The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28
BY MAX


1t would be worse than folly for me to at
tempt to write one-half that could be seen or
said about this beautiful valley, beginning as
it does, at the base of the Rocky mountains
and extending to its confluence with the great
and historic Missouri, about one hundred
miles distant. But Sun River valley has no
superior in this great Territory either for it's
beautiful scenery or its relative worth. Feel
ing unable to WELD q pen SO facile as to por-
tray It's majestic scenery and not pragmatic
enough to attempt il, I will confne myself
wholly to facts and figures touching the rela-
tive advantages it possesses and opportunities
there presented TO any one seeking 8 loca-
ton.
Commencing, then, at its source, away up
il the Rockies among the numerous parks
that nestle beneath the slumbering rocks, we
find nothing but grand scenic views save the
abundance Of all kinds Of game and fish I'M
til we reach the Hot Springs, located near
the base and among the foothills. These
Springs are certainly among the most valu-
able in the world for their medical properties.
There are three Of them 10 close proximity,
all OF which are shown from analysis to con-
tain different medical properties. One is
known to b. very valuable for dyspepsia
another almost an infallibIe cure for chronic
rheumatism; another equally valuable for
general debility. The temperature Of one Of
these springs is such that it will readily cook
an egg in ten minutes, and within twenty
feet from this is another sending forth a
stream of ice cold water in great profusion.
These springs were taken up last year by
some parties with q view to improve them,
but owing TO an accident which resulted in
the death Of one Of their number the project
was abandoned. Situated as they are among
a succession Of parks, surrounded by grand
scenery and aboundingin game and fish, it
will some day be not only q great pleasure re-
sort but q haven for inYalids. A fine oppor-
tunity is here presented for some enterprise
ing person to improve these Springs with
profit to himself and as a public benefactor
to all.
A few miles below the Hot Springs we
Ind the Grand Canyon, the Falls, and Rapids,
each successfully IS named, and we are now
IN the beautiful and fertile valley of Sun RiV-
er, which continues uninterruptedly to the
Missouri. We are now among the homes of
the cattle kings Of Northern Montana: who,
not like Col. Sellers, have "a cattle on a
thousand hills but who have a thousand
cattle on every bill. While cattle raising is
The principal business engaged in by these
en(erprlsing Tanchmen, yet there are several
large bands Of sheep in the valley, and CON
siderable attention is now being paid to the
raising Of thoroughbred horses.
We are not given TO idle gush,' neither
40 we wish 70 magnify or assert what can
not he substantiated by actual observation
ana experience. But we unhesitatingly say,
without fear III sue, essfnl contradiction, that
gun River valley stands to-day without 4 peer
y successful rival as a stock growing or agri-
sui'ural region, as her fifty thousand head Of
oa'.Ae roaming ut will over her vast regions
y loxurlant grass. will amply attest, and her
49,, nlled granaries will justify. This soil
= produce anything that can be grown in
= ,sof1hern States, with this difference, the
- hs1 Y q least twice as great-60 bushels of
h,,as . no uncommon yield, neither is 70
oats Or 800 bushels Of potatoes.