The semi-weekly miner., 1882-05-27
The Bass Bros f~rm@S1cknees In
tho Valley-Etc. Btc.


amounted to more than the cost Of rails
ing the stuff: Men could not hire help
and engage in farming on large seal,
for the reason chat the greater their
operations the more they became in
voIved. An unusual display Of energy
in the line Of production, 1T all cs'n'-
mensurate with the capabilities Of this
beautiful valley. in former years, would
have glutted the Montana market and
made the fruits of their labor valueless.
The people of the valley, In = large ma
jority Of cases, may be said to lave
merely exist Up to the present time.
The hopelessness Of the situation seems
to have robbed many of them Of the at,-
bition to make their homes comfortable
and attractive or to get their platters
right side up for the rain Of prosperity
that was surely destined to come. II e
lethargy that has brooded over this
beautiful valley was the result Of con-
ditions which the people were powerless
to change.
While there h abundant evidence of
general apathy and a disposition to float
with the current Of affairs without any
effort to change the current, there are
many evidences Of thrift, energy, and .
h udable ambition to be surrounded
with the comforts and luxuries of lite.
There are but few more beautiful homes
anywhere than the Bass Bros. have at
the foot Of Bitter Root valley. The
small fruits Of every variety are pro-
duced here in abundance, and there arc
upon the place about three thousand ap-
pie trees, one-fourth Of which will bear
some fruit this season. This farm pro-
duced about one hundred and fifty BUSH
els Of apples last year. The Harris
brothers have fine orchards upon each
Of their places which have produced
several bushels Of fruit for several years
past. The three farms have the only
orchards that have borne any large
quantity Of fruit. They have 10 clearly
demonstrated the practicability of
fruit culture that Thousands of
trees have been brought in this
year and Get out In various parts
Of the county. John g. Robertson,
thrifty farmer living near 5tevensville,
received lot Of trees from New York
nursery last year and raised some fruit
from the trees the same year they
were transplanted. The problem Of
ftujt-growing In Bitter Root Valley has
already been demonstrated.
Bitter Root Valley proper u about
twenty-five miles long and ftom four to
nix miles wide. There are number Of
hne farms along the river from Stevens
vile to N'ssoula. Every available foot
OF farming land b being rapidly taken
up. Bitter Root River 10 . large, clear
water stream, unvexed by any mining
enterprise upon any Of ito tributaries,
and abounds In llsh. Ranches which
could not formerly be sold for what the
cost, are now in demand
1t good figures. While was In the
valley ranch With few farming inn
pIements and pigs and . house that
may do for . chicken houee, was sold
lor $500. Parties with money are now |
II this region looking for place to in
'sse' AZ one Of these pilgrim ranch !
prospeetos expressed It, farmers In the
states have to work hard to raise TWEEN.
y dolla1o' worth Of stun from land
'o'ting Us per acre, and they can raise
'tun that will bring twice - much on
ana that can be had At government
Nice. This was no visionary or rose
'o'ored view Of the situation. Oats II
low selling here 1t two and one-h.lf
enes per pound, and It 10 M trick in
sr'c"'turs to raise 1900 pounds to the
cre.
IL has always been the boast Of the
'et!en Of this valley that there is no
spot on the face Of the earth.
ne v's'tations Of eptdemics do not op-
.ste against this claim. They arc lia-
70 % sweep over any country. Bitter
'oos valley was scourged last winter .
nd spring with scarlet fever, and manv
household was brought to mourn,r.
u the los Of its little ones. M.ninoi, ,
. he made its appearance here and
'ere with fatal effect. A family that !
'cent!y arrtved from the rsilro.d
Feaght dtphtheris into the valley. Al
Aaghter OF Hon. F. c. Ives, q rentle.
'sn we'll known to many Of vonr
e1e", died from this dres,le<,
sesse to-day. She was Just on the
rye Of attractive womanhood 49, l
oorned BY . large circle of fr,end. !,
no deeply sympathixe with the .or,
wing parents.
A1ssouLA, Nay %, 1852.