The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-08-23

Interesting AftlcleS, from Wnlcn we nave
made some brief extracts. From his
ninth letter concerning the Milk River
valley and North Montana generally we
copy the subjoined, which will be found
highly instructive and entertaining read
ing:
THE VALLEY OF MILK RIVER
is Of various widths, often many miles,
and consists of bottom lands along the
streams, frequently several miles wide,
and of the fertile character of bottom
lands generally These are lined by
''bench lands," that is, those lying ut a
higher level, and which in ancient times
were covered or overtlowed by the stream,
il, freshet seasons, ut least. These too,
are of variable dimensions, sometimes
many miles wide. Beyond these are
low bluffs usually merely slopiny banks,
which were the ancient banks of the
stream. From the tops of these, broad
rolling prairies spread out everywhere,
extending northward to and far beyond
the national boundary line. They are
cut through at frequent intervals by
streams flowing into the Milk river, each
having its own bottom and bench lands.
On the south side is seen the same gen
eral lay Of land, except that it rises high
er and a little more rapidly as you go to
Il considerable distanc from the stream,
until rcaching the higher elevations of
the Little Rocky and the Bear Paw
mountains. From these come down
many streams, usually of pure water, de-
rived in part by living springs from tho
mountains. While composed of the rock
derived elements composing most soils
originally, the more fertile elements have
not been washed out and carried away by
surplus rainfalls. The soils arc per Sc,
in Il naturally fertile condition, and there
fore adapted to the production Of grain
and of the nutritious grasses. This is q
general description, there being here as
everywhere else, small local variations
as where at the foot Of considerable
slopes the lower portions are enriched
by the organic and mineral elements
washed from the higher land, which is
| thus rendered somewhat less fertile, and
occasionally quite barren. Such places
are not Of much extent, the greater part
of the uplands being quite similar in sur
face to prairie lands generally. For ex-
ample, when out dozen miles or more
north Of the Milk river at Glasgow, and
northwest of Chinook, the surface ap-
peared to the eye almos; as level as the
floor and stretching out to the horizon.
THE VALUE OF SUCH SOILS
for tillage, for grain and ot:r"~ ,''' ivH
crops, in regions of moderate ,"ir:rall, de-
pends upon the subsoil, ii1 p,:g.. !. ,.:e
surface is somewhat light, All, =, A.
dy, all the better, il the subsoil H. raf'i-
GENTLY compact, because tho !,D;'.' ,yil
above absorbs the falling rain i'r-, -; G,i
allowing it to run off into draw; ,,..::r
the under soil holds it in stn..ro. t" ''p
given up by capillary att'''':i,.n - ..t,I-
ed. Whatever may b" lis .,.;::"r' ,al'!e as
q grain region, there is no l:''..;un rs to
its pastllragc adaptation, s!,',pit" dis
appointment at first sig i! al !, :,,, ,4rw-
comers aud superficial pro- jh, i;..:' From!
the east, who have read not,,i.,.', arrn
nothing. and know nothing Of tie slla!ac-
ter of the country.
| EXPERIENCE OF MR. JOHN FILNDER.
In riding out over the bench or uplands
southwest Of Chinook we fell in with Mr.
John Finder, who was coming to town
bringing in family organ to loan to a
friend stopping at the Chinook house
From him we drew out the following
Last March we came out here with three
others from O'Brien county, Iowa, and
prospected somewhat extensively around
Chinook and elsewhere. They finally
took up claims Oh Clear creek, some If
teen miles southwest Of Chinook on tho
way to Bear Paw mountains. They, ol
one of them, returned home and brought
out livestock of various kinds, wagons,
farm implements, etc, leaving their fam
lilies to follow a few weeks after when
they had built habitations for them
These they constructed Of pine logs, which
they themselves hauled from the foot
hills Of Bear Paw. lie tells us they have
as fine oats, potatoes and garden vcgcta
bles as they have ever grown elsewhere
the potatoes being remarkably fine
These nrc all Oh sod land, that is, lant
first plDwed this year. lie remarked tha
he had for long time been troubled
with rheumatism, but since comm.
here he has been entirely free from it
although constantly exposed in all wealth
ers. The water he says is very clear aut
soft and without alkali. Some of hi
neighbors came on little while aftc
and they are now located near each other