Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-10-02

experienced on account of the colo or SHOWS
OF winter, many who have stock running on
the prairie making no preparation for winter
feeding, which is seldom necessary. Even in
the upper part of Stinkingwater valley, where
the climate is considered somewhat rigorous,
not only are the regular herds wintered on
the prairies, but cows also pass the winter
with no other food than that cropped from
the open pasture, and, although regularly
MIXED, come out in the spring in excellent
condition.
country, sheep and horses being altogether as
good, if not more profitable, than cattle All
farm products at present sell at very low
prices. Good wheat flour is selling at cts.
per pound, and beef cattle 2f cts. per pound
on the hoof. New potatoes are now selling
at $1.2O per bushel but when the crops are
gathered, they sell at from so to Is cents.
| Notwithstanding these low prices, l learn
that one of your Allegheny county farmers
has, upon the advice of friend who has
been "ranching it" here for several years,
purchased one of the finest ranches in the
Prickly Fear valley, and proposes to try his
luck at irrigation. have no doubt but it is
a good investment, for feel confident that
before many crops are gathered, this country
will be teeming full of consumers, delving
metals, running mills, etc., and then the
ranchmen will find big prices and ready mo-
ney for all their products. Could there be
any better illustration than this of the bene-
fits of protective tariff? Bring the con-
sumer to the door of the producer and it is
evident that they will be mutually benefited
but had Montana to ship her products to Liv-
erpool to pay for the iron, the machinery,
and the railroads she wants and must have,
her profits would be light indeed, and her
wait long and weary, before the day would
dawn which all of her citizens are now so
anxiously waiting for, and so hopefully ex-
pecting: But fortunately sound doctrines
have prevailed of late years in our national
councils; and already the locomotive shrieks
its whistle and bangs its bell across the arid
plains of Dakota, pushing it's way through
the silent home of the red man, and bearing
onward the toilers, the consumers, and the
capital to develop the untold wealth of Mon
tana.
There may have been some immense swim
ding in the construction of the Pacific Rail-
roads, and Congress may have been too lib
eral in it's grants of lands and franchises, but
the railroads were and are great necessity
they have and will develop the richest part
of the continent; they have brought much
tribute to the Golfers of Uncle Sam, and, in
the long run, they will pay even on the heavy
investment.
But the seven million acres of arabic land
lying idle in Montana and waiting develop
ment is of secondary importance when we
come to consider the mineral resources of
the Territory. Although millions of money
has been taken out within the few years since
its precious treasures were made known, and |
although much has been written and pub |
lished regarding its deposits of gold, silver, |
copper, lead, iron and coal, still the develop |
ment of its mines is asyet but commenced, |
and but comparatively little is known to the
outside world of the immense treasures and |
great inducements to capital that is actually |
going begging, waiting for the good time
coming.
Lying far out of the line of travel, only
accessible via the long, disagreeable stage
route mentioned in my last letter., capitalists
cannot be induced to make the trip to find
out personally the great advantages of this
over other mining districts, and so many
have been deceived and cheated by misrepre-
sentations that there are few indeed who will
make investments on statements of interested
parties, and without personal examination.
Drawn West on pleasure excursions over the
splendid Pacific Railroads, many Eastern
capitalists stop short of the real Ell Dorado,
and make their investments in Colorado or
Utah. These investments, when jndiciously
made, are generally good, and pay hand
somely; but that does not prove that they
are the best, or that better cannot be made
Montana, under all her disadvantages of q
sparse population, lack of capital, and inac-
feasibility, produces more of the precious
metals than either Colorado or Utah, when,
in fact, the production is almost equal to both
of them.
The M;ning and Engineering Journal of
New York, edited by H. w. Raymond, is
standard authority on this point, as Mr.. Ray
mond has not only visited the Territories
himself, but employs most careful and re-
sponsible agents to collate all matters OF in
terest regarding the leading topics of his
journal According to his statements, Mon
$357, 944 of silver, copper, and lead, or over
six millions of dollars coin value precious
metals. Utah during the same year produced
So, 232, 377, and Colorado $4,661, 465. Now
the population Of Montana is quite nsignif-
cant when compared with either of herrivals. I
Capital has been easily drawn to them, as {
they lie directly on the lines of traffic, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. Labor is COM {
paratively cheap and plenty, and shipment of j
products is easy and convenient, quite con- {
sideration when heavy base bullion is to be !
shipped. Science anu machinery nave Deeu
largely introduced to bring out their resour- t
,es, and as general rule have paid hand
somelv. But the facts show that the mines
IF Montana are far more valuable and easier t
worked than those of either Colorado or q
Utah; and, supplied with the facilities. capl- q
al and labor of either, it would far surpass I
my Of our gold bearing Territories, ana
luite likely to excel California in her palm
est days. aEt 4 .s5ns}u ad s.Ha 50
The great want of the, country is Q railroad ll \