Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-09-05

there to the former point. lie also went L,
Camp Baker and again returned to Helena.
/ He left Helena for good, and w.lt t. Fort
Ellis. and from this point aloli5 ,h, line OF
tie Northern Pacific survey 70 Fort Custer
and theme: to For; Keogh. lie then went
down the YELLOWSTONE river to Fort Bu ford,
at the confluence OF the leiiowst one and
back again to Bismarck. He found
i'll the vicinity Of Nissoula one
of the finest agricultural and
stock raising countries; lle has ever seen, and
it is already Well settled. Between Missouri.
| and Deer Lodge the country is equally fine
| and productive, and still more settled than
in the vicinity of Missoula. Deer Lodge is
quite thriving lUWl. Between Helena ana
Fort Ellis the country is perfectly beautiful.
and we'll watered. Thousands Of cattle were
roaming I'll around. This portion ii Mon
tana is excellcntiy adapted fer agriculture.
He found this part Vi tic country also very
rich III minerals, valuable silver deposits
having been discovered at the hvadwaters Of
Jefferson river. There were also rich silver
developments i'll the vicinity Of Helena in;i
Missouia. Between For; Ellis and I Or!
Custer the country is rapidly filing up with
settlers, and the people are raising large
crops of wheat. oats. and corn. AT all these
|
the ranchmen and settlers regarding their
future intentions. they all contemplated
raising large crops of oats, with the intention
of selling to the government at good prices.
They anticipate {; prosperous fi,tult BE
tween Fort Custer ana heoHll there are also
very fine agricultural ana grazing lands.
Here he passed over several natural hay
fields. from keogl down tie Yellowstone
the country is i!ol SO rich in the Immediate
vicinity of the river. but there are spots
vel timherel, and coal crops out IL, many
places, with indications of very thick veins.
Gen. Tomplzins expresses himself highly
pleased with the country through which he
passed, and strongly advocates the extension
and completion OF the Northern Pacific road.
Not only will the carrying out OF this pro
ject greatly facilitate the transportation of
government stores to q large number of
military posts in Montana and the Yellow
stone country. but it will materially diminish
the cost Of transportation. For instance it
costs at present to move 100 pounds
of freight from Bismarck TO keogi
80 6S-1OU Gents. This is under all exceed
| ingly low contract. Last year the cost OF
transportation was double this amount. Ike
officers Of the Union Pacific have guaranteed
to deliver the government stores al al! SEA
sons of the wear for the same distance over
they road for sc cents per 100 pounds. Like
reductions to other points would be the re-
sult The construction Of this road would.
in Gen. Tompllins' opinion, also have a
great tendency to settle the Indian question.
as Indians proverbally recede from civihza-
ton. =,
The above description of the Yellowstone
country fully agrees with the reports made
by Coils. James w. Forsyth and +. d. Grant,
who made all examination of that part of
! the country 10y order of Lieut.. Gen. Sheri
dan il. 1875. Col. Grant in his report says:
''The country we passed through was Of 4
cretaceous formation (the latest formations
of the Mesozoic times. going up through
Genozoic time and the age of man. for the
country is being severely washed by the
heavy rains of the present day.. the. valley,
of course being. like the valleys of all rivers.
modified drift. The islands, OF
which there arc a great many, ditier
from those of the Missouri in being
comparatively permanent. The Yellowstone
valley presents many beautiful landscapes.
1t is particularly grand when seen from the
mouth of Powder river" :; :: ::
! ''Thp Yellowstone valley can ALL or neatly
| ali I>,o o}o2 @1r