Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-05-08
MONTANA LETTER, NO. 2.

EDITOR INTELLIG ENCER:-ln my last
letter was at Sherman, Wyoming, the
highest point of the road over which L
travel. From there to Laramie we had
plenty of snow, yet the valleys were
green and pastures fine. Laramie is
baptized the "Gem of the Rockies" and
is 7,137 feet above the sea level, and
contains upward OF 1000 inhabitants. 1t
is lovely place to live. Good schools
and churches, and a climate as fine
as any in the mountains. Around this
place are many cattle ranches, and al
most any day one can see rancheros
over the green valleys. Living is COM
paratively cheap here to other places in
the west. The water supply is SO
cheap that it requires only the expense
of putting in hydrant pipes for the
houses.
The morning of the 18th we took
breakfast at Green river station. Here
we changed cars for the Oregon Short
Line and got rid of the rush of adven-
turers who were riding Oh cut rates to
| California. Among the passengers were
a number of Yankees who were coming
to see the "sights'' and each one was
busy penciling for the New Eng gland
papers. Some one exclaimed: ga flock
of red deer in the valley, see them
run" A Yankee lady had it penciled
as quick as flash and wished she had
one to eat, but close inspection told
that her flock of deer was only fright
ened band of ponies. Adventures
writing in the west tor the first time
draw largely upon the imagination. Be
fore leave Wyoming l wish to speak
of its many scenic beauties as well as
fine grazing valleys. Like much o.
Western Kansas, Wyoming has many
indications of once being the bottom OF
an inland sea. The remains of marlnt
: animals and substances are visible II
many places, The vast coal fields late
,, ly found show that prior to their sub
, mergence an immense forest grew here
. The many springs, geysers, laya-beds
; are not volcanic remains as was onc'
supposed but are caused by chenlca
II action and the geyser land can b.
8 traced into Nebraska. Science Is max
: is not far distant when gcOgrapher
e will revise the text books on tn
y geography OF this new country. Rock
: springs is one of the best coal minin
3 camps on the road. About 1000 "celes
= tials" are delivering coal for the Unio
Pacific. The idea puffed in the news
e ,e papers that the Chinese are run out
y mere fabrication. 1t is true ths
IL IL many papers print in bold faced typ'
1.-THE CHINESE MUST co."
n But Uncle Sans soldiers protect thel
~ ~ in spite of all the work of the Knigh
Of of Labor.
'g In many places Wyoming has goo
,e indications of fine springs OF lubrica
10 ing oil, which will prove an excellel
y IN industry some day. Green river flow
It. in the Colorado, and has some fiji
n grazing valleys which support tho
Ne ne sands of cattle the year round witho
feed. In this valley we saw plenty
"a antelope, dear and the gallant lit
or cayotes scampering up the hillsides al
th over the valleys. In this valley we sa
.pt the first prairie dogs, grouse and sag
INT hens. Civilization has driven the
in from most Of the places farther ca
on except in isolated places. At Pocatel
All Idaho, we change cars for the Utah a
Northern, narrow gauge road viii
the leads to Butte City Montana. Pocate
up has an elevation of 4, ,492 feet above
ich sea and has only population OF abe
cry 500, mostly stock raisers. From here
The through Idaho the farmers are bu
&c. blowing. The arabic lands hold ri
SIe sre alluvial deposit, and will repay
- Sc, l. tost
ial; taking up the land along the railrOa
AVS | am convinced Idaho produces fiji
wheat, oats and apples than l ever s.
ny ms grow east of the Rockies. .FrOmPocate
nrl. even into Montana we had sn
ton storm, but it was warm and did
lew. damage stock or growing grain.
isiy reaching Montana l was surprised
,.ss learn that the snow fall the past W
late ter did not exceed three inches.
for for Montana is indeed the greatest ST
: of country of the west. In some tut
one letters will tell OF the stock indnsi
ss,e kets and why it is that stock live and gi
Mt is fat Oh the nutritious grasses III
. winter. Just south of Dillon, i'll M
tana, we came to Beaverhead, al
was cellent stock stream, which is one
wn, Nv n, the tributaries of the Jefferson,
ions with the Blacktail is y beautiful sire
CON coming in from the southeast md Sn
I for river from the west, these trio
ia of streams form Pleasant valley. \
yrrr yarr miles south of Silver Bow station is
e. ''Divide;" by divide mean the p
IT, i..tnn on where the waters of the Atlantic
made Pacific are separated. The Big|
the heads at the divide and alter win,
n" about in thilis finds its way to the
pri iersOn, thence TO the Missouri NJ
of the "divide" the streams find I
mary way to the Pacific through tributa
,st OF OF the Columbia. Beautiful case;
were sparkling with rainbows i'll the IN
rlut- ing sun are seen from the car wind
,,.,o, along these streams. In many p
shall we could see sportive boys and :
SHIRT angling for the mountain trout W
Sea. res. abounls in these crystal streams OF
water. Arriving in Butte City
soii- found the weather as pleasant AS II
,o,a for June summer day in the III
J, the tains. This is Easter tide, most %
sena- shops and stores are decorated i'll
Sho@ Gm no ly spring flowers. Flora is queen
aior. in the sturdy monntaineers heart.
amss res morrow the churches will be g
andi- decorated with the choicest spccit
of rare cut and pot flowers Just a,
adop- merry Easter bells are ringing
.mber glad news of a risen Redeemer.
nmlt- LAFAYETTE DC
GIn-
Olved s----~--
upon Tup LAWN