Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-02-14
1eroNrALK.
Fertile va'isys-.-lrr4sating Schemes.
Willow, Muddy-And 5iackIeaf
Creeks.
CnoTEAu, February IL, 1854.

/ CHoTEAu, February IL, 1854.
Editor Of the Sun.
When, after three months trip tt
the states and n lingering illness III
Sun River Crossing, your correspond
ent again arrived ut Priests Butte ant
saw the glorious vdley Of tho Tetor
spread out before his entianced Wis
ion, he said: "This, after all, is God,
county," Here ali the mon are hon.
est and all the women, bless ON, at
tt.n4s-s+rictly tc skcA' ow" business,
| For fertility of soil, salubrity ol
climate and general natural adva lti.
ges this place is unsurpassed in Mon
tana. The Uppor Teton valley from
mouth Of Muddy creek to the noun
tains is forty-fvc miles long, with NJ
average width Of six miles. Substan
tial log houses, the residences Of hard,
cattle men and ranchcros, dot the val
ley to within ten miles Of tho noun
tains. Stock raising has been the
chief industry, but little attention
having been paid to farming. All
available land is, however, being fast
talicn up under tho homestead and
presumption laws, ard within very
few years wc expect to compare favor.
ably in the matter Of well improved
farms with Sun river and tho Older
valleys Of tho territory. The ranch
man still realizes two cents pound
for his oats here, aud although rail-
load is talked Of rs one Of the posi-.
bilitics, we are in no hurry for it.
About 5000 bushels Of oats and 1,5O0
bushels Of wheat were thrashcd last
fall in this immediate vicinity by Geo.
Steclls steam thrcshcr. Tho whistle
of The threslcr was tho first steam
''toot' heard i'll the valley, and created
quite sensation among some Of The
population. 1t was, without doubt,
the harbingcr of now cra for the
Teton.
The first ranch to the right Of the
road after leaving Priests Bnttc is
that Of Mr.. Jesse Taylor, who, with
his son Wallace, has charge Of the i'm
mensc herd Of Sands & Taylor. The
MJessrs. Taylor are noted for theil
hospitality, and your correspondent
had the felicity the other day Of par
ticipating in one Of their turkey din
ncrs, ut which were gathered many of
tho most substantial cattle men of the
valley. Tho turkey was excellent, and
Mr.. Taylors chef is bound to become
famous.
Three miles below Taylor's is the
ranch Of Tom Hcnnebory, the re-
tired pugilist, who offers to stand up
before the notorious Sullivan for eli
ther money, marbles or chalk. Above
Tnylors place Joe Howard, G. Chou
quctte, II. Morgan and John Wren
have we'll improved farms. Tho lat
tor is ono Of the propriotors Of the
Bellcyiew saw mills and our most Wig
orous "old timer" Mr. Morgan also
has charge Of Geo. Stcell's stud farm,
and il knight Of the lash on the
Sun River and Great Northern Stage
linc. Next como tho ranches Of our
pioneer merchants A. B. Hamilton and
!. N. Hazlctt with their neat and cosy
cottages, and then we reach Choteau,
one of Montana's promising young
towns. Perhaps few items about
tho town will be OF interest. The
townsitc comprises seventy four acros.
and is the property OF l. n. Hazlctt.
Lots arc selling readily. Tho last
purchases were by Silverman & Cohen,
Of the Dearborn, and JAG. Schmidt, of
South Fork. The former parties in
tend starting store, and Mr.. Schmidt
has purchased IN interest in Garrett
& Gibson's place. As soon as lumber
can be procured the latter parties will
build hotel and u largo livery and
feed stable.
Although we have no debating lyce-
um here rs yet, and in other respects
have not assumed all the metropolitan
airs Of Sun River, still we are improv-
ing rapidly. We have IN Historical
society, Il temperance society whose
members are fined $50 if "caught" in
the act, u Sleighing association and q
"a O'clock Quadrille club. The latter
club is composed Of all the youth and
beauty Of the valley, and has weekly
hops in Garrett hall to the inspiring
strains Of Chouquette's orchestra.
Sheriff Jim McDoyitt, OF Benton, at
tended one of our dances, and is of
the opinion that for socinbility and
jollity the people Of the Teton stake
the cake"
Tho people OF Benton are striving
for direct mail route up the Teton to
this point, and a largely signed peti-
tion to that effect has lately been sent
to Washington.
Bob Stewart. Jack Reese and Chos