Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-06-08

gated at slight expense with water from
Sun River. They have been surveyed by
government and are open tor settlement,
and can be had at government price ($1.25
per acre1, or can be entered under the home
stead laws. There is no railroad grant or
reservation and, therefore, nothing to pre-
vent hundreds or thousands Of home-seekers
from having choice locations
This Sun River country has a good flour
and grain market. 1t is separated from the
markets of other sections of the Territory,
and as yet there has never been half enough
raised to supply the demand. We say the
market is better, because the cost of trans
portation for the distance of SO to 100 miles
is saved. giving the farmer here ar oppor-
tunity to realize at least one cent per pound
more tor his grain than can be obtained in
other sections of Montana. The supplies
for Fort Shaw, Fort Benton, the Mounted
Police, and the Indian trading posts along
the northern border of the Territory furnish
the market for this section. 1t has been es-
timated by prominent citizens Of the Sun
River Crossing and neighborhood that there
is consumed yearly at these posts 800, 900
pounds of oats, and 5000 sacks of flour.
From inquiry among the farmers along the
route, we have estimated that the number of
acres of land being cultivated in oats in the
Sun River country will not exceed 500, while
we put the wheat crop at 600 acres. Allow
ing that these farmers escape the grasshop-
perS this season. and raise an average crop,
the yield will not exceed one-third of the
demand. As a grazing country, no section
of Montana can claim any advantage over
it.
Leaving Mr.. Vaughn's we turned in our
course and passed back up the nine mile
drive to the Crossing. Next day, May 10th,
was a rainy day, and but for a little visit
which we made, between showers, to the
old government farm where we met friends
who seemed as "home folks " to us, the day
was a, blank.
This farm, which is situated about two
miles above the Crossing on the Choteau
side of the river, was located in the year
1851 by Col. Vaughn, and it was here that
the first pillow turned up the soil in this re-
glon of the Rocky Mountains. Mr.. Gorham,
49, PAoSSAc SSSlRdlip, Ls1S a CIOD growing
upon it which looks promising.
We left the Crossing on the 18th, and con-
dnued our journey south across the country
east of Birdtail rock, to the Missouri valley.
On our route we turned aside and paid a
visit to the farm of Messrs. Leply & Austin.
who are located in a beautiful littIy valley
between two ridges about half way between
the Helena road and the Missouri river.
These gentlemen have a good farm and an
excellent dairy herd which they have rented
out to some parties, whose names we have
forgotten, and are devoting their attention
strictly to their stock. They may be classed
among the most extensive and Wealthiest
stock growers Of Montana. Their location
IS a most excellent one-good ~corrals, sheds.
stables, and a stream of clear water runs by
their door-and there is probably no firm in
the country who are better located to carry
on the dairy business on a large scale than
they are.
Mr.. John Brown, who is located within a
half mile Of LeplY & Austin's on the same
creek, has also a very desirable location for
carrying on the dairying business. His
large farm is idle this season. He saws the
hoppers took such al interest in harvesting
his crop for the past two years that lie has
concluded to let them sow their own crops
this year. He is giving his time exclusively
70 the dalrylng business, IN which he and
his estimable lady are well skilled. They
ilahuIacture a superior article of butter.