The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1865-12-21
9atlp Wouutatnecr
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. II, 1865.
THE BITTER ROOT VALLEY, HE'LL
GATE RONDE, AND THE TRADE OF
THE COLUMBIA RIVER.

ley and Hellgate Ronde, about six hundred
civilized human beings, allowing that there
has been a small accession to the population
this fall. The agricultural lands designated
by these two names, ought more properly to
be called Bitter Root Valley, alone, as there
is no division between them-Hellgate Ronde
being simply the lower part of the alluvial
Ia Ids extending along the Bitter Root River,
sometimes called by the, names Missoula and
St. Marys. These lands extend from the
direction of Big Hole " divide u towards the
north, with slight westerly direction, for
about eighty miles along the river, and have
an average width of from four to seven miles.
Probably one-third of the lands included in
the river valley are susceptible of high
state of improvement, The stock-range, out
on the rolling grounds, is only equalled by
that north of the Columbia River from this
place, and is not surpassed in any country.
For its northern location and considerable
elevation above the level of the sea, the cli-
mate is mild, being but little colder than
Walla Walla Valley, with, however, some.
what longer winter.
The supply of the Montana four-market
will be largely drawn from this section, and
under tho stimulus of continued high
prices, the arabic lands must soon be en-
tircy occupied for settlement. The trade
of this agricultural district, may for the
present prove less remunerative than that of
the mines, but it will endure after the mines
Are exhausted, and will become more valua-
BILE as the other trade declines.
The particular immediate necessity of the
Bitter Root country is good supply of
agricultural implements. The scarcity Of
these and superior seed-wheat and oats was,
last year, serious drawback to the pros
perity of the farmers. The grasshopper
plague was another, and tn g ravages com
mit'ed by them deprived the producers Of
one-third of their crops.
The Oregon woolen goods, and, in general,
the supplies from this side are in great re-
quest among the settlers, and the idea of
trading with the importers Of the Pacific
slope is looked upon with much favor. In
this trade the steamboat building at Pen d.
Oreille Lake will find sufficient employment,
and through 1t the merchants will gather a
large portion Of the gold products of Mon
tana, with as much profit and more safety
than if they supplied the mines directly from
our own fields. 1t is very reasonable to an
ticipate that in three years from the presen
the Bitter Root Valley and the Jocko coun
try, which comes under the same range o
probabilities and conditions, will contain
productive population of FIVE thousand souls
to which may be added nearly one Thousand
Flaihead and Pen dOreille Indians, who's
trade will be nearly or quite as valuable a
that of the whites, as to population. 1t i
also possible to divert a considerable portion
of the fur trade, which is an impol tant ele
ment in the Montana trade, TO this side
This will appear the more feasible, when W
consider that these furs largely seek mar
ket in China, and if brought down the Co
lumbia will be carried directly towards tn
point of consumption whilej by the rout
down the Missouri River, they find the wa
TO market by circuitous and very expensiv
means Of transportation.
The route adapted to the supply Of tha
country from this side, is not yet defnite
fixed. For the present, the Pen d'Oreill
Lake road is in favor. Next year the Mul
Ian Road will pretty certainly be openet
and will take large share of the summe
travel, while the Southern Nez Pcrces Trai
by Elk City, will always be used to suppl
all the upper portion of the Bitter Root Va
ley in those al Iticles which can be packed O
,,,lo, ond horsac For nnrnnsaa IF noa