VOL. XXIV.
INDIANAPOLIS/JND., MAY 25,1889.
NO. 21
Written for the Indiana Farmer.
OUB FEATHERED  FRIENDS OF INDIANA—No. 3.
A Brief Bird Census.
by w. s. B.
According to the time of year when they
are with as birds are separated into six
classes, namely:   First,
PERMANENT RESIDENTS,
or those which rear their yonng here, and
they, or other individuals of their species
' remain with us throughout the year—the
quail, crow and jaybird being familiar examples. Taking Mr. Butler's list of 233
species, as a basis upon which to work, we
find 32 permanent residents named therein, and specimens of these 32 species may
be found iu his county and in most other
counties of the State at any time during
the year. The members of the second
class are known as
SDMMER RESIDENTS.
With the first warm breezes of spring
they begin to come up from the South,
and immediately thereafter commence to
construct their nests, and after rearing,
usually, two broods of young they depart
again for the 'South to spend the winter;
58 summer residents are mentioned in tho
Franklin county list,so that just 90 species
of birds as far as known, annually nest
and rear their young in that county. The
orioles, catbird and chippy are members
of this class which are known to every
farm boy..
.._......  ...   ,...    Tjr.E MIGRANTS .-.*'■-
form the third 'class. They go regularly
to the far North ta nest, and as regularly
return to the South to spend the winter
months, and are therefore seen in this
State only for a few days in spring and
again for a short time in the fall. To the
ornithologist this class form the most
abundant, most striking and most interesting part of our bird fauna. Being with
us for so short a time and stopping now
here, now there, we can note only their
vast numbers and their habits of feeding
Their nesting habits and their dally life
in summer must be studied by the observer of that northern region to which
tbey go, and of many species these facts
are not yet known. Among them are the
most brilliant of our birds—numerous
wild ducks and water fowl clad in plu
mage of as varied colors as were found in
Joseph's coat,—warblers in suits of gold
and black, and bobolink in his more modest coat of buff, black and white, yet making up for his lack of dress by his merry
song—all advancing with the sun on his
summer's journey to the far north, and
retreating with him again towards the
southern hemisphere. 102 species of migrants are enumerated ln the Franklin
county list.   Class fourth is made up of
WINTER RESIDENTS.
They nest in the northern regions and
come down regularly to spend the dreary
winter months with us, and cheer us up
with their merry chirps, but disappear
again at the approach of spring. The
snow bird and the tree sparrow are among
the most familiar of the 10 species of this
class mentioned in Mr. Butler's list. The
members of olass five are called
WINTER VISITORS.
They are birds either from the north or
northwest, which often drop in upon us
to spend a week or two, especially at those
times in winter when King Boreas reigns
supreme, and the thermometer marks
daily the zero point or below. The great
snow owl, the crossbill and the golden
eagle, are examples among the 22 species
of this class which have been seen in
Franklin county.   The
SUMMER VISITORS
form the sixth and last class. They are
Jbirds of' rare appearance, seemingly lost,
whioh are sometimes seen in summer
months, but perhaps may be looked for
years in vain and yet some day happened
upon.   The remaining eight species of Mr.
Butler's list belong here, but among them
there is no  one familiar to many of my
readers.
Terre Haute.
Free Homesteads.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
We, the undersigned, a committee of
three appointed by the settlers of MUk
river valley, give the following information in regard to this section of the country, where we have after careful inspection
ot the country selected our homes.
The great ■ reservation and Milk river
valley of Montana was thrown open for
settlement by the Government about one
year ago. The first of us came in and
took up our homesteads about February
15th of the present year, so that our little
community is about 10 weeks old. The
following is our experience in this country:
The month of Maroh was a succession of
fine days, with a temperature of from 60
to 80 degrees nearly every day. After
March 12 th,there was no ice in the streams.
Grain could bave been sown any time directly. The month of April has been
much the same,with very little rain. May
has been cool and windy up to date (May
6th), when we are having our first soaking
rain, which old settlers tells us is the beginning of the rainy season. We may expect showers nearly every day up to July
15 th, when the dry season sets it, with
rait;.;only occasionally, ._-_,:__! * 'i.-. ne<*.t
May. All kinds of crops produce largely
and of a choioe quality, without irrigation, including all kinds of small grains
and vegetables. The soil is very rich,
varying from a pure clay to rich, dark,
sandy loam. The United States employes
have raised crops every year for the past
eight years at Fort Belknap near by.
OI course our crops are all put in on sod,
but nevertheless we expect good crops.
About 1,000 acres will be in crop this year.
Cattle, horses and sheep are not fed in the
winter; they keep rolling fat and in fine
growing condition on the sweet,nutritious
grasses. Every settler who comes in has
forever done with the costly and laborious
work of winter feeding.
Every quarter section is now taken for
six miles east and six miles west of Chinook; butsplendid bottom land can still be
taken on the south side of the river, and
also on the celebrated Bear Paw bench
lands,where a largo Iowa and Ohio colony
has settled on Clear creek, who are anxious
for more neighbors. Weare all just making a beginning, and therefore keeping as
near the shore as possible.
The class of settlers we would invite are
people who want to bring their families,
stook and household goods, and make
their homes with us; and to them we will
extend a most hearty helping hand. The
country is very new, and with all its ad
vantages it requires persons to exercise
industry, patience and perseverance to get
along. With these qualities, prosperity is
sure to follow. When you come, bring
along all the female stock, horses, cattle
and sheep you possibly can; all the increase is dear profit in this country. It is
the best country for mixed farming and
stock raising in the United States.
Wehave plenty of coal and running
streams. Our little eight weeks old town
of Chinook is prospering finely; it already
has 10 buildings erected, and 15 more are
under contract. The St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba railroad is building an
elegant depot, and the town is being beautified by setting out trees. An 800 foot artesian well will be put down at an early
date.
Come, cast your lot with us, and we will
do you good. H. J. Wing,
M. T. Biedopt,
W.  M. WOO-DRIDOE.
Chinook, Montana,
The Oklahoma Boom.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Thinking that a few words absut Oklahoma, from one living near, may be of interest to the Farmer readers I will write
out a few this rainy day.
For the last five years (and I do not
know how muoh longer) there have been
Boomers, as they are called, who have
been trying to enter the territory south of
here. At one time, four years ago last
winter, there were 500 camped at Arkansas City for the purpose of making a settlement there. The soldiers were sent
down, they camped on the other side of
the territory line and kept them out and
drove out those who had tried to locate
claims. For the last three months the
covered wagons have been passing south.
As the time drew near the numbers gradually increased until April 17th, which
was the great day of the exodus. On that
day 80 wagons passed on our road. It is
said that 200 passed through Wellington
that day. On the night of the 16th thero was
a big storm that extended 40 miles north,
which raised the streams so that it was
dangerous to try to ford them. One team
was drowned at South Haven. From
Wellington south for eight miles they
turned off on to other roads trying to find
better crossings. Others came on to the
line and they mixed through like bees
-swarming. The same day it was claimed
that 1,100 teams passed through Arkansas
City, and there were over 1,000 teams
i _mp6d there two weeks before. At
night there were campers at every stream
along the road, and near every farm house.
The most of them were man in the prime
of life, but they were of all ages from the
Infant to the old grandmother of 80 years.
In one wagon was an old lady apparently
80 years old, reclining on the baggage,
who looked as if she had not strength
enough to reach the promised land. About
half the immigrants had their sod plows
along; some had their cows and chickens.
One company had a drove of 50 ponies.
From the 17 th the number grew grad
-ally less until tho 23d. We are nine
mUes from the north line of the Cherokee
strip. The strip is 60 miles across. It extends from the inhabited part of Indian
Territory to the west end of the Territory.
Oklahoma, the land opened on the 22d of
April, was land set apart for the freedmen
at the close of the war, but for some reason was not used for this purpose. Okla
horna aud the strip have been leased to
the cattle men for a few cents per acre.
There havo not been any Indians living
on either tract since we have been here.
For a few months there were troops
stationed along the State line. A week or
two belore the 221 they were quietly
withdrawn from the line near here. Then
the immigrants went on down to the
south side of the strip. The most of them
tried to get there a few days befere the
time. The greater part went on the Santa
Fe K. R. from Arkansas City and landed
at Guthrie. The next greatest rush from
the north was to Kingfisher, on the west
side of Oklahoma.
There were troops at Kingfisher who
kept the masses back until 12 o'clock.
Then the bugle sounded the retreat. In
an instant 6,000 persons starled pell mell
over the prairies, some on horses, some
on wagons and in every way they could
go. There were about one-tenth enough
claims for those who tried to get them.
Every plan that could be invented to get
ahead of others was tried. Men hid in
bushes where they oould find them, and
went iu before the time. Between Guthrie and Kingfisher there was a gap where
there was no guard. A large number
stopped at the line and waited the bugle
blast.
There was no regulator there to set their
watches by, ao some of them "gained
time" after leaving the State and  were a
little fast.
At noon they made a rush for the claims.
When they drove on the claims there
were no signs of anyone being on them,
but in a few minutes men began to rise up
from the grass until it looked as if Mother
Etrth was producing mature men instead
of grass. Often there would be found half
a dozen secreted in that way, each thinking himself the only one hid on the claim.
There were claims found on which the
occupants had got a well dug and a farrow plowed around the claim, the horses
picketed on the grass and perfectly dry.
Almost every claim was taken before the
legal hour. There were some who came
in wagons from as far as Detroit, Mioh.,
but the most that drove through were
from Kansas.
By the 21th the tide had turned. That
morning a few teams passed north. Since
that time they are passing home at the
rate of from a dozen to 20 teams per day.
Those who are returning say that an honest, law abiding citizen had no chance at.
all. Many of our people went down to
see them go in. One man reports a race
he witnessed between half a dczan women
teachers from an Indian school. They
were all mounted on ponies. At the signal they all started leaping over wire
fences, creeks and every obstruction.
One of them got a claim. But a few took
their families. Many planted their crops
and went down expecting to file on their
claims and theu go ho**_a and raise their,
crops before they moved their families.
The excitement reminded me more of
war times than any thing I have seen
since. O a our road one or more men went
from every house for four miles, except
threo farmers and one of them would have '
gone if he had been well. Same left sick
beds and others rented out their farms.
Bat few of them secured claims. It is
said that only one out of ten succeeded in
getting claims.
When the strip is opened it will be the
same way or war. Men have now been
all over it getting the numbers of the sections. There were men on it last week
marking claims.
On the Kansas side of the line are wel
improved farms in good state of cultivation that would sell at trom 3,000 to 5,000
dollars per quarter section. Joining them
on the other side of the line are quarters
that will make just as good farms when
improved. D. M. A.
 • ♦ .	
Woven Wire and   Picket Fence.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
We have jast been reading John M.
Stahl _ article on fencing and we think we
have still a better way. Mr Chas. Anthony
of this place has j as t completed 210 rods of
a woven picket fence that for real service,
durability, cheapness and looks are superior to any other kind of fence we have
ever seen. He had the pasts set 3 feet in
depth and 8 feet apart. About every 15
rods he had extra heavy posts set in and
well braced each way. The pickets are 4
feet long and 2x% inches. He hired an
experienced man who furnished his own
machine to weave (4 strands 8 wires) and
bracethefence,for20operrod. He braced it
so that it will never sag in the middle of
the panel by simply fastening a wire to
the top of the first post then drawing it
down to the middle of the panel and then
leaving a double hook in the form of a
letter a, tbe lower part of this hook catching the lower strand of wire and the brace
wire passing through the upper part of
the hook and on up to the top of the next
post where it was securely fastened by a
staple. This fence will turn anything from
a chicken ta a breachy bull. We know a-
bout this part of it for we havo been trying both the chickens and the bull on this
same fence. Again, should a post rot off
another can be put in the same place by
simply cutting the staples, or can be set
beside the old one. The pickets are sold
here at ?4 per thousand, and it takes about
33 pickets to the rod. We have not been
able to figure that this fence cost Mr A.
over 603 a rod. It is true there are woven
fences and woven fences.Some we have seen
with 3 strands put up in a slip-shod manner
ahd having a crazy appearance generally.   .
But there is a machine and a way to
make this a cheap and perfect fence and
it all rests with the builder as to how ho
will have it done. L. C,