Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-03-23

those spent in the pleasant mountain-home
of Brother and Sister Reed.
We made it convenient, however, not
%withstanding the cold, to visit the several
ne;ehborhoods of Upper West Gallatin, and
saw some as fine farms as ever lay out-of-
doors. The manufacturing facilities of this
vicinity are also very fine. There are at
present four saw-mills, three lath and shin
ole mills, and a flouring-mil in course of
erection. The rapid descent of the streams
afford unlimited power, as we'll as make it
an easy task to water their fine agricultural
lands.
Saturday we left friend Reed and lady to
the happy solitude of Western rural life and
continued our journey in search OF some-
thing to interest -" readers. We proceed
ed up Cottonwood creek to Hunters Mill,
and from thence along the base OF the
mountains, that hem in the Valley on the
south, to Bozeman creek and down it to
Bozeman. The bench-lands along the
mountain support a luXuriant growth OF
grass, the soil is black and rich, and there
are many hundred acres of as good wheat
lands as can be found upon the Gallatin, yet
unclaimed. On BoZeman creek there are
many fine and well-improved farms. Mr.,
Flahearty is keeping his little flock OF about
100 sheep here. Feed has not yet been cov-
cred this winter, although the altitude OF
this region is very great and it is usually
subjected to deep SHOWS.
We acknowledge the receipt OF a pressing
invitation to attend the feast given by Fair
view Grange on Saturday evening, the llth
inst. a pleasure we were compelled to forego
on account of pressing business.
Bozeman is quiet in a business sense, yet
her citizens are wrought up to a high pltch
upon railroad and Black Hills matters.
Large posters were upon familiar posts and
loaing-corners announcing that the 18th OF
March (St. Patrick's Day. would be cele-
brated by a mass meeting of the citizens OF
Gallatin county for the purpose OF nominal
! ING railroad commissioner others, stating
that the Buchanan boys had found dlgglngs
in the Black Hills that will pay from six to
ten dollars a day that A. }. Hunter mas
seyenty-fve men enrolled for his expedition
!, through via Fort G. F. Smith and Fort PM
| Kearney. From the conversation III tne
hotels and bar-rooms one would infer Jhat
one-half of the men in Montana, and espe-
c;aIIy IN f~raliatin county, arc on tho eve OF
departure for that fabled land Of gold. But,
strange to say, during our two weeks travel
through Gallatin county, we have not seen
as many as three men who were determined
upon making the trip. In fact, We have moi
heard a single man declare that he was go
ing. The talk is principally what others IN
tend to do. from which we are led to con-
clude that the tide of emigration from Mon
, tana to the Hills will be much less than is
anticipated.
We do not make this assertion to dlscour
. age the enterprise Of BoZeman. On the con
trary. we think it a good outfitting point
and believe the route proposed by the Hun
) ter expedition to be the most practical, as ]
E lies through an un~prospected country. NO
0 do we believe, should the expedition starr
that it will ever reach the Black Hills, Du
think it will halt in a better country severa
, hundred miles to the northwest. The open
q ing of this route will result in incalculabl
a benefit to Montana, as it will open a rout
\ by which the surplus Of gold-thirsty advei
$ turers who flock to the Hills may come an
\ Stake their thirst in the rich and inexhaust'
BILE mines of Montana.
CENTRAL PARK, March Is, 1876.
Sunday we rested and attended dlvlf
= service. Bozeman has a large, elegal
church and measures are OH foot looking
y tho ~nrnntinn of another. IhlS speaks we