Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1879-02-13
THE NEW WEST.
MOntana's Present and Future.
["Percy We're" in Chicago journal. ]

have given hasty and imperfect sketch
of Montana's early history, and it has required
but few pages to present it. To picture her
situation to-day would demand volume To
the people at large Montana is practically
as unknown and no better understood than
Alaska, and if the wonderful resources of
the Territory were to be fully illustrated and
described, that same public would shake its
head and respond with an incredulous smile.
At the risk, however, of meeting such a re-
ception, shall in this and future letters at
tempt to give the Journals readers just and
fair account of this truly remarkable por-
ton of our domain, as it offers inducements
to capital, whether in large or small amounts,
unexcelled by any other section. Montana
is very extensive, and while it is just what
the Indians denominated, "The Country of
the Mountains y it is at the same time the
country of valleys, each range of bills or
mountains having parallel valley, some be-
ing hundreds of miles in length, and tens in
width, through which invariably flows love-
ly river Into each of these main rivers flow
hundreds and even thousands OF smaller
streams, they, too, meandering through
charming wales, and running away back into
the mountain ranges, finally ending in narrow
canyons, down which the sparkling water
rushes with great force The water is very
pure, and the streams are usually inhabited
by the delicious trout for which the Rocky
Mountains are famous. The mountains are
clothed with dense
FORESTS OF FIR AND PINE,
while the remainder of the whole country is
covered with a carpet of grass, wonderfully
rich in nutritive qualities, and upon which
cattle and sheep are both reared and fattened
for market, never being fed, Winter or Sum-
mer. OF the livestock interest, however, |
shall have more to say in the future. Not
withstanding that mountain ranges and spurs
seem to run in every direction, locking and
interlocking, yet carriage can be driven
from one end of the Territory to another, ma
ture not only having provided
MAGNIFICENT ROADS,
but low passes over all the ranges. Access
to any part of the Territory is obtainable
Winter or Summer, by stages, which run dai-
ly, carrying United States mails. In nearly
all the valleys farming operations are carried
on upon an extensive scale. Immense crops of
wheat, oats, barley, rye, peas, potatoes, and
in some Valleys corn, are yearly grown.
Small fruits, such as strawberries, currants,
blackberries, and delicious fruit called SER
viceberry, all grow and yield abundantly
Agriculture is yearly becoming bettef under
stood and more proftably conducted, while
dairying is young but exceedingly profitable
vocation. There are millions upon millions
of acres of rich grazing and farming lands !
open to settlement, some within eight or ten
miles only of this city.
MINING INTERESTS,
both placer and quartz, are Very fourishing. |
Thousands of acres of placer mines have |
been patented, and many are yearly yielding |
enormous returns for the labor and capital |
expended. But the quartz mines are, of |
course, the principal producers of bullion.
These are SO numerous and so fabulously
rich that, like the live stock and agricultural
interests, they will demand separate article.
Single mines are producing from 81 900 to
$4,000 per day, and new strikes are constantly
being made. As these mines are permanent,
and will 60 on yielding their treasure for
many years to come. The future of the Ter
ritory can be readily appreciated.
The log ''cities" of few houses have be-
come cities indeed. Helena, the capital and
chief commercial city, contains over 5000
souls. The HERALD, an afternoon, and the
Independent, a morning paper, are the only
dailies in the Territory. The HERALD issued
an illustrated sixteen-page holiday edition,
disposing of over 10000 copies at Is cents
each. 1t was mainly devoted to a description
IF Montana and her resources, and I am in
1ebted to its genial proprietors, Messrs. Fisk
Bros, for great deal of valuable informa-
ion relating to the resources and condition of
he Territory.
Churches are prominent features of the
;ity, while large and we'll furnished school
building gives golden opportunities to several
hundred children, who are in charge of CON-
oetent and soeN- paid instructors.
Society is well organized, and it will prove
J surprise to many to learn that there are
more cultivated people in proportion to popu-
alton in Helena, than any other city in the
Union.
# the Territory is estimated at $4,000. Al t
hough mining was first commenced at Vir-
inia in 1864, the population was of such q I
oating character that it may be said the real {
ettlement of the country began about 1870.
hat there are not 100, 600 people now here
J owing entirely to the isolated position IF
be Territory. The Union Pacific was, until
ecently, the nearest railway. and it required t
We days staging to reach it at Corinne. This J
annot be said now, for the Utah Northern,
egun and extended a few miles by John w. t
,oung, Brigham's eldest son, has recently '
assed into the hands of the Union Pacific, /
nd is beng pushed at the rate of two miles q
ay Montanaward. It has already reached
'lackfoot, 1877 miles north of Ogden, and q
bout 375 from Helena. The company intend e