The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-12-18

the sea level.
The mountain portion of Montana is
emioently mineral region, abouuding in
gold, silver, copper. aud coal Iron is
found, but there has not yet been sufi
cent inducement to work it, owing to the
great distance (l90 mies) from the
nearest railroad-the Central Pacific Mt
| Coriuue The valleys consist of rich,
arabic soil, which yields enormous crops
of wheat. rye, barley. and oats, as we'll us
potatoes, turnips, cabbage, etc Irrigation
is cheaply secured, and thus the dryuess
of the climate is ameliorated to con
siderable extent. The great need of
Montana is railroad, to reduce the cost
of mining aud TO introduce more popula
ton, machinery, etc, at reasonable cost,
and thus to place it in Immediate con
uection with the railroad systems of the
Atlantic and Pacific slopes When thi.
shall be effected. it will be found that the
resulting business will afford very heavy
trade on the railroad. The cattle transport
alton alone from the magnificent grass
valleys of Montana will yield handsome
income while there will be large
amount OF orefreig citing, originated and
sustained by the facilities offered By the
railroad At present. owing to the great
cost of transportation, neither cattle nor
ore can be shipped /; and the people strive
to get on with the minimum amount of
importation. Give them a railroad and
all this will he changed at once.
Westward of the Rocky Mouutan range,
10 Western Montana and Idaho it is still
noutain region interspersed with arabic
valleys; while the timber gradually, as
the main stream (Clark's Fork Of the
Columbia) is descended. becomes heavier
aud more valuable This is also a mining
as we'll as timber region although the
valleys are capable of raising agricultural
products for the support of the local
population.
Western Idaho and the eastern part OF
Wa.hinsto ton Territory consist chiefly of
rolling prairie much of it treeless. The
valleys are remarkably productive have
recently heen informed that there are
nearly million of bushels OF wheat to be
shipped this fall down the Columbia river
to the Pacific coast, from one portion OF
Washington Territory-the finest wheat
in the wrold.
From the mouth of Lewis Fork or
! Snake river, for two hundred niles down
! the rver,the immedlate valley OF the
main Columbia abuunds with some of the
sraDde>t and most beautiful scenery on
the globe; but it affords only trifing
| agricultural facilities. Ii is a most con
veneut highway between the treeles:
plains of the Columbia plains aud the
densely wooded regions of the lowe
Colu bia river, and as the railroad cnD
rany owns the flushed railroads and ths
steamers now daily running on the river
they possess the best OF facilities for th'
conveyance of iron materials and work
men, etc, from the Pacific coas, to an,
Washington, Idaho, aud Western Mon
tana, thus enabling them to deliver thes
at minimum cost. In Washin stiol
Territory. and in the State Of Oregon
west of the Cascade range OF mountains
the climate is radically different trou tina
of Minnesota There is here IA supera
bundance of moisture from October til
April. About half the year subject t
frequent, but usually gentle rains, and til
other half of The year being comparativel
dry. Crops, as rule. never fail. eithe
from too much wet. or from drought; tn
valleys are very fertile. and the snow ia
is quite moderate. Generally by th
middle of January the winter is ovel
Occasionally, in the latter part of Noveu
Der and n December, the winters are col
enough to freeze over the Columbia river
but during some winters the daily trips t
the steamers are very little interrupte
by ice.
The country in Washington Territor
between the Columbia river and Pu.s
Sound, distance OF about ninety N ile
Is for the most part covered with dens
forests OF valuable timber. The exceE
tions are limited areas of natural prairie
The soil is rich, but the clearing Is yer
costly, unless considered in connectiD
with the value OF the timber, whore tia
is utilized
Around Puget Sound it is general
| hllly, and mostly covered with yaluab
| forests of yellow pine, fir, cedar, etc
, which constitute the basis OF the towr
, which have been built at different point
Olympia Stelacnom, Tacoma. Ssatt
WhatcoIn. Port Townsheud, Port Gamsl
, Port Madison. etc although on Whuo
, Islands and al the outlets OF the pr'nc'p
: streams flowing from the Cascade Nous
tains, there are IA number ot good farm
! natural prairies. and meadows.
: Puget Sound although in latitude Il
e to 4So. is never obstructed by ice. lhel
G is always Il Tree, open passage Tor I'll
1 largest fleet of the world between its ha
q bor and the Pacific Ocean Its waters al
j. deep. and all oi them. south Of the stra
e of De Fuca. are void CT rocks. A
G navigators who have visited them hay
g concurred in the opinion that the waite
of Puget Sound afford the safest and m"
magnificent navigation far ocean vesse
e to be found auywere Upon this gre
n