Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1879-06-19
Helena, Montana, Thursday, June 10, 1879.
IN BITTER ROOT VALLEY.

L
From Mrs Robert E Stsahorn's Published Letters
September 1878.
Before leaving this part of the country
must tell you of our trip through the garder
of Montana-Bitter Root Valley. Meander
ing swiftly down the valley is Bitter Roo
River, the clearest, purest stream that VIZ
have seen in all our travels. Every little
pebble as we'll as their larger companions art
as distinctly seen, at depth OF tour teet, a.
it they were on the surface. Large trou
were seen that weighed two pounds anO
more, while wild ducks and geese swan
gracefully over the top. Low weeping will
ows We1e tvel kissing the sweet waters, and
many thirsty animal Tapped the cool droops
win rare delight.
Leaving Mlssoula we first crossed long
bridge which spanned the Hell Gate river,
tnen mounting 70 the bench land the town
was soon lost 10 view in the little basin where
it stands. When out two miles we passed
the military barracks, then swiftly sped up
the valley. AS the most of our lives have
been spent in the Mississippi valley, We had
first to learn to say ''up south" and down
north, which is not SO easy as it seems.
This valley is from six to ten miles in
width and about sixty in length 1t is indeed
MOntana's wheat field and orchard. One
farmer has 1O6 bushels Of wheat from one
and three fourths acres of land. Another
had $40 pounds OF tobacco from one-eighth
| OF an acre. Still another served us with
| fresh ripe strawberries. We could scarcely
| believe our eyes when we saw the bed from
| which they were produced. But there were
| the berries In spite Of the heavy frosts which
had nightly occurred for some time. The
owner Informed us that the berries were the
richest in November, although the vines bear
fruit from early summer. tie also has the
early varieties in abundance. The fact re-
minds me that Mr.. Curtis, of Helena, raised
$4,000 quarts of strawberries last summer,
which he sold for fifty cents quart.
We drove Oft the main road to shake the
limb of a stalwart tree to which Peter Matt
was hung for horse-stealing by the Montana
vigilantes. In crossing one of the tributaries
of the Bitter Root River called Lo-lo, we
found the passage of the water impeded by
network of willow slips that were buried
in the bed of the river and rose about a foot
above the waters surface. This proved to
be trap made by the Indians for catching
fish, and the trap in which the little fellows
were struggling for freedom was quite
prominent feature as we'll as an ingenious
puzzle. On the opposite shore the jailors'
tepees were pitched, and the keepers watched
with fiendish delight the vain efforts of their
inny prisoners to escape. But the uncouth
appearance frightened our horses and made
them canter off at a lively speed.
We cOnversed with one Mrs. Carlton who
has seven little children. She does her own
hOusework and sewing, takes care of her
children, makes forty pounds of butter per
week and sells it for so cents per pound; che
also cares for 200 fine Brshma chickens and
helps to milk twenty-five cows. MIR. Carlton
is a steady, industrious ranchman and stock |
raiser. The first question that ever enters !
my mind when see such people is: How |
came you here? But it is always the desire |
for wealth, and it is not uncommon for peo-
pie to tell US they have lived here ten or
twelve years.
Thirty miles from Missoula stands old Fort |
Owen, which was built in 1850. 1t is pecu-
liar in shape, irregular enough to command
a view of all surroundings. The walls are
low but massively built of stone and dotted
on all sides with rifle holes. Indians will
ever g i've such a retreat a wide birth. Even
now family occupies portion of it, and
they look more like prisoners peering out
from behind the great walls than they do like
free people. Near the fort stands an old
|
made bis own burs and run it by hand power
bushels per hour. The mill is still running,
but now by steam and with very profitable
results
A mile or two beyond is the town OF Stew
ensvllle. There are few stores and hotel
and post Office. 1t was here thatan Indian Mis
sion was located in 1847, and is still in opera
ion. The priest says the Indians are very
good while at the Mission, but when they re-
urn from hunt they have everything to
earn over. All along our drive rich fields
IF grain were being cut, stacked or threshed.
w Inter wheat is equally as great success as
spring wheat. Oats were yielding from sixty
% eighty-fve bushels per acre. Corn is not
much of success, only in few localities.
Every one is charmed with this quiet, pro-
]uctive valley, and it is the only place in the 1
Rocky Mountains where have heard the I
,heery voice of the meadow lark. We stop
,ed for the night at the upper end of the val f.,
ey in just the neatest bachelor quarters you {
AN imagine. He bade us welcome if we
Gould live as he did and We were delighted. :
We were not expected nor did he usually .
,eep travellers, but the room assigned us was
n perfect order and the snowy bed and grace
ully draped curtains lent q bewitching charm
o the scene. He declined all offers for as {
istance in preparing the evening meal, but
oon spread before US sumptuous repast
hat would out.do many fairer hand. He 6
vas as happy as lord and wants to live five
Iundred years just as be is, then die on the i
pot.
As darkness is settling around US and the
tars are creeping slowly out; We are called .
o witness grand sight. Way over on the
mountain side some stray Indian has set fire I
o the mountain grass. The red blaze runs 9