Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1888-02-09
A PROUD COUNTRY.
Montana Cracked up by an Old
Time Resident and Declared
at the Top.
Mines and Minerals, Stock
Ranges, Water Ways and a
Granger's Paradise.
MONTANA.
MONTANA.
whassan Langhorne has to Say Of the Ter.
rItory.


To q recent number OF the Western
World, S. w. Langhorne. register OF
the Helena land office. writes OF the
agricultural area Of Montana aud
touches incidentally on oar mining
and stock growing resources a. we'll
He says:
In proportion to the total area OF
Montana. the really valuable agricultu
raj lands, by which 1 mean those
adapted to successful cultivation, is
perhaps not over one-fifth of the total
area. Outside Of this are large tracts
which are well adapted to stock grow
ing. as the mountains, where not
timbered, are clothed in verdure W
to their submits. In order to success
fully cultivate arabic lands. water /,
essential, as our lands require irriga
tion, and when successfully irrigated.
yielo abundantly. Let us lake for ex
ample the valley OF the Gallatin, in
Gallatin county. which IL perhaps the
largest agricultural district In the ter
ritory,aud We find the yields this year
TO average 40 bushels per acre of W b eat
and 60 Of oats.
A very large portion Of Montana 10
mountainous aud rich in ores OF vari-
Gus kinds. As a consequence, there,
fore, mining Is the principal resource.
Next 10 Importance, 30 far as the in
vestment Of capital is concerned. is
stock raising, and third, agriculture.
which 50 far has produced barely
enough for home consumption. 1t is.
perhaps safe to say that blt little over
one-fourth of Montana has as yet been
surveyed, and there ATE still large
tracts. which are valuable for agricul.
tursls purposes, unsurveyed. The
character OF the farming land is for
the most part rich alluvial loan,
with a sub-soil Of gravel, aud 10 places
which have been titled for twenty
years shows no decrease inyield, al
though no artificial means OF restor-
ing it has been resorted to.
Up to this time the principal pro.
ducts have been wheat, oats, barley.
and vegetables. Fruits Except the
small kinds, such ss Strawberries,
currants, raspberries and;gooseberries)
have not been grown TO any extent.
Ia the western portion Of the territory
and 10 Missoula county, apples aud
plums have been successfully grown,
The lands which are fit for agricul'
ture are located IN the valleys and
along the streams, here and there, a,
such are found scattered among the
mountains. The Gsllstin valley com
prlsing an area OF about go squsr,
miles, 10 the largest aud most thickiy
populated. Next In importance IL thu
Bitter Root valley, in Missoula coun
iy. Besides these are numerou,
smaller valleys scattered throughout
the territory. A large and promis
ing district north Of the Flsthead lake
offers sn inviting field much Of which
IL unsurveyed. Again, Indian reser
vations (which will In time no doubI
he restored to the public domain
cover n very large amount OF gooc
land. An examination OF the map o
Montana will show you that Its entire
northern portion 10 covered by Indiar
reservations. This land now pene
trsted by the Manitoba railroad
completed to this place, will In tim'
be opened and offer large area OF gooC
land for homes. regret that time L
not at my disposal to give you q
greater length and more In detail ih,
wonders OF this marvellous country, .,
rich In everything needful to make |
wealthy and prosperous common
waaItb