The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-17

1891 1A1 A0Got y pdoSiIR
the Birdtail Divide, and from thence along
it's downward course, lies q gently sloping
valley which is unsurpassed in fertility, and
which for miles on either side will produce
the cereal crops and vegetables without irri-
cation. The general appearance of the
country is softly romantic, made so by the
majestic river and still more majestic groves
| which line it and mark the locations of the
innumerable sloughs and bayous which here
and there meander away inland, and the
ground gently rolling backward on either side
to the Rockies and the Belt range, which
form a horizon of dazzling white as the
sun shone down on their snowy covering,
making beautiful contrasts with the sepia
tints of the valley and the pure azure of the
sky. Vast herds of cattle Craze on both
sides Of the river, living luxuriantly in these
rich hay lands, which are only tenantless Of q
teeming population because of isolation from
the worlds great and little marts. But in
coming railroads will soon open them up and
only a few years-very feW-and this entire
section will be a scene of busy industry.
The most desirable and fertile tracts of this
region have been entered under the desert
land act to the exclusion Of a bona tide p0pu-
lation, scarcely an acre Of which will not
produce bountiful crops without artificial aid,
but this worst obstacle to the development Of
this vast region Of the Upper Missouri has
been removed by the recent and beneficent
decision of the Interior Department, which
removes all such lands from the pale of des-
ert lands, and the settler can now come in
here and pre-empt and homestead any of this
land that is entered as q desert claim, pro-
vided it will produce a crop Of any kind
without irrigation.
There are quite a good many ranches in
various stages of development, enough, in
fact, to impel Mr.. Geo. Steel to put an excel
lent stock of goods into Ulida, just across
the river at the ferry. anne Dyas is man
aging the affair and reports a brisk and rap
idly growing trade. The district affords a
good school, and on all sides are evidences
of wealth and prosperity. Cattle-growing is
the principal industry, though sheep are be-
ginning to come in in considerable number.
Back again to Sun river, and a hasty look
| around where first observation had passed
over. We visited the dairy of Mr.. Chas. Bull,
whose better half, with the aid of the most
modern and perfect appliances Of the dairy,
is turning out the finest butter we ever saw.
The cans for holdingthe milk are SO arranged
that they can be submerged in cold water,
which extracts the heat rapidly, and prevents
dust and disagreeable favors from being i'm
parted, which cannot be prevented by the or
binary process. The milk is withdrawn from
underneath the cream, and without disturb
ing it. After churning, the butter is worked
by a machine, which thoroughly extracts the
buttermilk, and leaves the product firm, and
without any OF that pasty, greasy appearance
which gives to so much butter the combined
attributes Of oleo-margarine and hogs lard.
He finds a good local demand at ren1unera-
tive rates. Mr.. A. NJ. Rowles is also in the
dairy business, and the butter he makes is
among the choicest brands in the Benton
market.
Next Gay eooR a spun across inc country
win Jim Aaans anu .: ID. hsnneay' all
pound TOR the 'Toono up over on Moooy
creek. 4 nara, oos pleasant roe on morse
oack through inc pfac1ng All, Drought Us 70
the camp, just 10 une lot 1ne Vespers hash'
ana we mace gooo WORK III Tooha1ng thls up,
which We dla u regular Vacquero style.
here we met the ganlal +. :, Ford, MT. Mul-