Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-10-20


from the pent up life OF driving in the
French Town here we
met with the friendly Moos Creek Doc
who spun us many long yarns about
cheap sheep down on Grasshopper, but
it made no difference to US il Grasshop
per is brin, full of sheep we did not
intend to retrace our steps by any
means, or upon any account. French
Town is small vile, situated in the
valley of the Missoula or Bitter Root
and principally owned by one man Mr..
De Marsh
From here we pass up the valley to,
the town of Missoula, which lies on
the M,ssoula river q short distance
above its junction with tho Bitter
Root, the two forming joint valley
which is called the E!dorado of Mon
tana. Since arriving here We have
taken horse back ride up the Bitter
Root vale, Of about forty.Gve miles
passing through thsiittle town Stew
envillc we suppose was not named af-
ter the martyr Stevens, of boiling oil
fame, but pc. haps Of some man who is
less note worthy. Here at the hotel
while in conversation With the propri-
ctor the subject turned upon The dis
appearance of the rutls of earlier days,
when we told Of one who received 80
! buckshots from the hands of another,
when listener put in and asked it il
had killed him in a manner which
plainly bespoke derision and also told
the existance Of m re tongue thar
brains on the part Of the speaker
This is quite fertile little valley, bu'
the agriculturalist has to irrigate hi,
field in order to insure the full crop
Happening to be at the ranch Of Mr.
Humble while he was threshins
we had splendid opportunity Of pro
curing accurate information Us to thu
yield Of wheat in this locality. From
~ acres he threshed 2lG7 bushel ant
told US in reliable manner that th'
average yield OF oa,s would be abou
|, so bushels in this valley this season
But until Washington Territory fail
this may not be cen idercd the grea
grain field Of the north west.
Now we pass on the grazing interes
/. and in thus doing we cannot hol'
Washington Territory as being so pre-
eminently superior to Mon'ana in this
as in her agricultural advantages. Th
numerous grass covered hills of thi
country can but awake to thoughtfu
mems ideas of her dvanta2es over he
sister territories in the int rest @
stock raising. 1t is hut short di'
tance from here to the head of navigs
). ton on the Mis ssouri river, cons 'guen
: ly it does not require much time
e send her herds Of fat cattle and shee
o into the eastern market where the
y can he sold for q round price at an
:. time. But there seems to be conside
$ able tardiness in tho wool growing il
t terest which some day must be mac
1 one Of the pr;ncil q sources Of revent
r in this country.
Il The N. P. r. r. destined to pr
# duce new era In he way Of develo
G ing the vari )us interest, of this coul
e try however it cannot make many vel
5, great changes in her mineral product
r Along this Bitter Root valley on eth
W side have been (of late) discoveri
e made of lodges which evidently a
\. destined to yield abundant returns 4
C the labor invested. 1t has fallen to o.
r, lot to examine some of the specimen
Is which seems to be heavily laden wi
= some kind of mineral. but as yet, the
is but li'tle known a. to what kind
mineral doth here predominant.
'e CROOKED BILL.