Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-05-22
MONTANA.
The Great Country Of the Glo-
rious Northwest.
Its Unlimited Natural Advantages for
Agricultural and Stock Growing
Purposes.Climate, Mines, &c.


For several years attention has been
drawn to this territory by its vast OK
tcnt and its wealth in varied forms.
1t has been the goal for thousands of
good citizens who have made homes
and fortunes hore. It's vast area can
be comprehended from the following
figures: 1t extends $50 miles from
east to west and nearly 800 from north
to south, embracing about 10000
square miles or nearly 100000, 900
acres.
It contains 100000 acres Of fer
tile farming lands, or more than an
entire Eastern State. Itcontains 30
100000 acres Of unexcelled grazing
lands, II pasture field alone greater
than tho great prairie state Of ILL
nois. It's surface is underlaid with
stratum after stratum of coal. It's
forests cover 14,000,O00 of acres and
its mines for the first seventeen years
yielded $1G4, 100000,
MoNTANAs MOUNTAINS.
Montana in accord with its name has
20, 600, GOO acres covered by mountains,
but: interspcrsed with valley and
bench. The highest passes usually
have altitude of about G,OO0 feet.
RIVERS AND VALLEYS
For harmonious blending,,of mount
ain and valley, lake and river, the
whole region is scarcely equaled on
the globe. Montana presents the fin
est river system in the world. Here
almost within stones throw are the
founts of two great rivers which emp
ty into either ocean after furnishing
the mems for navigation for thousands
Of miles, supplying untold water pow
or and draining and nourishing nu-
mcrous valleys which are wider, more
extensive and possessing lower alti-
tudc than any in the Rocky Mountain
chain north of New Mexico, except
ing alone the valley of the great Salt
Lake. On the Aanking mountains are
to be found pastures Of thick grass,
which curing as it grows, provides in
winter, feed as nutritious rs oats.
CLIMATE.
The equatorial current makes its
genial influence felt even east Of Mon
tana's eastern border. People who
confuse Moniana's northern bounds
with tho Arctic circle will be surpris-
ed to know that it has the same la:i
tude ~ Paris, where all the fruits and
cereals Of the temperate zone attain
their greatest perfection.
The Missouri river opens regularly
1T Helena Il month earlier each spring
than ut Omaha, 500 miles further
south, and cattle s,lbsist all winter on
the natural herbage and without shell
ter, 400 miles north of Sun River in
the British Provinces. Records show
that in recent ycnrs there have been
254 days of perfect sunshine at Hell
cna, while Boston averaged only lSl,
and Buffalo and Chicago III fair
days. At Sun River there has been
for the past six years 20l fair days
each year, OF 100 more than Boston
boasts. There is during portion of
May and June a rainy season which
supplies the place of irrigation for
awhile. Tho amount of moisture
falling is about three-foulths of that
which descends in Minnesota. The
"Chinook," warm wind seemingly
direct from the heated currents of the
Pacific, spring up without warning,
turning winter to summer in mo-
mcnt's notice, melting the snow il
there DO any and leaving tho unlucky
sleigh foundering in the water. Any
thing like destructive storms are very
rare. As Il health resort Montana in
disputably is Success; malaria can
not exist in its dry air. Asthma and
hay fever are unknown; rheumatism
is the most frequent disease, yet it is
not more prevalent than in the East,
and seems more susceptible to treat
mcnt, Another advantage lies in the
medical springs--nature's remedies
which are easily reached from any
point in the territory. THERE'S moth
ing to prevent the homo seeker from
making himself more comfortable
here than has been his wont in the
East. A million of cattle, horses and
sheep roam the hills in Montana, and
find shelter, winter and summer,
among her hills and valleys of rich
pasturaga.
During January Of tLi', year the