The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-18

MON TANA.


Garfield. Burlington. w.; W. NJ Roberts, st. Louis,
NO.; W. r. johnson, Middletown, Conn.,, and nephew
Of Jay Cooke Of Philadelphia, the president OF the
company. Until the discovery Of the precious metals
In Montana ana the partial settlement Of the lead
ing agricultural valleys In consequence the
majority Of those who had given thought
to the subject Of o transcontlnental railroad
supposed the most feasible route would be
found to mainly bear north Of the Missouri river
descending to the southwark from point west Of
Fort Benton, ana passing over the main range
through Cadets Pass sixty or seventyAve or eighty
miles northwest OF here. That opinion was natural
enough, as all important government surveys and
explorations had been made along those upper atf-
tudes and comparatively little was known Of what
are now the most wealthy and populous portions Of
Montana. The practical facts are now presented to
the world that several miners bitches on this lsti-
tude convey water from the eastern to the western
slope; that the main range may be considered
broken down to dead plain at the Big Hole Jeler.
son ana several other passes west s OF aa cty ~
tana have discovered and settled IN and around
lower depressons In the ROCKY Mountain range
parties sent out by the general government.
The route OF the Northern Pacific Railroad
lieve, being the expressed conviction OF the gentle
men whose names l have gven-de5cribed as fol-
Spring CANYON between tho waters Of the Gaatin
and the Yell0wstOne); through this canyon to this
point, being on the head waters OF the Gallatin;
down the Galatn TO the Three Forks or wnere the
Madison, Jefferson and Gaiiatin, uniting, form the
Missouri; up the JeTerson's waters to the Big Hole
Deer Lodge Pass through one or the other 10 the
Deer Lodge Valley, on the western slope; down the
Deer Lodge to the Bitter Root; the Bitter Root to the
Hell Gate; thence to Clark's Fork Of the Columbia,
and on through the best agricultural districts to
Portland, oregon, or some point on Puget Sound.
This route Is direct as the routes surveyed re-
Bpecttvely by Stevens Mullan and Mcclellan and
passes from the eastern boundary Of Montana to the
western, through our widest and most fertile val.
and and best placer fields Tue truth is, the
o o9nep royte am nanoa 1 necessity my
pels Its adoption. From their land grants OF alters
nate sections of forty miles on either side OF the road
must be derived the means OF construction as they
receive not dollar In the way OF bond subsidies.
they must choose the route through regions at the
Would emigrants cross and leave behind them the
chain Of fertile valleys Of which this he Ga!latn Is
the second most important link-the Yellowstone
standing at the head-turnlng their backs on all our
rich mines Of gold, SILVER ana copper, for homes
away up north where iuTrow mas not yet beer, been
OF their industry for yearsf such suppositlon 10
absurd. Taking 1t for q fixed fact, then-as we GER
tanly fairly can-that the route described Will be the
line Of second great transcontnental railroads.
information concerning the climate SOIL &C., OF the
He'll Gate Bitter Root aud Clarks Fork valleys their
adaptabllity TO- g grain growing ana grazing
ful tlage and stock raising In them
Tor the last six years. 0n the spontaneous
grasses herds fatten the year round, cattle often
being driven from the unenclosed ranges to the
butchers stalls. IN mld-winter, ana making 1at,
sweet 0nd nutritious beef, and better wheat, oats
and barley crops than are now being harvested In
the valleys OF the G.liatin Deer Lodge and Bitter
Root were never grown over the same extent Of
clude cuitvaDle area probably OF $4,000 square
miles; In each there is still rom for thousands Of
t t o%inT to Tie hostility Of the Sioux and
Crow Indians and unwse treaty stlpuiations OF the
BEEN on the
Is most extensive and probably most fertily val
ley. l regret the railroad party which has Just de.
parted did extend their observations further In
their direction. Last year spent several weeks in
the valley, travelling constantly, which enables me
The bottom lands vary in width from one
to twenty miles, and almost every acre
is reclelmable to cultivation as 10 evnced by me
which extend from the pine Of the mountains
down to the rich vegetable mould marginng the
river The upands arc certainly adapted to the pro-
ductIon or ali the cereals corn and all the
culent roots and vines. and perhaps the excepted
grain would do we'll on the owands The atmos.
phere Is very perceptiDly more humid, and rains,
am told, are more frequent than ON the slopes OF the
main range further west The seasons would pro-
badly be exceptional when irrigation would be
necessary think this ID substantiated BY The char.
acter and condition OF the vegetation. The variety
il greater and the growth more vigorous On the
bottoms willow, elder, thsties, hops, mint, sorre,
fennel peas clover, curTants g0Oseberries service
be- RES score Of species OF the thorn and myriad
other stalworth plants anu shrubs, In giving whose
botanical classhcation will not encroach upon
your space, grow SO profusey as to remind one Of
old tillage ground which has been abandoned to
spontaneous production. Cottonwood frequently at.
tains to three feeti diameter, waiie the 'choke-
cherry loses Its usual modesty, and towers UP With
tree-like pretenslons.
i have travelled through the Rocky Mountains
from here to the Gulf OF California, and never saw
any portion better watereA Than this; there Is
scarcely section OF land in elowstone valley,
such portions as have travelled through that can
not, II necessary, be irrigated. The mountains are
ewellsd all over with springs cold and clear ~
crystal Ice. These countless fountains uniting their
canyons and spiashing over lodges. trayersng the
main valley like huge ribbons OF silver. Noble pines
fringe the brow5 Of the mountains, cottonwood
groves line all the streams the land 10 gently rolling,
the soil rcn and deep, aud springs and springfield
BROOKS fash to the view whichever way we turn.
Such Is the great valley OF the Yellowstone destined
ere long, as firmly believe, to be filled with all the
arts, embellishments and comforts OF civilization.
Last night was an occasion OF brlancy aud en-
thusiasm for Bozeman CITY, many OF the promlneRs
men OF the Territory having gathered together from
lar and near TO meet and greet the railroad party
and congratulate each other. review OF all the
speeches would tax the readers patience too much.
Governor Ashley was the principal speaker. In the
course Of his remarks he declared, with emphasis,
referring TO the importance OF encouraging immi-
grafton, that he was "tn favor Of making Montana
q white mems government" Is this recantation,
backsiding, looping over, or whatever you choose
to call It. the first preliminary step IN the direction
Of United states senatorship from the democratic
Mr. Ashley is making many friends in his new
field by the active interest he manifests Ia the
try's agricultural developments but politically, fear,
he is getting himself into the ugliest complications
OF his life. Just before his arrival In the Territory
held general election-the people electing demo-
cratic auditor, treasurer aud superintendent OF
public instruction by tremendous majorlties. The
organic act - silent as to how these offices shall be-
filled; wherefore many republicans have taken the
ground that they we're appontive, instead OF cleo.
tive, and importuned the Governor, night and day.
until he finally, Ia the face OF the peoples prefer
ences so loudly expressed at the ballot box, filled
out commissions to members OF that party 10 iii these
three oflices. But the present ncambents who were