Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1914 — C. D. Norman Tells of His New Home in Montana. [ARTICLE]

C. D. Norman Tells of His New Home in Montana.

Willow Creek, Mont., Nov. 28, 1914. Mr. Babcock, Editor Democrat. Dear Sir: Well, it has been almost a year since we landed in this wonderful country, and as yet do not regret it. We had a very pleasant trip out from our North Dakota home; through the “badlands” was a wonderful sight, of immense rocks and hills of so many different colors, and then in a few hours to travel through the fertile valleys of Montana, and see the snow-capped mountains a little beyond, was beautiful. I think this is a great place for a poor man if he will work, as there are so many opportunities open to the industrious. The soil is fertile and not so foul as some places; a great place for truck and a ready market with good prices. They have more moisture than a few years ago; the irrigated districts are especially productive. We had a wonderful garden, sold what we could spare and could have sold more. Say! and the apples we had, how we did enjoy them. I wish I could place some of them on your table. I put several boxes away for winter use. I do not think I could have located in a more healthful place. We are all enjoying fine health and the children are perfectly contented and happy; they love the mountains, to climb and view. It has been storming furiously in the mountains today; it may be here tomorrow. this is a fine place to raise poultry, but the coyotes are very destructive to the flocks. There is not much bounty offered for their capture, so there are not many killed. I killed six this summer. Eggs are now worth 50c per dozen, butter 35c. This is a great place for wild game and wild honey, so have had plenty of both. The game is wild ducks and geese, sage hens, curlews, prairie chickens, pheasants, jack and brush rabbits. North and south of here there are elk. Some of our neighbors went to Yellowstone Park and got an elk, and of course we got a chunk. I never tasted such tender meat; it was surely fine. And the fish are surely great caught out of these fine streams, fed from the mountain springs. We have the best neighobrs, they always share up. We did not live here long until we knew all our neighbors. Yi e are having the finest weather any white or colored man ever saw still plowing and disking and going in shirtsleeves; we have never seen any bad weather here yet , guess this is-a long enough letter. Wishing you a merry Christmas, happy New Year, and a fine Xmas, edition, for we .always prize your paper very highly. Very truly,

C. D. NORMAN.