The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1883-03-15


have been cut to the acre, while the
apparently more moist lands near
the river have in no single instance
yielded half that quantity. Lime
stone and coal Of good quality
abound in incxhaustiblc quantities
in the surrounding hills, and indi-
cations Of valuable mineral depos-
it's have been found in various
places. The late Mr.. Edward
Fawkes, last summer disc overed a
small crevicc of galena and silver
bearing ore within distance of five
miles of Billings, and though not
in sufficient quantities to justify
working, it is an encouraging sur
face indication Of what deeper and
more thorough exploration may
develope.
Extensive cattle yards have been
established at Billings and large
numbers Of cattle were driven here
last summer from the great ranges
of the Snowy Mountains and the
Musselshell for shipment to the
markets Of the cast.
The mines of the judith and
Clark's Fork, when they are finally
opened, will be tributary to this
region, and the ore and bullion
from these districts will be frcightcd
to Billings as the nearest point on
the road for shipment.
Passing cast from Billings VIC
cross a high plateau, reaching with
in a few miles a small track of val
ley lands known as the Huntley
bottoms, go called after the little
town Of Huntley situated at its
eastern end. It contains some cx-
ccllent farming lands, and is sur
rounded by a fine grazing region.
Crossing the river at Huntley we
enter the great Crow reservation.
This reservation extends from the
Boulder river to a meridian line in
tcrsccting the Yellowstone twenty
miles west Of the mouth of the
Rosebud, and from the mid-channel
of the Yellowstone to the Wyom-
ing line, an extent of territory rs
large as the State Of Pennsylvania.
1t is undoubtedly the finest portion
of the Yellowstone valley and has
within its vast area the clements of
a future empire. Its timber, water
and grass are of the best quality,
its valleys are broad aud fertile and
the mountain districts are covered
with pine and cedar, and are rich
in mineral. Amid its hills and
gulchcs the presence Of the wild
hop, the grape and the plum tree
would indicate it to be within the
fruit zones, and in many places in
the main valley of the Yellowstone
the strong, vigorous growth of tim
Der, brush and native grasses, prom
isc the possibility of successful
cultivation of crops without irriga-
ton. 1t is to be hoped that the
day is not far distant when this
splendid region shall be opened to
settlement.
Forty miles from Huntley on the
north side Of the Yellowstone is
Junction City. 1t is busy little
place supported principally by its
trade with the Crow Indians.
Seven miles below, an elevated
plateau intervening, is the head of
Pcasc bottom, o tract of bottom
lands ten miles in length by two
Or three iu bredth. 1t contains
thirty or forty fine farms in excel
lent cultivation. Opposite it is the
Big Horn with its own broad val
ley, and those of its tributaries,
stretching to the mountains of
Wyoming. A very essential differ
cncc in the two sides of the Yellow
stone consists in the fact that the
streams upon the south side take
their rise in mountains, generally
contain clear water and are perpe-
tual, while those upon the north
drain the great mauvaises tcrrcs
and arc little else than chains
of muddy, stagnant pools, their
waters a solvent Of bad lands, rivers
only in name, save when at certain
seasons they carry the waters from
melting SHOWS and rain foods. On
the south side, the Big Horn, the
Rosebud, the Tongue and Powder
rivers, and on the north the Froze-
to-Death, Big and Little Porcupines
and Ten-day creek, present these
characteristic differences in q very
remarkable degree. All the river
valleys Of tho south side are dis