Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-09-05
LETTER FROM MONTANA.

SllI NUN aug 1000
EDITOR INTELLIGENCER:-I promised
in my last letter to give some of the
geography of this mountain region.
Montana extends from l04 degrees 10
ia degrees longitude, and lies between
"A degrees 10 minutes and 40 degrees
latitude. 1t is bounded on the north
by the British provinces of British
Columbia, Alberta and Assiniboia; on
the east by Dakota; on the south by
Wyoming and Idaho, and Oh the west
by Idaho. Its southern portion is ex-
actly midway between the Equator and
the North Pole. Its northern boundary
is in the same latitude as Paris, and its
southwestern extremity that of Geneva.
Its latitude and elevation make it the
finest health resort for summer III the
world. Itis in the same latitude of the
most prosperous and healthy countries
OF Europe.
Its shape is nearly parallelogram.
Its greatest length is more than 500
miles, with width of nearly 800 miles.
1t contains 1916 square miles, or
more than 72 900, 900 acres. 1t is larger
than Great Britain and Ireland togeth-
er, twice as large as the six New Eng
land states, three times as large as the
state OF New York, and about twice
the size of the state of tho Missouri. Ii
is divided into twelve counties, one OF
which (Missoula) is half as large as the
whole state of Missouri. A very mar
row strip of the Yellow Stone National
Park extends into the territory.
The surface is generally mountain
GUS. The main range of the Rocky
Mountains cross the territory from
northwest to southeast, the larger por-
ton lying east OF the mountains. These
mountains have many spurs, canyons,
gulches and rugged crags. Extensive
beautiful valleys with rich soil growing
succulent grasses cover nearly three
fourths of the area.
The northern and eastern parts are
high rolling prairies covered with
nutritious grasses Oh which thousands
of fine cattle and horses Craze. This
is the stock country. In the west
ern portion the gold and silver bearing
quartzes are more abundant.
THE MAUvAIs TERREs
or Bad Lands lie between the Yellow
Stone and Missouri rivers in the east
ern part. These lands remind me OF
desolation. Rock upon rock as if il
had been the foundation of the Tower
| OF Babel among some prehistoric race
which has left only the trace of q curse
behind. The rocks have the appear
ance of huge walls that have burned
down, and the light soil resembles
ashes. The gulches are very deep and
dangerous. These bad a,,ds will turn
out to be good lands when the vas1
deposits of coal and iron are developed
Civilization, with its many needs, Cal
make the waste lands yield good re-
suits.
The average elevation is about ,OOC
feet above the level of the sea. The
eastern part being less than 5000 fec
in elevation, while that of the noun.
tains is 10000 feet.
| Flathead lake is beautiful sheet o
water In latitude 4S degrees i'm Missouls
county with an elevation of $500 feet
1t is thirty miles long, aud has widtl
OF more than ten miles. Here I have
spent some of my most pleasant sum
mer recreations. Around the border.
OF this lovely placid lake are stately
forests of fir, fringed with pine ant
cedar, and excellent grass. On tn,
margin of this lake are myriads o
migratory birds. Here in the cool eve
nings l have chased the chubby gos
lings till their liquid retreat would say
"Thus far" Who could not be happ,
here!
There are several other lakes i'm tn,
territory. Red lake in Madison count,
is separated from IIenry's lake il
Idaho by low pass in the mountains
Much of this country has the appear
ance of volcanic action and marin,
formations. Red lake is 6, 800 feet abOy,
the sea land along its border are dozen.
of hot springs. Perhaps million
years ago here were geysers equal Il
those of the Yellow Stone Nationa
Park. This lake is said to be twenty
five miles long. A beautiful valley
with fire meadow grass spreads out tt
the north, as luxuriant, and a thousand
fold more nutritious than the famou!
blue grass of Kentucky.
In my next letter l will have some
thing to say about the rivers. [ have
not seen them all, in their windingl
throughout this wonderland"
must tell something about booming
Butte and its genial climate. A few
days ago felt at noon as if we were
having Indian summer, but to-day s
heavy rain. closing in hail and snow
storm, keeps me close to the fire. Ii
a few weeks the cold winters snow
will commence. Our altitude is more
than 5000 feet, and evaporation takes
place very rapidly. If it was not fol
the bountiful refreshing showers ant
the many springs this would be {
desert.
The late rains have made the gras.
renew its green hue. The air is Sc
thin that l am often puzzled in hunting
game. Frequently thirty or forty miles
appear to be only five or six. In hunt
ing this meets the appreciation OF the
grouse always to my chagrin.
Rains have been more frequent here
than usual. The harvest yield is very
good. The hundreds OF laboring mel
are very glad of this to the vexation o.
the ranchmen. The ranchman is anx
ious to raise his wheat to sixty cents a
bushel, but good bread is yet down te
five cents loaf. LAFAYETTE Boy.