The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-11-10

three inches at time. Cattle, horses and
sheep subsist on the ranges every winter
with no other feed than that provided by
Nature, and appear in the spring in excel
lent condition and the per centum of loss
is inconsiderable. There are occasional
! seasons of unusual severity, when the loss
is much greater, and prudence dictates to
the thoughtful stock raiser to provide for
such seasons by driving his mower few
days in the natural meadows abounding
everywhere. The rigors of winter incident
to that latitude are much diminished by the
thermal influence of winds which blow in
from the Pacific Ocean northwardly through
the valleys. These winds are called "Chi-
nooks," and often melt away several inches
of snow in a single night. By reference to
the meteorological charts it will be observ-
ed that the isothermal lines of Philadelphia
and Washington extned to Montana, while
the difference of latitude is six and eight
degrees, and the difference of altitude sew
eral thousand feet. Morever, variations of
temperature are not so keenly felt as in the
Atlantic States, where there is much more
humidity in the atmosphere.
The rainy season occurs generally in June
and lasts several weeks, the remainder of
summer and fall being dry; but in summer
of this year the mountains have all been
whitened during each month with newly
fallen snow, and in the valleys there were
successive showers, keeping alive the beau
ty and freshness Of spring. In August you
might have climbed to the top of any of
our mountains and standing in several
inches of summer-born snow looked down
and beheld the yellow fields of grain ripen-
ing q few miles below.
Shows fall heavily on the high mountains
in the winter time and accumulate by
drifting in the gorges, and there, sheltered
from the SUMS rays, they lie throughout
the summer feeding slowly and surely the
limpid streams that flow out INTO the
valleys where their waters may be utilized
to turn the wheel, to irrigate the growing
fields, or wash the alluvium from the gilt
tering gold. Thus, husbanded for use at
will, this gift of Nature is boon to the
farmer, and he may be oblivious to the Wig
liant anxiety with which the Eastern far
mer watches each rising cloud in a season
Of drought.
The population of the Territory is esti-
mated at twenty thousand, the assessed
valuation of property at ten million dollars
Railroad communication would rapidly in
crease both and afford us greater facilities
in the development of our mines, in the
eluLopOA VA A1tANI1hASly1 OASo tShO OaA
lion.
In the towns there are many religious,
benevolent and educational societies, and
much refinement and culture. The people
are generally intelligent and reading peo-
pie. Three daily, one tri-weeky, and nine
weekly papers, having an aggregate circu-
lation of nine thousand eight hundred cop
les, are literally sustained. Add to this
the several thousand copies of other peri
odicals sent into the Territory and you can
have an exponent of the inclinations and
tastes of the people.
The various Indian tribes that dwell i'll
Montana are the Flatheads, Kalispels and
Kootenais, on the west side of the Rocky
Mountains. In southwestern Montana there
remains migratory remnant of the once
powerful Bannack tribe. On the Yellow
stone is the Crow reservation, the home of
a large tribe by that name, and to the
north and northeast are the Blackfeet, Sioux,
Assinaboines and Gros Ventres. The set
Elements have suffered but little from pre-
datory acts by these Indians. Those living
west of the mountains 60 to the plains of
the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers twice
year, but in greater force in the autumn,
to hunt buffalo for a supply of meat and
robes. The latter is sn article of great
traffic among all the Indian tribes of the
mountains and plains. During these hunt
ing excursions they have many conflicts
with their foes on the plains, and many
warriors of both parties are sent to the
hunting-grounds of their fathers. Expedi-
tions are sent out from Benton every win
ter to trade with the northern Indians,
exchanging blankets, firearms, groceries,
tobacco and not infrequently that unli-
censed article, whisky, for robes and furs.
The shipment of these articles from Benton
eastward since 1852 has amounted to from
quarter to half million dollars annu-
ally, besides considerable shipments which
have been made overland from other points
and which were derived from local traffic
with Indians and white men who follow
trapping in the solitude of the mountains.
There is pleasure in the pathless wood,'
And there are hundreds of men infatuated
with the wild freedom of those lonely re-
gions who live in the mountains, far away
from human habitation, and subsist by
their skill in the use of the gun and trap.
The animals abounding in the Territory
are the buffalo, now found only on the
plains eastward, bison, species of buffalo,
found in small numbers on the mountains,
elk, moose, deer, white and blacktail deer,
and antelope on mountain, valley and plain
mountain sheep, goat, grizzly, cinnamon,
and black bears, lions and panthers in the
mountainous regions. The fur-bearing an
imals are the wolf, fox, otter, beaver, mar
ten, fisher, mink and silver-grey fox. Quail,
grouse and many species Of aquatic fowlsand
birds of delicious excellence afford abund-
ant pleasure for the sportsman. Birds of
beautiful plumage and thrilling song ap-
pear ON all sides to enliven and delight.
H., G,,1A oe cJ~ -
here perches, "higher than human con-
clear streams that flow from every noun
tain give careful nurture to countless
speckled trout and other varieties of deli
cious fish.
The easiest route by which to reach the
Territory in the summer is by steamboat to
Benton, thence by stage to the capital or
any other point. A daily line of comforta-
BILE stages throughout the year connects all
parts of the Territory with the Utah Nor
thern Railroad at Franklin, about four
hundred miles from Deer Lodge and Helena.
A branch Of the Western Union Telegraph
prnetrates the Territory with lateral
branches. There are five National Banks
distributed in the larger towns with an ag-
gregate capital of four hundred Thousand
dollars, and their combined deposits amount
to about one million dollars, and there are
besides several substantial private bankers
The total Territorial indebtedness is about
one hundred and twenty-five thousand dol
lars, principally funded in ten and twelve
per cent. bonds, which readily command so
cents to par. Taxation varies in the several
counties from II to per cent. on as
sessed valution. Freights on merchandise
from the eastern cities averages about one
hundred dollars per ton. The cost of ship
ping ores to the railroad about
thirty dollars per ton. The prevailing
rates Of interest are II to 2 per cent. per
month. The price of labor $50 per month
for farm hands and s3 to So per day for
miners. The cost of living at the hotels is
So to SO per week. The price of female
help from 500 to $50 per month. Intem-
perance is not prevalent, morality is highly
appreciated, benevolence freely exercised,
the law respected and life and property
safer than they are in most of the States.
In conclusion, would say Montana bids
!. -