The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28
THE HOLIDAY RIVER PRESS.

This last season the above figures were real
lied in several instances, and in most case
without artificial irrigation. One enterpris
ing ranchmen raised, last season, $50 pound
of potatoes from 81 pounds OF seed (abcu
LOO per acre.. You who are toiling in YOU
hazel brush patches and in your worn ou
clay banks and fence corners, how does Thu
look to you? Not only does the soil produce
such prodigious results, but it is a fact. tina,
all kinds of vegetables grown on this valley
have q greater degree Of esculence than the
same article grown in the States. Sun River
valley is capable of producing enough to
supply forty thousand people, were it proper
ly cultivated. Oats sell readily at &c. per
pound, wheat &c., potatoes Sc, getc., and a
ready market for all that is grown. 1t costs
less in fact here to raise the same amount
than it does in the States, which makes farm
ing here SO much more profitable.
The government reservation on which Ft.
Shaw now stands is about ten miles square.
occupying the best part Of the valley. It
will soon be thrown open to settlement. and
will then afford good farms 10 more than
fifty families, Besides this there are a good
many desert land claims that have been i'm
properly laid that will il due course Of time
be held for cancellation, leaving again a con-
siderable portion Of the very choicest selec-
tons for actual settlement. Aside from this
there are still many desirable locations in the
valley untaken, at or near the mouth Of the
river.
Butter making is beginning to occupy the
attention Of q large class Of the farming
community. There is no country where bet
ter butter can be made than in Montana, and
no better place in the Territory than Sun
River. 1t always finds a ready market at
SOC. per pound. The pure water of this To-
cality, together with the peculiar atmosphere,
enables the butter maker to keep it without
any trouble during the summer months. Thus
the farmer is enabled to put his summer max
ing upon the market in winter, when it sells
readily at from 6Oc. to 75c. per pound.
From Sun River Crossing, for ten miles
down the river, you pass through q thickly
settled community. Here more than else
where the people are paying attention to
farming. Here you are reminded Of 9 much
older settled country than it really is by the
fine and lastly arranged houses, together
with the we'll built and formidable fences,
which compare favorably with old and thick
~ settled portions of the States. Houses
and fences are more cheaply built here than
in any portion of Northern Montana. The
is RATED down the Misrouri and fenc
ing down Sun River, both from the noun
tains where timber is b undant. Coal also
abounds in large and Well-defned veins from
a point about the Crossing for fifteen miles
down the river on either bank. But few
veins as yet have been opened it is, how
ever, Of a superior qualify. When railroads
are built through here these vast coal fields
will unquestionably be opened.
The survey of the Utah and Northern r.
r. crosses Sun River near its mouth. The
Northern Pacific have also surveyed 4 branch
from Helena to Benton, crossing the river
about six miles above the former.
There are two school districts in the valley |
with good school houses, III which school is
zept up al the year. Catholic and Protestant
churches are each here represented, the for
ner having a house of their own at the Cross
ng, and the latter occupying the different
school houses.
Sun River Crossing, 9 thriving little town
bout twenty-five miles from the Missouri
liver, is located where the Benton and Helena
DAD crosses. II has two general stores that
re doing q thriving %bnsiness,a produce store,
blacksmith shop, livery st,.ble and a first
lass hotel. With the natural advantages |
lready provided and the further prospects
f additional land being opened to settle
nent, we think Sun River presents to-day a
GOD opportunity to many Of the ente1pria-
emigrants that are contemplating settle
nent in the Territory. They can rest assur-
dthat they will be welcomed BY as generous
nd hospitable o people as can be found in
Written for the HOLIDAY RIVER PRESS.
)UR AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
he Numerous Valleys Of Choteau
County,
nd the Indreement they Offer to Immi-