Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-09-25
AMONG THE FARMERS.
MADISON

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MADISON L
remains the same as last year. It is one o
Mountains, and to notice that it has made
but a slight gain in population while Other
valleys have almost doubled their number
of residents, is surprising. No other valley
can justly claim a superiority over the Mad.
ison in agricultural land, and no valley ex
cept, perhaps the Judith, can cope with il
in extent and natural advantages. The set
Element with the exception of one or JWe
farms is confined to the narrow low land
Eskirting the river. Back of that the bench
rises gently up to the mountains, forming
plateau from nine to twelve miles in width
and stretching along their base, grassy.
beautiful, and as even as a table for 80 OF
more miles, cut only by occasional willow
tringed r~ivulets. sparkling with fresh noun
tain water, sufficient to irrigate the land
and which can be %turned'from their shallow
channels and to any point, with a plow fur
row. Cereals-of all kinds and many tender
vegetables grow and ripen quite as well as
in other sections, and | can see no reason
why this section should want for home
seekers. The residents with whom I am
acquainted are j. q. Smith, A. w. Switzer,
g. w. Burns, Sam Smith, e. A. Maynard,
A. N. Bull, M. w. SWitzer, D. NJ. Jeferis,
J. Jefferis, j.. f. Haiden, O. G.. Smith, Geo.
Watkins and Alonzo Moody, and a more
genial, neighborly and hospitable people
are not easily found. Nearly all of their
farms join, and are SO much of a sameness
in appearance that separate mention can
not be made Of them. Suffice 1t to say,
however, that all were aglow with prospect
ty and bountiful crops. There are two
school districts and good schools are in pro-
gress, Mr.. Carr and Miss Hattie Bull beng
the teachers. The Madison grange, of
which the persons above named are mem-
bers, is n of the most prosperous now in
existence. As a social organization it is all
that could be desired.
MEADOW CREEK,
Which runs from the mountains on the west
side of the Madison river, has several pretty
farms along its banks, of which | remember
the names of G. Ne. Pinkney and g. B. Bess.
The first named has a nice. sloping hillside
farm andis doing the dairy business in a
scientific manner, having many conven-
fences for the same. Mr.. Bess is farming
and c~heese-making, both of which, from-ap-
pearances, are profitable. Tn this connec-
ton it will be appropriate to mention the
name of VIM. Fletcher who lives by the
Madison and near Meadow creek. He is
one of the principal cattle raisers of this sec
ton and at present is engaged to supply the
surrounding country with beef tor table
use.
sTERLING
wears a dull forlorn look, but that it will
see better days il not at al improbable for
/ am informed that the mines in the vicinity
are being developed slowly but very salts
factorily, and the owners of many OF the
leads are sanguine of success. w. r. Reele,
formerly a resident here is working the Cen
~tennial, Arctic and other leads. The Cen
tennial runs from $40 to $40 per ton, and
the Arctic yields $50 rock. They are locat-
ed in Spring mining district, where an aras-
ira Is used for crushing. The Convoy and
some other leads owned by other persons
here, turn outs $500 ore, which is being
shipped East for reduction. At Red Bluffs
a 5-stamp mill is running regularly. One
''poor mans mill,'' OF thexnew pattern, in