The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1883-02-08
THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY
THE 1ICSSELSHELL.

Lie HldlIl DIlnCIl VI lHc MuSScl
shell river takes it's rise near Cop
peropolis, in the Belt range of noun
tains, and Is fed by a network o
small tributaries from those noun
tains and from the Snowy range
A southern branch has it's source il
the Crazy mountains, and the two
streams unite at Martinsdale. From
that point for a distance of $50 tt
175 miles the river flows in a gen.
eral casterly direction, on a line
almost parallel with the Yellowstone
and at an average distance from ii
of about forty miles. At what is
called, in local parlance, the Big
Bend, the river makes a broad
sweep and flows northerly, through
''Bad Lands" to its junction with
the Missouri.
From Martinsdale to the Bend
the Musselshell drains a country
which is already attracting much
attention from stock-growers and
ranchmen, and is destined to be-
come one of the most important
regions in Montana. The chief ex-
cellence of the upper part of its
course along a distance of about
scventy-fve miles east of Martins
dale depends upon its peculiar adap-
liability for the raising of sheep.
The country is high and rolling,
and for the most part destitute of
trees, except along the river bank.
Owing to the prevalence of high
winds the snow is blown from the
ranges and thus the herbage is
always exposed so that sheep may
feed throughout the winter. The
absence of brush makes the coun-
try desirable as a sheep range,
while numerous coulees afford pro-
lection in storms. The river bot
tom is not very wide but still there
is a large amount of land available
for farming purposes. The land
now occupied by ranchmen has
been taken mostly for the purpose
of hay production and the construc-
ton of corrals. Hay grows in
abundance but it is doubtful if
farming could be prosecuted sue
on all extsnsive scale,
without irrigation. But as settle
ment advances, agriculture will GER
:ainly be carried on in conjunction
with sheep farming, as water can
be supplied with little expense.
Not more than one-fourth of the
AVAILABLE ranches along this part Of
he river bottom have been located,
md these only by ranchmen who
Ire engaged in sheep raising or are
preparing for that business.
Paris Gibson, one of the leading
OF the territory, has
described this region as being better
adapted for sheep-farming than any
country he has ever seen. In a few
iears the Nussclshell ranges will
immense flocks of sheep,
while the ranches along the river
bottom viii produce crops sufficient
or the sustenancc of the settlers,
With, perhaps, Il certain amount of
,rain to supplement the vast exports
If mutton and wool.
From about Olden's post-oflice
eastward to the Big Bend, a distance
If somewhat more than seventy |
i've miles, the character of the
country slightly changes. The val
ey is to some extent sheltered by
mountains, and as a
the snow lies deeper
III the ground and there is a hea-
Iicr growth Of brush. Throughout
his district sheep-farming gives
way to cattlc-grazing, and for that
purpose it is unexcelled. The
'anges along the slopes Of the Bull
and thence stretching
way far north Of the river are
,lothed with a heavy growth Of
lerbage, and are capable Of grazing
;ery large herds to the acreage.
This country is yet but sparsely
stocked. The river bottom widens
md being sheltered and well wood
ID, presents the.most:: desirable loca-
ions for ranches. This country
received a great accession of settlers
Turing the last summer and au-
unn, and at least one-half Of the
lvailable farming land has been
,laimed by squatters. The larger
oart Of these claimants have pro-
,eeded to improve their claims with
very intention of permanent set
lemcnt, while a few have, through
negligence, exposed their locations
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