The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-02-22
BOOMING BOHEMIAN.
A Talk With William hewitt About Montana.

Some of the people who emigrate to
the far west declare there is no place like
| Oshkosh, after all. Others do not. of
the latter class is William hewitt, the
hardware merchant OF Bozeman, Mon
tana, and has been in the city for two or
three days past on business. Bozeman,
Mr.. hewitt said, is situated in the garden
of the world. With all the resources af-
forded by mountain valley about sixty
by one hundred miles in circumference,
this bustling western town is rapidly in
creasing in population and wealth. Not
far from the valley the Jefferson and
Gallatn rivers unite with another small
stream to form the Missouri river and
the large number of creeks that flow
down the mountain sides affords admir-
able means of irrigation for this whole
section of the country. Evidently, Mr.
hewitt says, the valley was once the bed
OF vast lake, as the shells which are
now picked up along the mountain sides
seem to testify. But the inhabitants are
not content with even the natural water
ing facilities, and canal IS now under
process of construction across the head
of the valley, which shall be seven miles
long and some twenty feet wide. Per-
haps one can judge of the fertility of the
land when it is stated that 100 bushels of
oats to the acre have been raised within
Its borders, and 65 bushels is a common
yield. The climate of this part of Mon
tana is considerably warmer than it is
here, for Mr.. hewitt says that when he
left Bozeman, about two weeks ago, the
thermometer registered forty degrees
above zero and the sleighng was nearly
all gone. The atmosphere is warmed by
the Chinook" wind, an ocean breeze.
During the past winter the cattlemen
have suffered little if any loss, whereas
last season the severe weather caused
the herds to be depleted about fifty rer
cent Situated near the center of such
an agricultural district, Bozemaa bids
fair to become one of the greatest cities
Of the west. Already water-works
plant is being pat in and the inhabitants
have enjoyed the rays OF the electric
light for about year past. Mr.. hewitt
is the owner of half interest in the lat
ter enterprise. The water.woIks will
cost about 100000, and the estimated
cost of city hall, now in course of erec-
ton, is $40 1000. A house which is in
course of erection for Nelson Story, the
millionaire cattle king, will probably
cost in the neighborhood of 100000.
This editice is being built of cut stone
and the pillars that grace 1t are of jasper
and polished granite. The roof is con-
structed of copper. The front porch
alone of this building is said to have cost
$4,000. But what Bozeman needs most
of all is hotel, and the people stand
ready, Mr.. hewitt says, 10 pay any good
hotel man bonus of $4,000 to locate in
the place and establish a first class hotel
there. Located on the Northern Pacific
railroad only 100 miles north of the Ma
tional Park, Bozeman is the depot, as it
were, of this beautiful country which
congress has withheld from settlers, and
hundreds of people journeying thither
to view the grandeur of Wyoming's
scenery stop there and are fitted out for
camping life. Mr.. hewitt expects to re-
turn to Bozeman at once.-Oshkosh
Northwestern.