Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1878-02-02
THE YELLOWSTONE VALLEY.
From Notes OF Judge Wilkinson's
Trip to Mics City. 49,

inson, who has just returned from Jaunt
down the Yellowstone some 600 miles TO
Miles City, sdevotes five columns of his
paDer-the Bozeman Times-toa descrip-
ton of egreat valley, the newly planted
settlements, the recently completed mili-
tary posts, and the shire town. of Custer
county. The article is a very interesting
one, supplying a deal of valuable intor-
nation concerning our eastern border
country heretofore .unimparted. A few
extracts are reproduced below, with the
promise of more in future issue:
THE YELLOWSTONE VALLEY.
The Yellowstone valley from its mouth
to the National Park IS about FIVE hum
dred miles long, and with its tributaries
will make an average of bottom land of at
least six miles in width throughout, suit
able for settlement and cultivation. It is
interspersed with natural meadows Of the
finest kind. The grasses are bunch, buff
falo. gramma and blue joint. .-All-the
hills are covered with grasses well adapt
ed to the sustenance of stock, and stock
raising will be great business in the
future. The Yellowstone valley will sus-
tain business and population sufficient
for FIVE respectable counties at an early
date. + The hills and Iuoun-
tains on the south side of the Yellowstone
are covered with great quantities Of pine
timber capable Of supplying any amount
Of lumber tor future use. i Two
varieties of grapes grow on the Yellow
stone, on the Big Horn and Roeebuc.
Plums of fine quality also grow and
ripen in abundance, white and black ash
is also found in many places. There is
one large grove Of go or 900 on the Little
Horn Tor Custer river) which will average
two feet in diameter near the ground and
from 40 to 20 feet to the first limb. We
saw several fine specimens of black ash in
the Little Porcupine bottom. Box elder
grows in many places on the river.
MILES CITY
justifieS and must receive more than a
mere passing notice. It was located last
year by the appreciation of General Mi es
and the approval Of the war department
on the military reservation at Tongue
river, and has been built to its presen,
dimensions in less than year. It fronts
on the Yellowstone river, which is deep
at the shore, and has fine steamboat
landing. Five steamboats, were tied up
at this landing at one time last summer.
The largest class of boats can run up to
this point at al seasons of the year, ex-
cept when there is ice to prevent it. The
Buffalo Rapids, II miles below, is the
only obstruction to the navigation, and
these can be crossed with all ease by
boats having good power. The streets of
Miles City are laid off parallel to and at
right angles with the river. The lots are
of convenient size and shape, and the
blocks are Of proper size. Most OF the
buildings are (of necessity, there being
no lumber when built) log cabins; but, as
saw mills have lately been built to cut
lumber at convenient distance, these
cabins will soon be replaced with good
frames, when the town will present a
splendid appearance. As it is it is alive
and rus:Iing with business men, who are
OF the kind to make a prosperous town.
They are the most energetic men we ever
saw, and success IS plainly written on
their foreheads.