The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-21


| baye already referred to the immense
area Of Dakola-second only to Texas
and to It's immense wheat fields aud stock
ranges. In like manner, save IS to grain
raising, might speak OF Montana. 1t en-
braces an area nearly as large as Dakota.
It averages 275 miles from north to south,
and $50 from east to west, stretching
through twelve degrees OF longitude aud
four parallels Of latitude between the 45th
and 10th degrees. OF the $4,000 900 acres
contained within its limits two-ifths are
mountainous and three-ffths are valleys or
plains. AS yet have only traversed the
eastern half ii the territory. It embraces
an area OF 10000 square miles. II is diyi'
ded into three belts OF nearly equal size
by the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers.
The ground is largely covered with a rich
growth OF bunch grass, which makes the
region an excellent stock range. Contrary
TO nv expectations there is an almost en-
tire absence ofheayy. or valuable timber
country. There Is good deal OF cotton
wood along the water courses but not mu0h
else. It Is not an agricultural country and
never can be, except by irrigation, on &C.
count OF the scarce and irregular rRinfalls,
but as pasture land for cattleand sheep 1t
has great future indeed, for the grass is
largely perennial, aud where it Is not It can
be cut and saved during the
proper season and fed In the
winter during the period OF storms and
drifts. Twas told by General Barnes, the
passenger agent Of the Northern Pacific,
Who accompanied our excursion Though
out, that half million cattle were tthis
time feeding in Montana, 20 pei cent Of
which would be shipped to market this
year. There are also already over mil
lion head OF sheep in the territory produc.
Ing over. 100000 pounds of wool. And
his latter business, for which tho country
sesms highly adapted, is rapidly on the ins
cresse. There Is no doubt that next to
Caliiorria and Texas the Territory OF Nom
tans will be the great sheep region OF the
United States. As showing how rapidly
the countrs. Is developing under the stimu-
lus OF the great railroad over which we
have been travelling i may note that the
assessed valuations last year we're over
$3S, 600, 900, which was an increase upon
the previous year Of over s., 900, 600. And
the estimated increase for this year Is 30
per cent, owing largely TO the naar .com-
pletion OF the Northern Pacific and the
unprecedented edimmigration. The ptoductof
The mines last year was $4,000, 900 and dur
ing the last twenty years The total output
has amounted to over $40 600, 900.
II Ia important TO remember that the
Territory OF Montana was only organic I'd
In 1864, aud that prior to 1881 there were
no seltlements. So you eau Aee what the
building OF this great railroad has done
for Il. Those who Rssail,is land grants
should not lose sight et the yall.H it has
communicated to other&ise vaiGtIess pub
lie domains. and howgreatly 1t has eahsI-
ced the alternate sections retained by the
Government along iis line,
This much by way Of prt!nln 10 some
account Of our iip to the great Yellowstone
Park, 4
~ YELLOWSTONE PARK.
Yesterday one week sg, We arrived In
this park. We lei The mSin line Of the
railroad att town called Liyings.on-a
town Oi sven months ekls'eueu and al
ready 1870 inhabitants. 1t is situated at
the gateway OF tho sh-called SPtradise Val.
lev, wherethe Yellowstone turns eastward
around the loot hills OF the Rocky Noun
tains and il1wson to us Junction with the
Missouri, 800 miles belgw Fort litnt q. at
I.ivirgilon our special cans were attached
10 an engine on the Park division OF the
Northern Pacific, completed ftr distance
Of AZ miles Atlho ind al the AilroAd we
took stsges Is miles for thrpark. The first
lew miles down Paradise Valley b. fore We
entered the Ilebouchin9 canyon out Of
which the Yellowstone flows on It's more
peaceful course away ir,M lhe uHtains
over tho plsiIst TO llis AIisSoIr', sEI Au at
.sactiye agricultural pic,nre Uwing To the
lacltiiits ioritrg ton. N, wnnuCr settlers
iarsd % years sg1 10 brave the s~.rmiug
Indians for tho sake of taking up hnmes
and RANCHES in this valley Findii = water
ABUNDANT aud easily tn Es ,iSpeHue,tby
mealis ni trenches al illfoligii Iiis valley,
and finding that the capacity OF Tbs land
was thus hiades available for grett crops OF
wheat, oats, barley, potstnes and al' sorts
Of garden yrg tables, ami 6niing aisi that
the ahrlrer lSr stock amit the foot hills
was ail that 6oall BE- desired, aud that tue
native grass was made tBnip, deep, rich
and strong by water, they here stskf of
tIhtir claims ard hnilt themselves rude
hoInts N. . solitary land, n ", ut this late
day, they hays theIr reward, and 1t Is hard
To say how much iirIr lands arr worth. 0l
all the localities | have seen here ID the
fur Northwest, | cay give me homo and 9
ranch In Paradise Valley.
II was 8 o'clock sunday evening the 9th
when We reached the end of the track, ant