Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-23

~
O fmy wife,s, as to the climate and the
desirability Of the place as q residence. /
found her loyal to the town and coun-
try, loyal to the core of her true heart to
her neighbors and their opinions OF their
new homes; but while she spoke Of the
delicious cool nights of the short sum-
mers, she admitted that the mosquitoes
were large, numerous and savagely
voracious - that while it might
be safe, it was far from being pleasant
to be caught out from behind a screen
after the sun had withdrawn his scorch-
ing rays. While praising the beauties
of the dry and bright winter days, she
admitted there were too many Of them
and that some of them were too cold to
be entirely agreeable; that the winds,
unrestrained by mountain barriers and
woodlands swept with a force and an
abandon which the average Western
PENNSYLVANIA and Eastern-O hioan but
poorly relished. All winter long the air
is dry, crisp and bracing. The days r
bright with sunshine and the fall of
snow is not excessive. Cloudy days are
rare, and rainy days are not seen here.
1t is a paradise for consumptives and
for sufferers from neuralgia and rheu-
matism. Last winter, an open N
everywhere, was no exception as to its
dryness and brightness. Narrowing and
preparations for spring crops went on
every month during the winter, except
March which month vas disgustingly
blustery. The rainfall is in SUMMER
while the crops are growing. Wheat,
oats and barley are usually sowed in
May and harvested in August. The
days are hot, nights cool, rainfall
usually sufficient to stimulate vege-
tation TO the most rapid and
rank growth. Potatoes are planted
in May and harvested in September;
and bigger ones and more of them than
ever grew on the same area on the Ohio
river bottoms. Corn does fairly well,
about as it does in Michigan and New
York. The farmer plants, harvests and
markets his crops within about four
months ofthe year, and he hasthe other
eight months for improvements, social
duties and other business or labors.
While it is true sharp winds OCCASION
ally sweep this country, making mala-
ria impossible, it is beyond the borders
of the cyclone which is generated alone
where the hot and cold areas meet in
the more southerly climes.
Some sections of North Dakota are
not naturally well watered. Every
where abundant water can be procured
by digging q moderate depth, but in the
Red river valley and some other por-
tons of the Territory, the water is more
or less impregnated With alkali to an eX-
tent to make it Objectionable, but l be-
lieve not unhealthy. About jamestown
the water is free, clear and rapid run
ming in the streams. So of much of the
Territory.
But i must say a word about Mon
Its eastern part is a series of vast
i~nterspersed with beautiful val
Like Dakota, it is almost treeless.
Along the Yellowstone, Tongue, Pow
der and other rivers, there are occasional
of Cottonwood. Up toward the
headwaters of some of these streams
there are pine forests. A species of coal
"a Ignite, which, when exposed to the
weather, soon dissOlves into a sort of
black mari in appearance, softer and
muddier than our West Virginia ''slack"
is found in many parts, and makes a
very good fuel for domestic and all or
steam purposes. 1t is too light
to be used alone for locomotive work,
but is mixed with two parts good coal.
The portion of Montana which 1 Wis.,
tied - the Yellowstone Valley - is
warmer than the portion Of Dakota ira
versed, and vegetation was probably
two weeks further advanced. 1t is,
therefore, better adapted for stock
grazing. The soil is not so black,
neither does it retain the moisture so
we'll, as in much of Dakota. And yet
the grasses grow with greater luxuri-
ance, and wheat, oats and barley do
we'll, and all root crops find this a veri-
table garden. Igathered more evidence
of the adaptibility of this climate to the
culture of vegetables ("garden truck')
on a visit to Fort Keogh, near Miles
City, than / gathered at any other
point. General BRIsBIN very kindly
gave me q great deal of informa-
ton upon the subject; and CAPTAIN
ERvERS--who, by the way, is IN, Ohio
man-tOOk me in an ambulance to an
Indian village, whose inhabitants are
under his instruction in the peaceful
arts of agriculture. l there saw the ma
tives of these plains, dressed in cos
TUNES made of the skins of wild ami
mails, occupying the tents Tor tippes) of
the aboriginals, with the small fires in
the center upon which the corn is
parched and the Buffalo jerk" is cook
ed when it is cooked at all, which is
seldom) forthe frugal meal. But l saw
also, the garden of this fraction of a
tribe who have agreed to try the exper-
ment of becoming civilized; saw corn
and potatoes raised by them, and heard
stories of the wonderful size and deli
ciouS taste of the melons and canta-
loupes which they cultivated and mar
keted. Some of the ladies of the Fort,
wives of the officers, assured me that
they never ate such melons in the
States as grew in the alluyial soil of
Montana. (
The dryness of the atmosphere in win
ter and the comparatively even temper
allure, together with the richness of the
grasses which mature and cure into a
valuable bag filled with ripened seeds
rich in nutrition, make this q favoraite