The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-05-30
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
What Prominent Butte Citizen Thinks
Of Its Resources.

A representative OF The MINER had al
interesting conversation, yesterday, witt
Nicholas j. Bielenberg, the widely-knowr
| cattle man, who has just returned from q
business trip to Washington Territory. Ht
passed several weeks in and about Spragut
and Spokane Falls.
Il found times very dull in Washington
Territory, said Mr.. Bielenberg. II don't
Think that there is much money there. Spu-
Kane Falls is a most delightful place and
mas the advantage OF wonderful water
power-prObably the best in the entire
west. l was told that this vast. natural
power would soon be utilized by Eastern
capcal. In that case, Spokane Falls is
certain to become a larger and prosperous
town. AS a rule, however, think that the
people throughout Western Montana arr,
very much discouraged 1
ABOUT THE CATTLE TRADE i
:. How did you find the cattle markete?~s
asked The MINER reporter i
"When l arrived in Montana" replied
Mr.. Bielenberg, "cattle were freely offered
at from SO to 500 per head by the herd.
They are now held at from S2:' to $25, and
even higher, but there will be very little
selling at these high figures; the buyers will
hold off. Up to date fully O,OOO head OF
cattle have been purchased in Washington
Territory by Montana parties, and about
i2,o0o head have already been shipped +
found the cattle i'll excellent condition. The
loss during the winter was very light, not
over per cent. The winter season there
is very short, compared with our winter
not over six or eight weeks. Grass there is
all OF two months earlier than it is here.
The early spring in Washington Territory.
surprises the Montana visitor. Why. the
winter wheat had headed before left Spo4
Kane Falls. The harvest commences about
Walla Walla early in June" i
THE SHEEP MARKET
Glow did you find the sheep markete"
Sheep are very plentiful and very fat.
They sell at $1.5O per head by the flock. L
purchased 2,7OO head and instructed my
agent to purchase l 300 head more | in-s
tend them for the home market in Butte +
regard Washington Territory as the finest
section in the entire West"
POOR COUNTRY FOR FARMERS.
would you advise parties to locate in
AaS,iil ION Territory as farmers or ca tile
growers,'
81 would not. That country mainly de-
pends on it's farming resources. One trouble i
is that there is not enough rain, and water /
is scarce in the summer months. But the /
main drawback is that the farmer has no
market for his products. During my visit,
wheat was selling along the line OF the rail
road at thirty-fve cents bushel and pota-
toes were dull at twenty-five cents per hun
lred pounds. Hay readily brought from
SS to $40 per ton. would not advis, any
one to go there to engage in stock-raising
lnless he was certain to secure a hay |
anche. The winters there, although short, |
ire very severe. The snow falls deep in that |
country and lies heavy-it. doesn't blow I
,way there like it does here. In conse-
llence, unless you have hay rancho, you
ire liable to lose all your herd in one Sc I
ere winter. Why, only four years ago, the /
oss OF cattle in Washington Territory was
ully Is per cent
"What do you think OF the coming price
# cattle?'
"That will depend entirely on the fuctua- / |.
ions in the Eastern markets. | donot an
icipate any advance in the price of cattle
N the hoof. AS to the prices of beef, at
Iholesale and retail do not think that
here will be any change i'll rates this sea-
on ~