The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-03-01
HOMES FOR THOUSANDS.

"Traveler" in another column, tells US
how but a few years ago it WAS gener lily
supposed hat the immense area Ut territory
west of Minnesota was a barren waste, un-
fitted for agricultural purposes or any Of the
ends for which man appropriates the public
domain. Even a dozen years ago what is
o known as the great wheat fields Of Da-
kota was esteemed a bleak. unproductive
prairie, where the aggressive west bound i'm
migrant would not think Of 'squattiDg."
But what a change has since taken pl zee !!
Dakota has to-day a population Of 300, 900
souls and her wheat fields Che desert OF q
dozen years agn) are famous the world over.
The broad nolling prai'ies as well as the VII
leys of that Territory are now valuable and
produce annually thousands of bushels of
the cereals.
This same transformation is rapidly taking
place III Northern Montana. II is now ouly
in its first stages, but already a marks, d
change ia apparent. Two years ago ranches
in this section were few and far betweeD;
now our smiling valleys are dotted with the
homes Of hundreds of stalwart settlers, pros
pering beyond their most sapguine expecta-
ton. Tiliing the soil was then but an exper.
iment and few indeed were confident of sue
cess; now it is proven beyond peradventure
that our valleys and even the uplands can
not be excelled in the world for the prOduc-
ton of wheat, oats, barley and vegetables OF
every kind. The soil is richer aud stronger
than that of Dakota and will produce on an
average one-'hird more grain or vegetables.
The average Yield Of wheat n Choteau coun-
tv the past wear was IS bushels and of oats
As to so bushels. The yield Of potatoes was
such that il We gave the average no one but
a Montanian would believe 1t. And such
potatoes! Their EQUAL Can not be found else
where under the sun. The won iertul pro-
ductiveness of our lands having thus been es'
tablished il is not a matter Ut surprise thai
our Deputy U. s. Surveyors are kept busy
and that land is beirg taken up 10 all parts
of the county at q rapid rate.
Nowhere in the vast Northwest are better
opportunities offered the settler than in this
section. Thousands Of acres in the valley
of the Missouri, Teton, Shonkin, Highwood
Belt and other sire ANS are yet open for Sc
Element and may be taken up by homestead
pre-emption or upon any of the liberal term
offered hy the government. Farms OF tn
most desirable character can thus be Obtaine'
within a few miles of Benton, the best mar
ket in the Territory and the future metropn
lis Of the New Northwest. A fDuring mil
will be quilt at Benton this season, thus open
ing TO the farmers q market for their whea
and at q renumeraiive price. Other mill
will be put in operation as our agriculture
interest advance, the supply OF Il ,ur rtqnire
at this market alone (most of which
shipped from the States amounting 10 man
thousand barrels annually. There is Away
agreat demand for cats at Benton, the pric
varying from two to three cents a pound
The zane is true of all other products OF ID
soil-and as the crops are Invariably larg
and prices good what is there to prevent tn
farmer from being prosperous and con
tenteI.