River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-09-05
THE GARDEN or THE WORLD.
What Gen. Tom phips Sac 4fottg the Line
OF the Northern PacaJic Railroad.
Ifh,nnau, 1sri hnr,n Z

Chicago Tribune.
| Gen. Charles Fl. Tompkins, deputy quar-
termaster general United States army, and
Dakots, arrived in this city yesterday from a
trip of about seventy days. during which
time he visited all the principal military
4 posts in Montana. As he had a splendid
opportunity to observe the condition of the
country through which the Northern Pacific
Railroad extension is TO run, having followed
| the survey some $50 miles. Tribune re-
porter called on him at the Sherman House
/ yesterday afternoon to get a description of
| the country, and TO learn if the proies was
\ feasible and practicable, and, if carried out,
/ if it would pay a fair interest on the
investment. Gen. Tompkins received the
/ reporter very cordially, and at once sii nified
| his willingness to give the Tribune all the
desired information. The general stated
| that he went up the Missouri river from Bis
marck to Benton. From this point he went
to Shaw, and thence TO Helena. From
Helena he made a trip TO Missouri, and from
there to the former point. He also went 10
Camp Baker and gain returned to Helena.
| He left Helena for good, and went to Fort
Ellis. and flom this point along the line of
I the Northern Pacific survey TO Fort Custer,
and thence to Fort Keogh. He then went
down the Yellowstone river to Fort Butord.
at The confluence of the Yellowstone and
Missouri rivers, thence down the Missouri
back again to Bismarck. He found
in the vicinity Of ssfissoula one
of The finest agricultural and
stock raising countries he has ever seen, and
ii is already well settled. Between Missoula
4 A.
and productive, and still more settled than
in the vicinity of Missoula. Deer Lodge is
quite thriving town. Between Helena and
Fort Ellis the country is perfectly beautiful
and well watered. Thousands of cattle were
roaming all around. This portion Of Mon
tana is excellently adapted for agriculture.
tie found this part of the country also very
rich in minerals, valuable silver deposits
having been discovered al the headWaters OF
Jefferson river. There we're also rich silver
Developments in the vicinity Of Helena and
Missoula. Between Fort Ellis and Fort
Custer the country Is rapidly filing mp with
settlers, and the people are raising large
crops of wheat, oats, and corn. At all these
points he stopped, and conversed with
the ranchIneD 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 a prosperous future. Be
tween Fort Custer and Keogh there are also
very fine agricultural and grazing lands.
Here he passed over several natural hay
fields From Keogh down the Yellowstone
the country is not SO rich in the immediate
vicinity Of the river. but there are spots
we timbered, and coal crops out III many
places, with indications Of very thick veins.
lx5
pleased with the country through which he
passed, and strongly advocates the extension
and completion of the Northern Pacific road.
Not only viii the carrying out Of this pro-
iect greatly facilitate the transportation of
government stores TO a large number of
military posts in Montana and the Yellow
stone country, but ii Will materially diminish
the cost of transportation. For instance, it
costs at present to move 100 pounds
of freight from Bismarck to Keogh
50 $500 cents. This is under an exceed
ingly low contract. Last wear the cost of
transportation was double this amount. The
officers of the Union Pacific have guaranteed
to deliver the government stores at all sea
Sons of the wear for the same distance over
their road for Sc cents per 100 pounds. Like
reductions to other points would be the re-
suit. The construction of this road would,
IN 1reDs IOnDklnS Dpini0Ut Ai59 nave 3
great tendency to settle the Indian question
as Indians powerfully receae from civiliza
ton.
The above description Of the Yellowstone
country fully agrees with the reports made
by Co.'s. James w. Forsyth and #. d. Grant,
who made an examination of that part of
the country by order OF Lieut.. Gen. Sheri-
dan in 1876. Col. Grant in his report says:
aIhe country we passed through was Of
cretacsoEs formation the lAtest formations
of the Mesozoic times, going up through
Cenozoir 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 islauds, of
which there are a great many, differ
from those Of tbs Missouri in being
comparatively permanent. The Yellowstone
valley presents many beautiful landscapes
Ii is particularly grand when seen from the
mouth OF Powder river
''Ths Yellowstone valley can all, or nearly
all, be cultivated, as the soil is rich. The
many of which are large, couid also |
be cultivated. There rs an abundance OF
coal and pine wood that could be taken out
with profit. The water is fine, being melted
SNOW, and in the valley there grow large
quantities Of wild plums, cherries, buffalo |
berries, goaseherries, currants and vic
strawberries.