Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-02-16

what the R~Gist~r Has Z" Say Of The
Territory.


In recent number of The Western
World, $. w. T.anghorne, Register OF
the Helena Land office, writes of the
agricultural area Of Montana and in
cidently touches on our mining, stock
growing and other resources as well.
He says:
In proportion to the total area OF
Montana, the really valuable agri-
cultural lands, by which mean those
adapted to successful cultivation, is
perhaps not to exceed one-tifth Of the
total area. Outside of this are large
tracts which are well adapted { o stock
raising, as the mountains. where no.
timbered, are clio: he'd with vcr,lurr to
their sunmits. IL order to success.
fully cultivate rabie Lands, water i.
essential, ~ our lands require irriS.i
ton. and when successfully irriglt esl
yield abundan;ly. lee us take the
valley of the Gallutin. in GalIatin
county, whicl, is perhaps the largest
agricultural dist rict in the territ Ory,
and we find the yields this year ia
average 40 bushels per acre of wheat
and 90 bushels Of oats.
A large proportion Of Montana j.
mount ainOus and rich in ores Of vari
Ous kinds. As "a consequence there
fore mining is the principal resource
Next in Importance, so far rs the in
vestment of capital IL concerned. j,
st stOckraising. and third, agriculture
which 20 far produces barely enOug!
for home consumption. 1t IL perhaps
safe to say that but little over one
fourth of Montana has yet been sur
veyed, and there are still large tracts
which are valuable for agricultural
Of the farming land for the most par,
is rich alIuvial loan, with u sub-soi
OF gravel, and in places where it ha'
been titled for twenty years, shows ne
decrease in yield, although no rtiiicia
means OF rest oring it has been resOrted
to.
Up to this time the principal prod
ucts have been wheat, oats. barley
and vegetables. Fruits Except tn,
small kinds, suci; as Strawberries, eur
rents, raspberries and goOseberries
have not been grown to any extent
In the western portion Of the territory
in Missoula county, apples and plum,
have been successfully grown.
The lands which are tit for agricul
ture are located in the valleys ans
along the streams, here and there, IA
such are found scattered among tn,
mount aims. Gallatin valley, cOmpris
ing an area of about $50 square miles
is the largest and most thickly set
tied. Next in Importance is the Bit
ter Root valley, in Missoula count y
Besides these are numerous smalle
valleys scattered throughout the ter
ritory. A large and promising dis
trict north OF Flathead lake offers al
inviting field, much OF which is unsur
veycd, Again, Indian reservation
(which will in time no doubt be IL
stored to the public domain) cover
very large amount Of good land. Al
examination of the map of Montan'
will show you that its entire northern
portion is covered by Indian reserva
tiOns. This land now penetra b.
the Manitoba railroad, completed t
this place, will IN time be open an,
offer u large area Of good land TO
homes. ] regret that time is not "a
my disposal 10 give you at create
length and more in detail the wonder
Of this marvellous country, so rich il
everything netsiful to make u wealth,
and prosperous commonwealth.