The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1882-09-28
OUR VALLEY.
Rev. J. B. Tuttle,ot Minneapolis, Expresses
bis Opinion Of it in Communi-
cation to the Herald,
Agricultural Resources Extensive Cattle
and Sheep Raising The Yel-
lowstone River.
The National Park = Its Attractions
Wonders Of Nature Beautiful
Beyond Description.

Wonders Of Nature Beautiful
Beyond Description.
To the Editor of the Billings Herald.
BILLINGS, NJ. T., Sept. 26, 1882
DEAR SIR-You ask for my impressions
Of Montana and especially of the Yellow
stone valley and National Park which l
have just visited. The opinions Of ''Pil-
grim," as you call a foreigner, on this
country, can have but little value, and it is
for that reason perhaps, that I am more
writing to give them. have seen only the
surface of things along the way, and it
would be piece of objectionable presump-
ton to suppose that my judgment of the
Yellowstone valley, of its agricultural re-
sources, of its future possibilities, of its
most eligible sites for towns, of its most
favorable points for permanent residences
and for profitable investments, is beyond
modification. Even the shrewdest, wisest
observer is liable to serious mistakes in
these matters.
This l will say: came to the Yellow
stone valley with great expectations as to
its fertility and its beauty and these have
been fully realized. Perhaps 1 was not
prepared for seeing the earth so parched,
SO DEVOID of green, SO generally in need Of
irrigation, but the cured grasses seem abun-
dant and capable of supplying indefinate
numbers of cattle, sheep and horses with
both summer and winter food. If the
focks and herds can find food for themselves
in this valley and on the adjoining hills,
this is an incalculable advantage over
eastern States. It seems almost certain to
me that Montana is to be unexcelled in
stock-raising facilities. 1t is likely to sup
ply large part of the world with beef and
mutton. And no better vegetables are
grown anywhere than here.
My friend, Mr.. Paris Gibson, genuine
son Of New England. with plenty of love
still left in his heart for his native State,
Maine, now resident of Fort Benton,
drove his own team from here to the Park,
and l heard him inquire at every place for
Montana, Gallatin valley, oats, and seemed
sadly disappointed, and not a little indig-
nant, when put off with the light, gaunt
oats imported from the states. 1t surprised
me to be told that more wheat, and equally
good, can be raised to the acre, in many
parts of this territory, than in the Red
River valley. Well, if all these signs are
not delusive, if what one now sees with his
own eyes, and what one hears from per-
fcctly trustworthy sources are taken as q
basis of estimate, Montana will at least
hold rank with any portion of our great
country.
Mr.. Gibson, whose opinion is authority
on this subject, (as he has been four years
in the territory, and has great opportunities
for observatory says that no other country
is so favorable as this for poor Inen, men Of
small means. Young men with only their
hands and brains to start with, if they are
temperate, honest, Industrious brave, ener
gctic, pcrsevering, can be sure in few
years of competence if not of wealth.
Why not? Land is unlimited and the
means for possessing it, temporarily at
least, until one is able to buy it are as easy as
the most impecunious could wish. With n
few sheep, or cattle, or horses to begin
with, he can "round up his thousands in a
few years. Of course 1t all involves hard
ships, rough living, frugal fare, but life is @
battle everywhere; the chances Of winning,
however, seem to me more certain here, out
on the ranches, than in the cities. Afte-
all is the suffering greater, on the whole. in
new country like this, than in the large
eastern cities? We pity the pioneer. Are
not many who remain behind, tied to small
clerkships, living in Ae suIless cellars and
rickcty garrets of New York, quite as pita
ble2 One has plenty Of room and good
air out here at anyrate. The ssying hsS
been somewhat jocularly.used Of late, but
the great Horace Greely coined wise sd,
vice when he said "Go West, young man"
These words have not lost their appropri-
ateness yet.-But did not intend to preach
have followed. going and returning, the
banks of the Yellowstone. six or seven
hundred miles, more or less and am quite
in love with the rive-. 1t is noble stream.
banks, windings and rspids2 Its grand
Falls, which forn, one ofthe numerous sitrsc
tons of the Park, ought not dissppoint one
who has come across the ocean to see them.
They are not to be compared with Niagara.
Of course, nor with any other falls PEI
haps; they have character Of their owE.
Switzerland hes nothing like them. The
Yosemite is very different. The yellow
stone falls and canon combined present s.
variety of attractions which arc difficult 70
describe; indeed they transcend the power
of human Language. One finds here {.
unique combination of grandeur and beauty,
The inGiscribable coio1ing Of rocks, and
banks, and crags. and slides, amazed lis IS
much as their height and depth and form
will say nothing Of the Geysers except
that they did not dissppo;nt us. The
National Park has not yet received the at
tention it deserves. The railroad will soon
introduce it to the world. Thousands upon
thousands will rush there to admire and
wonder. ''Wonderland" is no misnomer.
There are some things in the manage
mcnt of the Park to find fault with; it does
not seem to be managed at all. rather. 1t
is left too much to the mercy of unthought-
full, or ignorant, or wicked visitors. The
springs and geysers are marred by an APP
parently unchecked vandalism. The wan
dering campers build fires which they do
not extinguish, which spread and do inn
lnense damage. Thousands of acres OF
meadow and forest have been thus careless
ly or wantonly burned over this season.
This is an unspeakable shame. We heard
of placards warning visitors against leaving
fires unextinguished, but saw none; certain
" they are of no avail. The superinten-
dent lacks the power to act in this matter,
or he is aslsecp. The Park should have an
active police force. If things go on in this
way few years longer, the Park will be
half ruined