The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1889-05-09
The Birth of a Western Town.

| for Maine, received an Introduction to Mr.
| MaginniS, agent of the st. Cloud, Minneapoli,
n Manitoba railway, no urged us to stop of
at the town of DoweS--name since changed to
Chino0k-and witness the novel sight of the
birth of a western town. This we concluded
to do. On arrival at 9 ?. NJ we found that the
only hotel was box ear, which served as
depot and telegraph Office as well, furniShin.
sleeping accommodations for myself and mary
other adVenturers, all turning in as best they
| could. Next morning judge of our astonish-
ment at seeing a city all stakcd out, with
streets, walks, commons, boueyards, etc, but
with no buildings in sight On the arrival of
the train came over three hundred emgrantS,
who, in quest of government land, had come
to this far-famed Milk River valley to carve
out homes for themselves and families. \
novel and impressive sight was this motley
crowd. Some Were from the Old World,
others from the Eastern and Southern States,
and every nationality was represented. In
contemplating these home-Seckers. who had
left the places Of their nativity, home ties.
their friends and all that is cherished and held
dear by the human race, We could but compare
their condition with that Of the happy farmers
in the good old State of Maine, with all their
New England advautagcS-goud buildings
good schoolhouses, good churches and the
many comforts enjoyed, but which are seldom
fully appreciated until one is deprived of them.
Yet these people hope to better their condition
in life by emigrating to this beautiful Milk
River valley, which by far exceeds any spot
we saw i'll Montana for mixed husbandry
Here the lack OF water-a great out in many
section>-is not felt The Bear Paw noun
tains. whose highest peaks are continuously
covered with snow are only twenty four mile,
distant and produce the necessary climatic
changes to en>urc a rain fall sufficient for the
growth of crops without irrigation.
This valley, through which Milk River find,
its way to the Missouri, is some - miles wide
and is what we call river bottom Its average
altitude is over four thousand feet above the
level of the sea, giving it clear rarilied atnoS-
phcrc entirely free from malaria. 1t has Il
deep, rich soil, rich in vegetable mould and
pregnant with aIkali, 50 much 50 As to affect
the water in some instances. The alkaline
properties in the soil make it capable of pro-
ar.i,., ,o,,o,., or,,,. n ,.,....o. n..,.
l,r.h.l. I.;,..,,, ,-,',..., ,,,,.,.,.
l,,,.hol.,f
What strikes the Maine man Il, strange i the
entire absence of timber. Not even a bush or
shrub dots this whole eNpan>e Lumber. which
is very high, is brought on the cars from st.
Iaul, q distance OF 1000 miles. For fuel there
is plenty Of coal, which crops ont at interval.
.,I .o,, ,o bod to, +h,. ,li,.,i
~ " ~
IN The morning, the Town site co., who had
concluded that it would he necessary to have a
;.. ~ -li .i.I i. ~
wy 90 ,"'' l'''' ''' ',' f'''''' - -'''
every other lot 10 those who would agree to
hul'd upon them, ahd TO sell the alternate lots
OF ~ leet ffoht IN 10 Ieft deep Tor 500. ~
speculation we 'ohrIuded to buy limited
number OF lots ahd as ours were the tenth
lotN taken we nae S"od opp"Eluhliy to choose.
an" Neiecied ihe'i on INDIANA avenue lh' prln-
rlpaI street Here was town without the
hr>t bHiHlh@' but the eager ru>tIlmg crowd hat
ordered several buildings from >t. Paul w,
itft during the day Tor Bear Raw Mountains T."
HOOK at tract lor tUmher' only twenty mites
away Tor SAFE at a non MAJ price to any one
who would at once put in mills and saw out
lumber ter the purpose of building up The
town. Judge OF our a>tonl>hmcnt when TWO
days later on entering ne town Of Chlnooh
we SaW yep nnIllh@S ~ course o. trrctlon' m
cud'n@ stores, e"tih@ saloon, hNely Nt3hlc,
hoteI' ana drinking saloon. Ihe latter htuid!n-
was nearly completed And had good welt
shln-icd ro"l' showing lhat lhe Montana rap.-