Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-07-03

stock Growing Capacity Of the Fur
North west.
From the Boston Globe.

From the Boston Globe.
Transportation on the Upper Missouri river
has been started, in connection with the
opening Of the Northern Pacific Railroad to
Bismarck. A line of steamers will ply regu-
larly between that point and Fort Benton, ut
the head of navigation, a distance of about
one thousand miles, as far us from the mouth
of the Ohio to the Gulf of Mexico. We call
the attention of our readers to the far-of field
of the Northwest, which in time, in cost of
transportation. has been brought nearer to us
than many other sections with which we have
business transactions. The opening of the
railroad and putting on q line of steamers
gives the Eastern States Il connection with Il
region wonderfully rich in resources-nOt
only the precious metals. but iron and coal,
with good supply of timber, and capable Of
producing crops rivalins those of California
But it is as u stOck-grOwing region that We
wish to call the attention Of our readers. 1t
is claimed to be the finest pasturage region of
the continent. The grasses are sweet and
grow in great profusion on the hill sides, and
there is an abundant supply of pure water.
The lack of water is the one great drawback
to the plains of the Southwest A gentleman
recently returned from that section informs
us that he saw thousands of cattle that had
died along the dried-up swales and sandy
beds of the rivers for want of water. He
expresses the opinion that the cattle trade OF
that region is on the decline-that the coun-
try is overstocked. Some Of the hcrdsmen
of the Southwest have already gone to Mon
tana to engage in the business, and, such
being the case, the time is not far distant
when we shall regale ourselves with tender
Joints fattened on the nutritious grasses of
the Upper Missouri. The opening of the
Northern Pacific railway from Lake Superior
to the Missouri, $50 miles, and the establish
ment of line of steamers between Bismarck
and Fort Benton make it all the more pro-
bable, for Montana, to-day, is really nearer
to us than the plains of Texas, and yet steers
from the vicinity of the Neuces and Rio
Grande are daily slaughtered in the abattOir
of New York and Boston. The cattle Of the
Southwest are driven northward over the
plains, at q slow rate, feeding their way to
the railroads, and are put upon the cars 500
or ], 200 miles southwest of Chicago, and are
brought by rail the entire distance. 1t is a
long, tedious journey. Less wearisome will
be the transportation from Montana.
A full herd of thousand on barges might
be taken by single steamer, from Fort Ben
ton to Bismarck, in about four days, at
trihing expense, without WEAKNESS to the
may be transported to Duluth in forty eight
hours; shipped from thence to Buffalo, or
any other point on the lakes, or they may be
taken through all the way by rail, and the
journey will be no greater than that from
Abilene via the Kansas Pacific to New York.
That the beef and mutton grown on these
hills, in a pure atmosphere, fattened upon
the sweet grasses and water flowing from
mountain streams, and transported through
cool climate to market, will be sweeter and
tenderer than that brought from Texas cannot
be doubted.