The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-06-04

I !, JUNE f. AoOI
1T is HEAVEN
For the Valley of the Gallatin is
"A Garden of the Gods"
Bozeman the Citadel and Key
to Its Promise.
Extracts from letters of Ashley D. Harger tC
the Chicago Times)
BozEMAN, Montana, May 2O.-In com.
ing to Bozeman one necessarily arrives al
-"The garden of the gods!" That is
what Jim Bridger called the valley ofthe
Gallatin on a return from an exploring
expedition in 46, though it was first
known to Clark's party, who, in journey
ing back from camping on the Columbia
during the winter Of 1905 6, divided with
Lewis at the forks OF the Missouri, COM
ing up the Gallatin to the present site OF
Bozeman and crossing the range as the
wagons road now runs, made their first
camp on the Yellowstone near where
Livingston is located, some time in July,
1906. Meantime Lewis and his party
proceeded from the headwaters of the
Miss ouri directly down that tortuous,
winding stream, being subsequently
joined by Clark's forces, and the detour
a first means in furnishing reliable IN
formation as to the condition of the
region indicated.
Present attainment in development
shown would seem to warrant any and
all favorable conclusions, and find the
valley of the Gallatin truly very gar
den of the gods" If IN the journey Of
the Yellowstone there is found anything
that is good or great, that Of Gallatin is
all that is grand and glorious. Coming
through the tunnel, and as the water
shed divides its course at this point, the
nature Of the country in that which is
passed and approached changes as dis
tinctly from much promise to greater
possessiye, and all that is glad, grand, or
great-lies before you! Bozeman's pass
furnishes the conduit; Bridger's and the
Flatheads are further up. in continuance
of the chain; Immediately to the left the
Belt mountains are fixed, and in sweep
ing the horizon for distance of nearly
sixty miles due west, by more than half
that scope from north to south, there is
found mountain wall in different spurs
and chains of the main range completely
encircling the valley of the Gallatin in
an area of nearly two thousand square
miles, through which the Gallatin and
other rivers run their course, and in the
sight of which seems pictured the means
of every promise. Beyond and over all,
in a journey of two hundred miles or
more, and shooting their eternal snow
capped canopies into the very heavens,
the rugged Rockies rise in principal dis
play,-there's the course of rushing, roar
ing, winding streams through the inter-
mediate valley, large tracts of timber on
every jutting hill, liberal forests at COM
mand, great stretches in broad lands, the
country prolific in soil the best possible
to attain, with vegetation far SURPRISING
anything yet seen; the sight of husban-
dry in continuance of seeding in nearer
approaches; Bozeman nestled at the
mountains foot, and the scene, in great
ness, grandeur, and glory unsurpassed, in
sweetness and beauty the most enchant-
ing.
All countries are marked in the pecu-
liarity of their construction, and, while
many in the semblance of others claim
possession in the greatest features Of ex-
cellence, are utterly destitute in any hon
est approach = the same. A substitute
is not the original, no more than make
believe is reality. A plain is no nearer
prairie than slope is to valley. And to
have valley, there must necessarily be
a hill or mountain ranges at greater dis
tance In the appearance of hills and
mountains comes streams and timber.
Immediately following in such formation
come valleys proper, which are tributary
to protection and provision in the re-
sources incident to such connection, and
the excellence attained comprising the
best elements of two distinct countries.
In this, Bozeman is especially forfeited.
The soil is an honest, sandy, black loan,
extending from four to six feet, with a
clay subsoil and gravel underneath.
Crops grown here surpass belief but are
nevertheless true. Wheat will average
forty bushels to the acre throughout the
valley with proper culture-in one in.
stance last season here were cut and
thrashed from one acre of ground eighty.
five bushel,, and field of 100 acres gave
yield of $500 bushels. Oats are com.
mon at eighty to a hundred bushels, with
occasional display as high as a hundred
and fifty, while barley is good for from
seventy to hundred, and potatoes-all
that the ground can hold! Corn is an in
different crop-not successfully raised
In fact, it is not a corn country, though
the Juice" is literally imported and has
comparatively free run throughout the
Territory. In point Of agricultural with
natural facilities for the same, 1 have
never seen a country better fortified OF
80 well possessed as is the valley of the
Gallatin.
Again there is in the interests tributary
to Bozeman such variety as to hold gen
eral run in the dispensation made ant
the cattle and mining interests OF Mon
tana fairly represented from this section
General discoveries in coal, and of a So
perlor bituminors kind. establish tn,
question of fuel for all time here, Will,
in explorations for mineral every salts
factory result is attained. Most of tn,
properties in the Clarke's Fork district
as located, are owned with the NOR
prominent ones being pushed by capital
lists at this point. In the field comprised