Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-05-28
PITTSBrRG Anril 30. 1914.

|
From the Pittsburgh Evening Telegraph.
have with considerable interest, read your
extracts from Gen. Clusters letter to the Min
neapolis Tribune, regarding the Northwest,
anu his personal observations regarding Da-
kota and Montana Territories. The fact that
this well tried, active, live soldier, has per-
sonally examined every mile from the 92nd
TO lSOth meridian, gives his opinion more
than ordinary weight, as compared with those
put forward by Gen. Hazcn from his stand
point. over one hundred miles distant from
the Northern Pacific railroad lands From our
own personal knowledge Of this great North
west country since 1876. we are fully im-
pressed with the facts as set forth in Gen.
Clusters statements
AS early as 1854 the writer transported
pork, flour and other provisions to the then
Territory OF Minnesota, from Illinois and
Iowa. to subsist emigrants to this new and
undcveloped country, which was then consid.
cred by most of our Eastern friends as too
far north, and uninviting to become the
home of the active agriculturist, mechanic or
artiZan What have We seen developed within
the short time since 1854, period of nearly
twenty years: A territory that has rapidly
become populated into State, and one of
the leading cereal producing States of the
Union, with over twenty millions bushels of
wheat alone: not counting her barley, oats,
and other productions for export.
We therefore see this new and enterpris-
ing State rapidly filling up by an intelligent,
active people, second to no State in the Un-
ion, in tue true elements of greatness. Dako-
tn, Montana and Washington Territories will
develop in the course of few years
in the same ratio. 1t is evidently the duty of
Government, and for the interest of all, that
this belt of country should bc brought under
civilizing influences. 1t is claimed, and we
think jnstly, that this section of our country
is destined to be the leading grain growing
portion OF our Union. If only five per cent
of this belt is brought under cultivation with
in five years, it would certainly contribute
cereals and food equal to more than sixty
millions of bushels of wheat for export and
hcme consumption, not to take in considera-
tiOn the great undevclOped wealth of miner
ais, now perfectly dormant
1t behOOves the Government to- increase
and improve her basis to draw from, and
that will contribute to the cxigencies of the
situation. Our means and ability to meet
present and future liabilities must be drawn
largely from the bowels of the earth. Our
be increased within the next five years to
sixty or seventy millions Il year, as at present
Thus we can easily see the sure and only
mode of our reaching specie payments, is by
developing our agricultural and mineral re-
sources. If we can produce the precious
metals. the cereals, the cotton, and petroleum
for export, in sufficient quantities, to meet
the balance of trade with the nations of the
world, an important point is gained: but we
by an active development of our re-
sources, We can very soon change this bal
ance Of trade, and compel the nations of the
world to be tributary to us. The4 and not
till then, can we safely return to coin STAN
dard. There is no dlsputng the great fact
every new mine you open up and develop,
every new acre of land you bring under Gull
livaticr for cotton, wheat or other cereals,
a' te.s your ability to meet these contin-
rencics. 1t behooves the nation to meet the |
of the times-to develop her re-
sources. IF we can increase the products |
rom Our n,ines from say sixty to three hun
jtci nil.iohs per annum, and the other sta
Die con Dodities of our country in the same
within the hext five years, we at
ai.' a position IF greatness that will enable |
Is, in good faith, to respond to our present
Obligations OBSERVER.