The Mineral argus., 1885-12-17

A writer in the Helena Herald O
last week, signing himself "F" (pre
sumably. Hon James Fergus) gives hi.
opinion of Montana's resources ant
capabilities. After defending the cattle
men against the aspersions Of ths
Miner, he concludes in the following
characteristically impartial manner in
relation to our agricultural interests:
About Montana being a farming country
1t looks big on the map, but a large part o,
the best of it is Indian reservations, a large
area mountains and rough rolling foot hills,
another large area bad lands, much of our
high table lands are bare and gravelly, pro-
ducng very thin, short grass, leaving only
portion of our narrow valleys fit for cul-
| tivatiOn, aud this must be in .he vicinity of
water for irrigating, which can only be had
during the summer months near our noun
tain ranges, or where the large streams are
not much below the level of the valleys.
There is also occasionally a little bench
land fit for cultivation that can be irrigated
by bringing water distance in large bitches
but generally our bench lands and much of
our best valley, are too gravelly. The tai :
latin and Judith. and particularly the Mus
selshell, have much soil of this character
In short, We are too near natures ,,uartz
mill the Rocky mountains where the
frnS win a
the rocks, the fine sediment finding its way
by the Missouri river to the Gulf of Mexico.
leaving us the coarse debris, too heavy To
he carried away by the water, mixed pos
sibly with some of the debris from the
tail end of friend Donnelly's comet: so that
Montana has not really farming land
enough to call it a farming country; that is,
to farm enough to send grain abroad. but
she has enough TO supply all her own
wants-her cattle. horse and sheep men.
her townspeople her miners and Ier manu-
facturers. Wherevere the soil is good and
water can he had at all times, we can raise
more 10 the acre and of better quality than
is usually raised in the State,
Speaking of our yet undeveloped
interests the writer
offers the following timely advice:
Manufactures Well. what are we going
10 manufacture, We have no hard wood
True, nut we have the rel or Oregon fir.
which is as good il not better than the /
average hardwood that comes here in /
plows, implement handles. exc. We can
,nd ought to make all our own Hour We
nave the best OF wheat. We ought To pro-
luce all our own pork, bacon, hams and 4
ard. All our own blankets and WOODEN
,oods. We have the best of wool. All
'ur own printing, writing ani w,apIin.
'aper. The best Of material in old tents.
wagon covers. Gotten shirts overall.. etc. i,
otting about our farm houses. our own
'owder Freight is much cheaper on suit
etre and sulphur than on powder, and We
ave an abundance of alder anl willow for
oai All our own common furniture and
edsteads We have ASPEN and Cottonwood
q abundance. All our own tubs and pals.
III our brooms. We cal raise a small anI
ner broom corn that will make better
rooms than those We get fr ,ni the States.
III our own matches. liun,ire oi other,
ill follow these, and We can .,rpx food for
hem all. We have plenty oi coal arIi the
est OF water-power. to drive them. Better
'r our newspapers to be- posting Themselves !
bout our wants and neels ia thes.. lines :
hd the opportunities for capitalists to
west IN such enterprises AMI give them to y
ne public, than To be qua.reling among ,
iemselyes about thing, some of them don't ,
now much about. ,