The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-08-24

o-....ese.s for this department ~ respectful
NOTES or A TRIP.
The g1slhesd Lake and TIE Narroundlpa
Country.
NJ rev. v. n. srov.
NUMBER ok.
Al stated last week, shall endcavor Ia
this nUmber TO give . general summary
Of my impsession Of The Flsshead Lake
country.
ENCOURAGING IEATUREs.
II Is altogether the best body of land
have seen IN the Territory; II Is the best
coil for cereals and has the finest natural
growth of grasses. The elevation of this
valley Il not greater and probably two or
three hundred feet lower than the Missoula
and Bitter Root valleys. Both the general
lsy of the county, the character Of the
streams, and the climate. indicate this latter
result. The climate 10 exceedingly mild,
the height of the mountains, breadth and
low elevation OF tho valley and the con-
tiguity of the great lake, oil contribute to
such q result, in spite of ito high northern
latitude. Experience has proved that wheat,
oats, barley, corn, melons and garden vegct.
ablss generally can be raised hero without
risk, which leaves the inference tcnablc,
that Jruis, such - are produced In Wiscon.
sin, Northern Illinois and Iowa, can be sue.
cessfully cultivated. Angus Mcleod who
has lived for nine years on his farm on the
river, declares that the winter snow fall in
the valley, rarely equals and never exceeds
two feet 1t was all gone this year by the
9TH of April. This last Va, ~ all acknowl.
edge an unusuaHy hard seinser. and the snow
fell greater than any winter within i've years
past There were only two feet Of snow In
the Flathcad valley, with but little feeding,
and not hoof was lost. Patent mowers
are being introduced this summer 70 cut
hay and preparations are under way for
wintsring cattle on large scale. Several
large bands will be driven In next fall from
Aissouls and other parts. This valley 10
without doubt, the best for cattle raising
and wool growing In the Territory. The
climate, feed and water ore oil favorable
In the highest degree-the range IL sufficient
for ten or twenty thousand head of cattle
and three OF four times that number of
sheep all the time.
DIscoURAGiNG FEArUREs.
Under this head the chief impeachment in
the way Of settlement 10 the inaecessibIs
nature Of the valley. From the foot of the
lake into the valley there 10 NO good wagon
road and II would seem impossible, without .
large outlay Of capital, to make one, 70 fur
% the west side-and this Is the side usually
trsvelcd-is concerned. This difficulty
could he obviated, at less expense. by
small steamboat or by one or two 20 or 50
ton ssil boats plying between the ferry and
the head of the lake and points on the river
above. The lake and river (for perhaps Is
Or 20 miles above the lake, are open for nine
or ten months In the year, but for two or
three months, communication, except on
horse back, would be cut off. Another
discouragIng feature, il the iso'ation of the
country from Missoula aud the main line of.
travel and business, by the intervention Of
the man Flathcad Reservation between
them. This reservation 10 an extensive
country and 70 long - held by the few
hundred Indians It will remain . wilderness
- st present, and oil travel from Nissoula
must come by the Coriaccs deiile and pass
through the reservation. The iudoleut and
worthless savages 10 whom these lands be.
long rove 1t will back and forth between
the valley and the reservation, the worst
class Of whom, the Kootsuai, spend much
OF their time In the valley and would be .
constant source of irritation and annoyance
70 quiet settlers. This difficulty itself,
would deter many individual settlers from
going In with their families and would
v'tiste the country for any but squaw men,
not 10 much through fear OF violence - the
certain apprehension of constant annoyance
from theselawIess Migrants and the democrat.
lz'ng influences arising from such contact
1t will certainly be necessary ct an early
period, both for the good Of the Indians
themselves and the welfare OF the white
sestier'' Tor the government to place these |
Indians within more limited and prescribed |
bounds and to bring them to civilized
habits, similar to the Omshas, the Ponka.,
the Yanktonnais and other more eastern |
tribes, In order to stop the demorslisine and |
destructive influences now ct work, and for |
tho better encouragement of civilized. chris.
t'sn settlements There can he no objection
to the Indians being hemmed In between
white and civilized settlements. provided
they ore placed under the restraint Of law
and control, such course would eminsntly
tend toward their early domicilistion and
reclamation to civilization and citisspship.
but no good can arise from their prsaent
vsgrant life, either 10 themselves or to the
white settlers.
ANOTHER SUGGESTION.
But, II w change the base Of commuui.
cs'lon Tor the Flathead valley, from Nis.
'oois 70 Horse Plains Or Thompsons Prairie,
which will b entirely practicable, u Il
sald, bys road running west end seush
from Dayton Creek, much Of The dimculty
sfang from the lack Of communication win
nave disappeared. A wagon road csa b.
constructed, ws were told, At tsiaips q. |
psnse % the former point, and thus 10 val.
'ey could be brought Into daily communica.
aon with the n. ?. R. X (sapposins Il win
!aks That routs) by . good mad asd vim I
e'.!aoee not much exceeding @ n,lea The
.s'.ey mas heretofore been occasionally sub.
!ec' % ma'auding and plltsring raids from
'ne sack Feet Indians, who have . ssts.
way from The eass side through 1aeiae -
~ 'ne ROCKY Mountains, but q they have
no' made such IN attempt Tor several yean
psst' and . The government has them nnder