The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-09-08

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Into ANAL fara,ss md iHispesds Tho valley
above BILLINGS may, 10 fsw YEAR, - =
fruitful In grain and VEGETABLES sit b aeS
attractive for Its striking and beautiful
sceneiy.
The Upper Yellowstone Valley differs
greatly In i,s characfer frsm the lower val
Icy. The bottom on which Billings stands
Is the last ample stretch OF tiIlable land .
you go toward the mouutsins. Further up
there ID . succession OF smaller bottoms
closely hemmed In by the graceful contour
or steep bills, whose tops are spassly cover
Cd with pines. Now aud then there isa
stone butte, but these monotonous sensinels
OF the lower stream grow more and more
rare. The last one remember - conspicu-
GUS for Its form stands . few miles above the
mouth Of Clark's Fork. We enamel II Ehren-
breitstein from it, resemblance to the great
fortress on the Rhine. Acolony Of farmers
from near Ripon, Wisconsin, has settled hard
by. As one progresses westward, following
the course Of the river, or striking across The
grassy bill country to avoid Ito bends and
bluff, there arc evidences OF diminished
rainfall In the beds Of streams (slready dry In
Aay), and In the dusty soil and the scantier
heritage. Only along the grest level, In the
valley hugging the river, do the ranchlnen
try TO raise crops without irrigation. On the
cattle ranches In the hills there l. no tillage
save where living spring affords little
water for garden. All the valley land 10
admirably situated for irrigation; and the
Yellowstone, fed by melting SHOWS, has LTD
highest stage in June and July, when Its
waters are needed by the thirsty soil. What
can be done for the thousands Of square
miles OF rich land between the valleys Of the
streams In ali this wild mountain country ID
> problem which the future must solve. The
soil is excellent for grain and vegetables, yet
Il can be used for nothing but cattle ranges
unless artesian wells can be made TO supply
the lack OF rainfall. s@. II q. ss@ 5@
For days journey west Of Billing The
magnificent range or the Snowy Mountains
keeps the traveller company. They loom
up ahead In the clear air Is II hardly ten
miles away, though The distance to their
nearest base Is fftys miles. Il Al the time Of
my journey their tops were thIckly shrouded
In snow; on their sides only here and there
streak Of rock was To be seen. There are
few " Alpine prospects that surpass for
grandeur and beauty the View Of this mighty
range. From the heights skirting the valley
another range can be seen TO the southwark
the Prior Mountains, . long, black, regu-
| lar ridge, with sheet of snow thrown over
its top. The second day out from Billings,
the Crazy Mountains, an isolsled group,
also of marked Alpine character, take the
place Of the Big SnowiesJ Oh The western no.
rizon. All these peaks and ridges are virgin
TO foot Of man. Some day, perhaps, there
will be cory hotels It their feet; and young
/ men with slpenstock In hand and with sum
blistered faces, and hobnailed shoes, Will
come down from their submits displaying
| In their hats, not the Eidelweiss, for this
shy, fuzzy flower IL nowhere found ON our
continent-but the wild larhspur, the blue
bell and the golden wild-pea blossoms which
love lofty and sterile places. I'll a@.& -t,@
The wild flowers of Montana are %
abundant rs those Of the Alps, and more va
ried. Choicest Of them all, because most
delicate and fragrant, Is white, star shaped,
wax like blossom which grows very close 10
the ground, aud large golden siatnens Of
which give out N odor like mingled hya-
cinth aud lily Vt the valley. The people
call IL the mountain lily. There 10 another
lily, however, aud real one yellow with
| purple stamens--that grow on high slopes In
shaded places. The yellow towering cur
rent abounds on the lower levels, and the
streams are often bordered with thtckets OF
| wild rose bushes. Dsndelions abound, but
| do not open In full, rounded perfection.
The common blue larkspur, however, 10 -
veil developed n In our eastern gardens,
and the little yellow violet which In the
States haunts the woods and copses 10 u
home I'm Montana, alike IN the moist valleys
and upon the bleak dry hill-sides. Small
| sunfoweis are plentiful, the bluebell Is
equally abundant In valleys and on noun
tain ridges, and In early June there blooms
. unique flower called the shooting star,
shaped like shuttlecock. There are > dozen
other pretty flowers, but ! could mot learn
their Names among them low-growing
mass the clumps Of which are starred over
with delicats white or purple blooms.
Ii was surprise to find the Upper Yellow
stone Valley already well settled. In the
hundred miles before the road to Boxeman
leaves the river and climbs the divide OF the
Belt Mountains one Is rarely out Of sight Of
1 ranch. The settlers came infiom the west
during the last two years, anticipating the
i building Of the railroad. They havs already
done good deal Of fencing with pine sap
lines, and their little dirt-roof log s'shacks'
are snug and warm, II not roomy. A log
| stable and corral for stock complete the
array Of farm buildings. A little land 10
cultivated close TO the river, and there ID un-
limited range for stock upon the hills. The
people are intelligent and hospitable, but
very rude In their ways Of living. Some
have drifted I'll the way from California or
| Oregon, establishing ranches In one valley
after another and selling them TO 90 TO . far
Their frontier. They will soon meet the tide
Of settlement moving up the Yellowstone
from the east. There ID only gap Of about
three hundred miles 70 be closed; and that
Is by no means vacant space, for In 1t are
the little towns Of Miles City, junction City,
Hun.ly, Coulsou, and Billings. tiaHr
iii III 9as
The Rural visitor. III fsl s
III
Bostoa Herald. t 8t
The countryman V also 4 stupendous sue