Big Timber Pioneer 1910

              Big
Timber Pioneer
»
VOL. 22.
BIG TIMBER. SWEET GRASS COUNTY, MONTANA, JANUARY 6, 1910
NO. S
Professional Directory
J. T. VAUOHAN
ATTORNEY AT LAW AND
NOTARY  PUBLIC
Office over Elliott's Store
Big Timber       ....       Montana
Bridging the Yellowstone
A. G. HATCH
ATTORNEY AT LAW AND
NOTARY PUBLIC
Big Timber      ....       Montana
OR. A. K. WEARNE
DENTIST
Office
One Block East of Grand Hotel
HAMNER A BURKE
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Notary Public
Room 3, Judd Block
Big Timber       ....       Montana
DR. R. J. NORTHERN
OSTEOPATH
Office in Home Telephone Bldg.
Both Phones.
DR. A. P. O'LEARY
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
Office Hours, 9 to 11 a. m., 2 to J»
and 6 to 8 p. m.
Office over Elliott's Store
Big Timber       ....       Montana
DR. D. CLAIBORNE
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
Office over Richard's Drug Store
Will  respond  promptly  to  calls  day
or night.
Big Timber       ....       Montana
DR. M. W. BARR
DENTIST.
Big Timber
Montana
B. J. KLEINHE88ELINK
SURVEYOR.
Big Timber
Montana
DR8. CHALK * GRAY
VETERINARY SURGEONS
Office—Patterson's Drug Store.  Send
all calls to drug store or Grand
Hotel—day or night
Big Timber       ....       Montana
P. J. 8HEERAN, M. D.
Diseases of the
»
Eye, Ear, Note and Throat
Eye Glasses. Spectacles, Artificial
Eyes Correctly Pitted.
110 South Main St.
LIVINGSTON, MONTANA.
A. D. KNOWLES, D. V. S.
YETEMMRIM
of Livingston will be
in  Big Timber
every Tuesday
Fire Insurance
J. W. Geigher
Representing the leading American
and Foreign Companies
WILL'S
SEEDS
and
TREES
27th ANNUAL
CATALOG IS
NOW READY.
IP YOU ARE
NOTa REGULAR
RECIPIENT and
INTERESTED in
the hardiest, best
SEEDS, TREES
and CORN write
at once to
W. H. WILL & CO.
Bismark, - N. Dak.
At their special meeting last Monday the county commissioners diaH
cussed the matter of the proposed
bridge at Grey Cliff and also talked
over the question of a second crossing
at Reed's Point, although no definite
action concerning either was taken. It
is very likely that sometime during
the summer an order will be made
submitting to the taxpayers of the
county the matter of voting a bond
issue for one or possibly both bridges,
the question to be voted upon at the
regular election, next November.
In the opinion of the members of the
board a way is clear by which bonds
may be floated without causing any
Increase in the present tax levy, by
taking advantage of the county's option in the matter of the existing issue. The bonded indebtedness of the
county is $95,000. The bonds draw interest at the rate of 6 per cent, and
may be withdrawn Dec. 2, 1910. should
the county desire to do so, although
they still have five years to run .beyond that time before they mature.
At the time they were floated money
was much de.arer than at the present
and in addition the county was young
and did not enjoy the same excellent standing in the financial world
as it now has. Since them neighboring counties have sold at a premium
bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent.
Inquiry has developed the fact that
Sweet Grass county would probably
have little difficulty in refunding the
indebtedness, should it desire to do
so. By availing itself of the right to
call in the bonds next December and
issuing new series in place of the old
at the rate of interest paid by Park
and Yellowstone counties on the same
form of indebtedness the annual saving in interest would be no less than
#1,900.
Estimates received warrant the belief that two bridges could be built,
one "at Grey Cliff and the-other at
Reed's Point, at a combined cost not
exceeding $35,000. It is thought that
this estimate can be reduced so as to
make it but little above $30,000, although the larger figure is employed
so as to leave a safe margin.
From the foregoing it will be seen
that by converting the bonds in the
manner described the saving in interest alone will in fewer than ten
years pay for one of the bridges, placing its cost at the highest possible
figure. No additional burden will be
placed on the taxpayers, while the
long term of the converted bonds will
permit of the creation of a sinking
fund providing for their redemption
at maturity. It would also defer payment until such a time when the population of the county will be undoubtedly much greater, and those who are
to come and share in the. benefits
of all permanent public improvements
will have to bear their proportion of
the cost.
Many persons who have been broached upon the subject are in favor of
the, proposed conversion of the outstanding bonds and the issuing of a
new series, if necessary to build the
much-desired bridges, realizing their
need, a need that will constantly become greater as the northern and eastern parts of the county become more
thickly settled. Nothing, they say,
is so good an advertisement for a
county as the possession of good highways. Settlement, like travel, these
days follows the line of least resistance and the community that offers
the best transportation facilities, and
good roads are a part of these facilities, is the one that will appeal the
strongest to the intending settler, especially if he comes from a part of the
country having such highways.
Severest Storm in Years
Notwithstanding the haste of alleged
seers and prophets to warn the world
that the year now begun will be one
full of disasters, the average Montan-
an will go ahead with his plans as
though these predicters of evil had
no existence. Every indication points
to the most prosperous and happy year
thus far in the state's history and the
spirit of optimism is present as it
never was.
As the matter now stands the people
of Montana are promised a capitol
of which the wings will cost more
than the main structure. For this
somewhat unusual spectacle they have
changing styles to blame. The architect who prepared the plans for the
original building was content to adhere to classic severity, the true
beauty of all public buildings, while
the one employed, to materialize the
after-thought is a member of a different school, one given to matters of
detail that cost much more, while
adding nothing to utility or beauty.
To the best of the recollection of
the oldest inhabitant, the present is
the severest cold experienced in this
part of Montana since its settlement
by the whites, the winter of 1886-87
alone excepted. Beginning fully a
month sooner than ordinarily, the
cold' has continued with few exceptions almost uninterrupted since the
week of Thanksgiving. Last week the
temperature moderated considerably
and it was thought that the chlnook
which the west wind brought would
break the, backbone of winter. The
snow melted rapidly and the ground
was practically bare, the only snow remaining being in patches and in the
deep coulies, where Its presence was
welcime as it assures plenty of moisture for stock on the range.
Last Friday evening snow began
to fall, and it continued all night and
throughout Saturday and Saturday
night, covering the, ground to the
depth of about a foot. The themome-
ter fell rapidly and in several instances was reported as marking zero,
continuing to hover around that degree until well towards Monday morning, when a perceptible moderation
ensued until towards evening.
From every part of the state reports
have been receieved of deep snow and
much colder. At Billings the snowfall
is said to have been even greater than
hereabouts, while the themometer was
apparently still lower.
In Sweet Grass county, conditions
so far as they relate to livestock, thus
far have been more favorable than in
the section farther east. Because of a
lesser amount of snow, cases of feeding have been few, as stock of all
kinds were able to graze as usual,
making it unnecessary to draw on the
feed reserves held against possible
contingencies. Sheepmen in the eastern part of the state have been in
the market a number of weeks buying
every available pound of hay and
caring little as to the price asked,
so long as the forage was to be had.
But little, if any, losses on the
range have beeji reported in this county, a conditon in strong contrast to
that prevailing lower down the valley,
where unusually heavy depletions in
flocks are said to have occurred in
Montana's Horse School
inability of flockmasters to either get
feed to their sheep or drive the latter to where feed was to be had. The
same unfortunate condition, only in
a worse degree, is said to prevail in
northern Wyoming. So serious are
matters said to be there, that offers
to sell sheep at a dollar, and even
less, are alleged to be common, with
no takers. Five dollars were refused for the same, animals earlier in the
season; in some instances it is said
as high as $6 was asked for them.
Persons claiming to know, say that in
parts of the Big Horn basin the snow
is twelve feet deep, or rather it was
that depth before the. storm of last
Friday began, making it reasonable
to suppose that it is even deeper at
the present time.
Early Tuesday morning a strong
wind arose from the west and sent
the light, dry snow scurrying In .clouds
across the country, piling it in huge
drifts in coulees and other sheltered
places. While it was highly disagreeable and caused much discomfort to
those compelled to be out, the storm
was nevertheless welcomed, as it
cleared the range of the accumulated
snow, and bared the grass for stock.
Fears had been entertained*that a Chinook would intervene before a heavy
wind could come and thus cause the
range to be covered with a crust.
These fears, howe.ver, have now been
dissipated and the outlook is much
better, causing local stockmen to feel
much easier as regards the prospects
for the immediate future, while it also
materially lessens the danger of a
crusted range later on, when warm
days and cold nights will be the rule.
According to all reports, Montana's
first horse school, held at Bozemah
last week, was a decided success. The
school continued in session five days,
and was attended by a large number
of men interested in horse growing.
It is said that over 100 men from
different parts of the state were in
attendance, not counting those from
near Bozeman, who numbered fully 50
more. At times the class rooms of
the state college and the demonstrating departments were crowded to
their utmost, and difficulty was experienced in accommodating the throngs.
The list of instructors included
Prof. R. W. Clark, head of the department of animal industry of the
agricultural college; Prof. H. P. Griffin, assistant In the same department;
Dr. W. J. Taylor, college veterinarian
for the Montana stallion registration
board, and Prof. F. B. Linfield, of the
state experiment station. Several others also gave popular farm lectures in
the evenings.
The school was featured by lectures
by the college instructors on horse
diseases, management, and so on; a
horse show, a horse judging contest,
and the dissecting of an animal on the
operators' table by Dr. Taylor, assisted by Dr. Welch. The whole of the
course was pronounced especially instructive and satisfactory to the large
number of students present.   The dis-
Stop that Cough
Patterson's White Pine and Tar
(Mentholated)
Relieves immediately all Throat and Lung Trouble
We also carry a full lino of
Chamois Vests, Chest Protectors, Chamois Skins, etc.
W. H. PATTERSON
The Rexall Drug Store
Big Timber. Montana
Home Phone
Hell   Phone
acter. Miss Sarah Strand. No one
was to be found who cared to give
name to the representation of Miss
Strand, although some thought "automobile bustle" would be about right.
It certainly was original and funny.
The prize was a half dozen silver
knives and forks. Miss Laura Anderson was voted to be the most graceful
lady waltzer, while the honor of being
the best male waltzer was awarded
to Frank Wagner. To Miss Anderson
was given a silver jewel case, and to
Mr. Wagner a shaving set.
H. C. Allen, W. A. Clark and Harry
Snyder were the judges.
Bad Accident in Local Yards
In addition to the maskers a large
secting of the horse in particular at-  nnmber of spectators attended, filling
the gallery and stage of the Auditor-
tract ed as many outside visitors as
could crowd around the table. Questions of all kinds which had not been
fully explained by previous demonstrations were answered by Dr. Taylor during the operation. It continued until late of the last evening, and
in the end the animals had been thoroughly dissected and every part shown
to the students in the school.
For the contest in judging the best
horses in the Gallatin valley were
available. Thoroughbred stallions in
abundance were brought to the college
to be exhibited by their owners. The
veterinarians and professors explained by lecture and demonstration with
.the animals the different points about
a good horse, and the common diseases
were dealt on at length. The course
began Monday, the. 27th, and continu-
consequence of the deep snow and the ~ed imtil -*••* Friday evening. At each
While admitting that things look
decidedly dark for him, some of the
friqnds of Dr. Cook—and he still has
friends—say that he has gone back
north to secure his instruments and
papers hte left cached in a snowbank,
and will return in due time amply prepared to prove his every claim of be
ing the original discoverer of the
north pole. It is to be feared that the
additional evidence will be insufficient
to restore him to the place in popular
esteem he occupied only a short time
ago.
Butte is annoyed by a' "Jack the
Hugger," in fact, it is believed there
are several of them from the frequency with which women are assaulted
.while out alone on the streets at night.
Numerous traps laid to catch the fellow, or fellows, have failed.
meeting there were not less than fifty
present, and most of those who attended each session were from outside
of Gallatin county. This fact is regarded by Prof. Clark, at the head of
the school, as a good sign that the
horse-raising industry in Montana is
important and wide-spread, and that
a practical horse school is a drawing
card for the state.
Again next year during the Christmas holiday season another school of
like characteristics will be offered. He-
cause of the satisfaction of the at-
tenders at the session just passed, it
is thought that next year all will
be back with many more. Plans will
start immediately for the next year's
work.
ium to their utmost. Many unable to
secure seats stood along the walls
of the hall. The onlookers seemed
to enjoy themselves no less than did
the dancers.
The lost Homestake vein, located in
the Bitter Root valley, about two
miles from McClain's spur, Is said to
have been found, and a lead varying
in width from twenty to thirty feel
and rich in gold and copper uncovered. It is said that the vein was originally uncovered about fifty years
ago, since which time several fortunes
have been lost hunting for it. About
eight years ago Captain Anderson ran
a tunnel of S00 feet into the mountain
in a vain effort to find the lead. He
is said to have missed it by only a
few feet, paralleling it for most of
the distance.
Woodmen's Dance a Success
One of the best attended and in
avery way most successful balls of
the many that have helped chase away
lull care and give speed to the fleeting hours during the year just ended
was the masquerade given New Year's
eve by Big Timber Camp No. 10610
M. W. A. The maskers numbered
several hundred and presented a motley crew, almost every nation and
every clime being represented in the
merry throng.
Uncle Sam with his well-known fantastic garb and spiral whiskers of the
W. Goat variety hobnobbed with a
dignified duke or jostled elbows with
a crowned ruler of some foreign pow-
ar, while Topsy, impudently ogled at
a sedate gentleman, whose raiment indicated him to be far above earthly
frivolities and weaknesses. Bandits
there were, who strode about in defiance of the policemen and cowboys.
and Indians disputed for possession of
the floor and cut pigeon wings to the
music of the orchestra.
When the signal for unmasking was
given some startling surprises ensued, eke disappointments as well.
But it was all a part of the gay occasion and only added to the fun.
Prizes were awarded as follows:
Most original character, gentleman,
Harry Cross, ghost, pair of military
hair brushes; most original lady
character, Mrs. H. J. Koozer, Japanese
maiden, toilet set; best sustained male
character, Dr. O'Leary, Dutch kid,
Wedgewood tobacco jar; best sustained lady character, Miss Beulah Busha,
Dutch girl, dressing mirror; most
comical male character. Dorman Kellogg, "Uncle Josh," combination collar
and cuff box; most comical lady char-
A syndicate of Minneapolis men has
secured four permits from the government for the construction of reservoirs
to water between 30,000 and 40,000
acres of land west of the Billings &
Northern railroad in the eastern part
of Meagher county. Several small
streams flowing from the eastern
slopes of the Little Rockies are depended upon to supply the water. The
contemplated dams will vary in height
from 150 to 250 feet.
Ninety-seven sheep killed outright
and a number more badly injured and
two stock cars completely demolished
was the result of a collision that occurred in the local yards of the Northern Pacific .shortly before 1 o'clock
Monday morning.
The accident was caused by the un-
familiarity of a brakeman with the
switches. A westbound freight train
had picked up five double-deck cars
of sheep at Park City that G. B. Pope
was forwarding to Big Timber. At
the east end of the yards the. train
stopped and switched the sheep cars
ahead of the locomotive, intending to
push them to the stockyards. Having
orders to meet another train here the
engine with the cars continued on to
the west end of the yards, the intention being to take, the passing switch.
instead the brakeman threw the switch
of the storage track, on which stood
a long string of gondolas. The impact was so great that the two forward stock cars were reduced to kindling and the sheep were hurled in
every  direction.
Because, of the cars the engineer
was unable to see the mistake made in
opening the switches and could not
stop in time to prevent the smash-
up.
Notice of the accident was sent
to the office of the superintendent at
Livingston and as soon as possible a
wrecking train was dispatched hither
and began the work of clearing away
the wreckage. This was accomplished
shortly after noon. With the exception
of the trucks no part of the broken
cars was saved. The remainder was
thrown to the north side of the main
track and burned.
Reports from eastern Montana are
to the effect that the continued cold
weather and storms of the last few
weeks have placed range stock in a
serious condition. Heavy losses to
sheepmen arc- constantly being reported.
It Pays to
SAVE
'TTIK Saving Habit makes 3011 careful in the
*■■    things 3*011 do.    It teaches the usefulness
of money, ami the relationship of principal and
interest.
But at the same time 3-011 are forming an exceptionally good habit, 3-011 are accumulating a
fund foi future use. Life is worth living when
you have monej* in the bank—-it gets monotonous when 3*ou are broke.
Start a Savings Account Today
Big Timber National Bank
Capital, Surplus and Profits
$250,000.00
OFFICERS
John F, A«burv, President
C. T. Hush a. Vice- President
Chas. T. Schenck Cashier
J. E. Roecher, Asst. Cashier
DIRECTORS
John F. Aslnirv. C.T. Busha
Chas. Schenck.  J). D Smith
F. E Tavlor, Joseph D.Radford
Thomas Flanagan