The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-01-04
HOW TO e HERE.

We have been shown a letter received by a
gentleman in this city, recently, in which it
is stated that seventeen families from one
neigborhood in Missouri are coming to Ben
ton in the spring. Among numerous ques-
tons in reference to the country, it was asked
''What is the best route to Benton q
We nave been requested to reply, and can
do..so for the benefit Of these parties, and all
others who may be interested, in very few
words.
Parties coming to Benton or Northern
Montana early in the season-from April un-
til the first of September-win find it to their
interest to take the river route. The expenses
of the trip are scarcely one-half as great as
by rail. Last season the fare from Bismarck
to Benton, frst-class, was $40, and second
class 1926. It will probably be the same the
ensuing year. Add to this the railroad fare
from your own locality to Bismarck, and you
have the entire cost Of the trip. BY railroad
and stage. via the Union Pacific and Utah &
NertEGEl ~nuld require very close 6gur-
bug tn 2t14 Ill oe travelling expenses be-
low $1z5. N adsltlon 70 the fact that the
river route is tne cheaper, it can also be said
that it is by far the most pleasant. It will
require a little more time to make the jour-
ney, but the fatigue and annoyance of travel
by railroad and stage is avoided. The trip
from Bismarck to Benton is usually made in
from ten to twelve days. Again, freight
rates by the river are not as high by one
third. If household or other goods are
brought along they can be laid down at the
levee here from any town in the West at the
rate of two dollars per hundred pounds-an
item of considerable interest to families who
contemplate moving to Montana.
In this connection it is in order to say
something of the opportunities that are here
offered to immigration. The country sur
rounding Benton presents every possible ad-
vantage for either stock raising, farming or
mining. The cattle and sheep interests of
this county already represent more than a
million dollars, and there is plenty Of room
and excellent opportunities for others to en-
SdSo III ZIG UuoIuceS. Sdttic leu UPON Tue
ranges winter and summer alike, and never
receive the least care from their owners at
any season Of the year, and our grass fed
steers bring as high prices in the Chicago
market as the average corn fed cattle Of the
Western States. Sheep husbandry has proven
a great success in this and adjoining counties,
the climate praea and other natural advanta
ges being just such as are adapted for sue
G essful wool growing. The agricultural re-
sources of the country tributary to Benton
are'almost without limit. Thousands of
acres of the most desirable farming lands lie
unoccupied, and can be taken up under the
or pre-emption act. These valleys
are not excelled in the United States in pro-
ductiveness. The average yield of wheat in
this county is thirty. five bushels, and of oats
torty-fve bushels. Potatoes and all kinds
of vegetables grow as they do nowhere else.
land, fsvorably located, can be had on
The liberal terms tffered by the government,
and IN q very few years from this time every
acre of it will be valuable.
To the seventeen families" who contem-
plate coming to Montana, and to all others
who desire TO leave the crowded States and
grow Up with a new country, we would say
hat the country tributary to Benton offers
better opportunities than can be found else
ia the West.