent of
the influence of The Worlds Work
1t did the worst 1t could. | think
one of the greatest drawbacks of the
vastness OF the United States is the
lack of accurate information the peo-
pie In one part of 1t have about
parts often remotely situated. 1t is
regrettable when a magazine like
yours, which, believe, aims TO be
honest, adds to the misinformation.
Takes Garrett Stuff
1.-THE article in question seems to
be an attempt to condense two rath-
err sensational articles written by
Garet Garrett for the Saturday Eve
ming Post, entitled, THAT Pain in
the Northwest Mr.. CARROTS two
articles did not complete the series
He is now in the northwest, gathering
data for that purpose. Like most
incomplete things they give wrong
impression of the whole, and | think
If you will read Mr.. CARROTS final
article along with the other two, you
will agree 1t was dangerous to as
sumo that the entire story was told
by part OF his series.
Regardless OF what Mr.. Garrett
may have written or may write, this
territory has passed through a phase
which was unacceptable for any new
country in the transition from vacant
government land to settlement. 1t
is, on the whole, much better coun-
try than fasteners usually believe,
and | can assure that the people who
ought to know the best, those who
live init, do not entertain the idea
towards the Great Northern that the
eastern writers and political dema
gogues OF the Magnus Johnson type
give the impression might be justi-
fable. Even If your statement about
the Great Northern being built re-
Gently and bringing settlers in inn
mediately thereafter were true
(Which is not the easel and even III
the Great Northern and not govern
ment free land we're responsible for
settling up the country, the people
In the country would not agree with
you that settling it up was calamity,
as the article intimates.
This is a subject in which / am
intensely interested, because / think
much harm has come from alleged
Information which was erroneous. In
order to dispel some OF the incor-
rect impressions, the Great Northern
railway conducted a party OF 30-oddI
eastern newspaper men through this
territory last June After IL days.
during which time they met as many
local people as 1t was physically pos
sible to see during waking hours,
and after they had seen as much in
that time, there is not one of them
but would recognize the misleading
impression OF the article In The
Worlds Work l wish some OF your
people could see this territory and
then write about II from the stand
point of unbiased knowledge rather
than on the basis of information OBJ
tanned at second hand, and then from
only a partially completed treatise.
Would 1t be possible for us to interest
you in. having q first-hand study
made? would be glad to cooperate
in every way.
"RALPH BUDD."