The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-11-20
NATURAL HISTORY of MON
TANA


gentleman was invited by our citizens
to visit Montana. The object was to
have the opinion of scientific man
! concerning our material interests, for
publication. The letter of invitation,
written by Governor Meagb her, was new
er answered, and the subject seems to
have been lost sight of over since.
Why should we wait for Professor
| Agassiz? Much can be done among
ourselves to enlighten the scientific
world as to the vastness and variety of
the field which our Territory affords for
| learned and careful research and inves-
tigation. The great Professor himself
would probably find, among our noun
tains and valleys, as many confrmatory
proofs OF his glacial theory as he found
in the eastern Andes and along the Am
azon. No portion OF our country CON
tains so much that is new and fresh TO
interest the enthusiastic lover of natu-
raj science. Geology here is more com
prehensive in its grasp of the primary
elements of which the earth is COM
posed. than in any other portion of the
continent. In mineralogy the field is
equally extensive and various. The re
mains of stupendous animals have been
found in many of our gulches, and ma
rine shells and petrifactions on our
highest mountains. Our Fauna embra-
ces nearly every species OF wild animal
that has ever been found in North
America, and our Flora decks our noun
tains and valleys with wild flowers of
unprecedented variety and beauty. The
grasses which cover our valleys and
foot hills are all new TO an eastern eve,
and in their growth and qualities afford
food for thought and investigation. In
the northern and eastern part of the
Territory the bad lands are filled with
fossils and petriiactions, and strange tor
nations. and numerous walls, formed by
glacial or other action which, altogether,
study of the curious. Strange forests
OF scilicious petriiactions are found on
the upper waters of the Yellowstone,
and geysers and volcanic forces which
will rival those of Iceland. Hot springs
abound throughout the Territory Lava
beds of immense extent cover the sides
of many of our mountains
Living in the midst of all these natural
wonders, and daily receiving strange
and curious specimens of them, it is, to
say the least, a culpable neglect on our
part that we do not make some imme-
date and permanent improvement of
our opportunities for scientific acquisi-
lions. An act for the organization of an
Historical Society was passed by the
Bannack Legislature, and the Society
we believe was partially organized at
Virginia, but that was practically the
end of it. Since that time several valu-
able cabinets, embracing a great variety
of minerals, fossils, aud shells, have
been collected by individuals and sent
out of the Territory, and the Territory
itself has nothing in the way of pub
lie collection. The time is passing when
the most interesting and rare of these
specimens can be easily obtained. We
them in Territorial Cabinet. No more
valuable contribution could be made to
our Territory. 1t would remain for ali
time, grow with the growth of the Ter
ritory, and always indicate its varied
treasures and wonders. P-ospectors are
busy in the mountains, and continually
stumbling upon something of interest,
which, with a proper organization, could
now be preserved. Who viii make the
effort to revive the Historical Society
We have long winter before us, and
such an institution would afford rational
instruction and entertainment for at
least one evening of each week. We
have Professors and scientific men in |
our midst, who would Willingly aid ia 7
this enterprise, and deliver lectures ex-
planatory of the soils, their geological I
and other subjects adapted .
to the Territory and its natural history I
This would be an institution worthy of \
Helena, and of lasting value 20 Mon-
tana. Let US make the effort Its
and the public will have honor
and profit thereby. 1t is not less high
privilege than a noble duty, public en-
terprise offering grandest induce-
ments, and the failure TO accept the ia
silities now afforded, can never be else
han source of regret and material
disadvantage to the Territory.
The Secretary of the Treas
lry and others were called upon to
.hrow more currency on the market
nd endeavor to stay the raging tide oi