The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-12-03
BENTON TO FORT CONRAD.
A Great Cow Country With Plenty of 9th
er Resources to Insure Its Rapid
DEVELOPMENT.

A trip from Fort Benton to the upper
Marias region, by way of Fort Conrad,
is rather a lonesome one, and it strikes
the wayfarer, ere he is out a day, as a
country Of generous scope and magni-
ficent distances. The first ranch on the
road is that Of Capt. Narcisse Valleaux,
at the crossing of the Teton, twenty-five
miles from Fort Benton. The captain,
who is a prominent cattle king of the
Teton, has a fine place here, and with
the development of the upper coun-
try so near at hand, it will be one Of
the most important stations in the coun-
ty. Already it is a good source of rev.
enue to the owner, as scarcely a night
passes that he has not several guests.
A post office called Valleaux has been
established here and service is had from
Choteau once q week. After the first Of
next month, we believe, service will be
put on between Fort Benton and Fort
Conrad, on the Marias, via Valleaux,
so that the residents of the Teton will
have direct mail service from this city
once a week, and the settlers of the up
per Marias the same. This will be a
convenience that will be appreciated
by many who heretofore have had no
way Of getting mail, except at this city,
a distance of fifty to one hundred miles
From Nelse's the road takes US over
the long stretch of rolling prairie be-
tween the Teton and Marias, a distance
Of about fifty-five miles, to Fort Conrad.
The only habitation to be seen on this
long road is "Froggy's'' cabin at Pen
d. Orielle coulee and as this was temper
arily deserted the ride was all the more
lonesome. The road is through a sec
ton not very well watered but the grass
is fine and the cattle seer were trolling
fat" This is certainly q wonderful
grazing CONTEMPLATING in the entire
scope of upper Marias country, on both
sides of the river-and when the reserva-
ton is opened it will rapidly fill up with
cattle, sheep and horses and be a source
of infinite wealth to Choteau county.
Several thousand head of cattle have
crossed the Marias to the reservation
side, attracted by the luxuriant grasses
that grow there, and they are certainly
having a picnic Of it.
Fort Conrad, otherwise known as
Kipp's post, is in the Marias valley, at
the Fort Macleod crossing. This was
first an Indian trading post, and the
remnant of the old fort and stockade
still remains, a reminder Of the stirring
incidents Of this trade in the sixties and
later. Mr.. Kipp has suppianted the log
huts with fine frame buildings. and be-
sides a large store building and man.
moth barn has a neat residence almost
The bottom is a beautiful
one, a large portion of which is under
fence and this vear i nreaunpd 2 fine |
crop Of grain. Che water from Dry
Fork can easily be brought upon the
ranch, and work upon the ditch is now
in progress.
Fort Conrad, we believe, is destined
to be the most important business point
on the Marias. 1t is a natural trade
center for an immense section of coun-
try, and the day Of its rapid advance
ment will date from the opening of the
reservation. Mr.. Kipp is ever now n
a considerable trade, which is
constantly growing with the settlement
of the valleys adjacent.