New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-21
THE UE4Rr or THE CONTINENT.

deavoring to get along without such luggage
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THE HEART or THE CONTINENT.
Montana. the largest Of all the Territories has
hitherto developed very slowly on account OF
it's isolation from rail transportation facilities.
Until lately il could only he reached by
stage Journey of many days and nights, or a
voyage on the Upper Missouri that consumed
more time than to 90 to Liverpool and back.
Rich dcposits of precious metals attracted
small and shifting population Of miners, and
few men found farming in the fertile valleys
of the streams which form the Missouri more
profitable than digging for gold and silver ana
told astonishing tales Of the productycness OF
tbc soil. Agriculture was limited, however, to
supplying the demands OF the home market,
for there was no outlet to the cities OF the Last
for surplus products. The population, which
was 10000 in 1870, had increased to $4,000
in 1850, a scanty showing for region larger
than all New England, gifted by nature with
a great variety of wcalth-pr0ducmS re-
sources.
The situation of this huge Territory Is now
entirely changed by the opening of two lines
of railroads connecting with the civilization
capital, energy and migrating movements OF
the country at large. The Utah Northern Rail
road, a branch of the Union Pacific, is running
its trains 20 Butte City and will soon be opened
to Helena The Northern Pacific has got into
the magnificent valley of the Yellowstone, is III
opcration as far as the mouth OF the Little
Rosebud, and will complete two hundred more
miles of track this season. Thus the Territory
has at last a fair chance for securing its share
of the tidal flow of population which sets
westward every spring and Is fast filling up
the vacant spaces in the centre Of the cont
nent Its advantages become a matter OF IN
tcrest at this time to thousands Of young men
who have the Western fever Ga healthful com
plant, by the way, for any stout hearted, am
bilious young fellow who does not see the way
open to gaining n sre foothold in the business
of the community where he lives and are cast
ing about for information to guide them IN the
choice of new home.
Foresceng that the time was close at hand
when Montana would be thrown open by rail-
way communication to rapid development, HE
TRIBUNE two years ago sent one OF lis most
experienced correspondents there to study Its
resources His letters told Of a large and IN
crcasine output of the precious metals, of wide
areas Of promising mining territory scarcely
explored and wholly undcvcloped, OF extensive
deposits of coal and iron, of crops of wheat,
oats and barley of almost fabulous size pro-
duccd upon the valley lands, and OF fine stock
ranges of practically limitless extent covered
with the nutritious bunch grass, which cures
itself and affords abundant winter fodder to
cattle and sheep without the labor OF cutting
and storing. The descriptions Of later travel
lers have confirmed the reports OF Our CORE
spondcnt. Of the vast field still open to set
Element in the Far West, there can be no doubt
that Montana is one Of the most attractive
sections. Leaving out of account its mineral
wealth. its agricultural resources, scarcely
touched rs yet are sufficient to support large
popnlaiion. In the valleys Of the Madison, JEFF
felson, Gallatin and MlssOula Rivers, and the
smaller streams tributary to them, sixty BUSH
els of oats to the acre, or forty OF wheat, are
not an extraordinary yield and the local papers
frequently mention fields of wheat producing
seventy bushels to the acre, and OF oats thrcsh-
iny out the enormous quantity OF 100 bushels.
The average wheat yield to the acre sown in the
entire Territory last year is given as thirty
bushels. Formerly the bottom lands only were
thought worth cultiyating, but now excellent
crops are raised upon the " bench" or first
plateau lands along the Yellowstone. The
area of grazing land is said 10 be almost cock
tcnsive with that portion of the Territory lying
east of the Rocky Mountain system. As a rule,
cattle are left to shift for themselves the year
round and except in very severe winters do
not suffer much. Prudent stOckmen, however
provide sheds and II supply OF hay as pre-
caution against heavy snowfalls and severe
cold. With the shipping facilities now afforded
by the new railroads, the profits of raising
grain and cattle, and OF wool growing, will be
much larger than heretofore, and there appears
TO be room for an indefinite expansion OF these
industries.
The extent of Montana will be understood
by Eastern readers not familiar with the West
ern country when we say that the distance
across il from east to west is equal to that
from New York City to Cincinnati, and that It's
width from north to south is nearly twice that
of PENNSYLVANIA. -Four States as large as Ohio
could be carved out of it and still there would
be n considerable remnant left. The western
half of its surface is mountainous, and only the
valleys arc available for settlement The
eastern portion consists chiefly Of rolling grassy