The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1886-02-18

aaontanas Geography
Nonrana's greatest length from east To-
west is 80 miles, it, width laJ miles aui
its superficial area ii5. 40 square miles, oi
which at least one-third j. mountainous.
The great watershed h,iween the Allan
tic and the Pacific the main range al tie
Rocky mountains traver-es the western
hart. having about one fourth ut the terri
tory on it, western slope. and il.rr.-f"uf'h-
an the eastern.
Smaller ranges. lateral spurs detached!
groups OF mountains, extensive plaieaus
and lovely valleys give beautiful diversity
to the landscape.
The western portion is exceedingly
mountain us Astounding in beautiful va-
leys. while 10 the eastward the country
breaks into long rolling prairiss. and north
of the Missouri subsidies into vas, plans,
once the home of countless thousands of
buffalo but now covered with great H. rd>
of cattle. grazing upon the nutrition, bunch
aud buffalo grass.
Theereat water courses are the Ciarkes
with its chief tributaries the Milk and yell
lowstone rivers. The lat three named head
amid the summit peaks at the Rocky noun
tains and How in general easterly course.
The headwaters at tiarkes Fork are
within few miles ofthose of the Missouri.
but the stream pours down the western
slope AM across the territory t. the north
- IA. ~.
near the international boundary line be-
Tsyeen Washington territory aud British
Columbia. II drains 1900 square miles Ut
Montana, while the Missouri and its tribu-
taries carry with them the waters from
more than twice that area.
These river, are navigahle for distance
of 500 miles within the limits of the ter
ritory, and the Missouri. which now is and
ALWAYS will be one Of her greatest CONNER
cial highways, is piled 10y steamers Tor "A
distance of 400 miles, from the interior OF
Montana To the Gulf of Mexico.
Hot or warm springs are found ~ many
PARTS If the territory, and lakes are num-
erous Among the largest of these are
Fla,head Lake, 30xio miles, in Mssouia
county, and Red Rock Lake in Madison
county. - miles long and Il. 80, feet above
the sea. distant but five miles from the re-
nowned Henry's Lake in Idaho, from which
it is separated by u narrow ridge Ia the
mountains.
The s.rea, Falls of the Missouri, thirty
miles above Fort Benton, have PerPen-
dicular plunge of ninety feet, and for grand
eur and beauty rank among natures
wonders.
of the 30 COS, 600 If acres in the territory,
only 3Oo00, go are classed as mountainous
and noSy heye are the mountains 50 a'rupt.
rugged and sterile, as further south in U'ah
and Colorado.
Three of the great rivers of the CONT
nent rise in the Yellowstone National Park
IN the southern boundary of Montana.
one of which, the Yellowstone, navigable
for a distance of 40 miles, lies almost
wholly within its boundaries. The Mis-
souri, from its source (the Three Forks,
ar the union of the Jefferson, Gallatin and
Malson). is carried nearly LOCO miles on
Montana soil. In the valleys of the west
eru slope of the main range gather the
waters that unite to form the great Column
bia that pours its food into the Pacific.
II is estimated that fully three-fiiths OF
the surface of the territory is suitable for
agricultural purposes, and nearly another
fifth could he added for the extent OF sur
face adapted for grazing.
Occasionally Montana has season. as IN
all parts of the middle temperate ZONE,
when early fro,ts interfere with the ripen-
ing cereals. but as rule the season COM
pare fayoraby with those Of the more
southerly points ON the eastern plains.
The rainfall Of this region is slight in
comparison with that Of many other dis
tricts on the same parallel. but the streams
that How from the mountain ranges through
nearly all the valleys furnish an abundant
supply of water for purposes OF irrigation.
MiasIna is unknown in Montana. The
absence of excessive moisture in the atnos-
phere renders the climate not only less
severe in its effects during the cold season
but also secures immunity from the various
forms of contagion that arises from
marshes in the low-lands in other sections
where rain is abundant.-Ex.