Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-02-28
MONTANA'S ABUNDANCE.
A MAGNIFICENT CLIMATE AND A
SOIL OF UNSURPASSED FERTILITY.

SOIL OF UNSURPASSED FERTILITY.
sesom's Graphic Letter Descriptive OF the
Northwest, Partic ulariy of Montana--In-
teresting Facts Gained by Actual Invesu-
cation.
GREAT FALLS. Montana Feb. IL. 1889.
A man need not be very old to remember
when Chicago was In the far West. and
journey beyond the Mississippi was like go-
ing into far country. Now a dozen rail-
roads run to the Rocky Mountains. and the
Pacific coast is separated from New York as
Monday Is from Saturday. Lewis and
Clarke, whose wonderful trip in the early
years OF the century gave the world first
knowledge of this vast region, were over a
year In reaching this locality. rowing. polling,
and pushing their canoes for nearly 5000
miles against the swift current OF the Mis-
souri,. Now IL takes n day or two in a
Manitoba palace car or free-colonist
sleeper to reach here and no danger or
privation and three good meals day.
Most people have been so accustomed to
look upon this part Of the continent as so
far north, so cold, so snowy, so far away
and a lot OF other so-so's-that II would
probably never be a fit abode for mankind;
but the facts show TO the contrary. Why,
hundreds OF miles north Of here there is
country with winters no moro severe than
those OF the north New England States, and
summers more suitable to the growing of
grains. We are separated rom that
region by the forty-ninth parallel, an
imaginary political boundary which nature
will not take into account when adjusting
affairs i'm the future. The intermingling of
people OF the same blood, speech, religion,
ideas, and ambitions will oDliterate 1t.
Statesmen have foretold it and business
interests will hasten it. Those who think
Dakota and Montana are sections OF the
arctic region slipped down out OF place
should look to the east. The south line of
Dakota is the folty-third parallel OF north
latitude. Follow this line across the At
lantic and much OF Europe will be found
lying north OF it. All OF Britain and Nor
way and Sweden lie full degree above the
northern boundary Of our two great Terri
tories. Edinburgh. st. Petersburg, Stock
holm, and Christiana. in the midst of
swarming population. are on the
parallel OF Sitka. Alaska. And Sitka Is as
far from Great Falls rs the Gulf OF Mexico
England and the north of Europe are made
habitable by the influence OF the Gulf
Stream. The Kuro- Siwo --the Black Ocean
river of the Asiatic coaster the Japan
Current gives to this northwestern region
the same mildness of climate that tho Gulf
Stream does to Northern Europe, and why
should not this country, like that. be filled
with life and industry? Water heated of
the coast of Southern Asia sweeps across
the Pacific Ocean and tempers the climate
of our western coast nearly up to the Arc.
tic Circle. This river of warmth gives to
British Columbia, Washington, and Ore
gon winters so mild that Ice is q
scarce article, even In Sitka, while
roses bloom in the gardens along the
coast ut Christmas time. Imparting its heat
to the air. which. ascending. passes over the
Rocky Mountains much lower here than in
the south, it affects the climate OF q re 2ion
larger than the original United States. Com
PARSONS Of temperature made with the At
luntic coast are most favorable to Montana
The rivers of Montana close later and open
earlier than those OF States far south OF this
parallel. The Missouri River here is clear
of ice a month earlier than it is at Omaha.
In the light OF existing knowledge who will
say that up to the Goth parallel in this north
west is not as capable OF being settled as
Russia AM Norway and Sweden south of
that line?
Glance at the physical features OF this
portion OF the continent and one will sec
great plain sloping northward. 1t is tho
latitude OF the continental water system.
Nowhere else in the world Is there such a
succession OF lakes and navigable rivers; no
other country possesses such an area OF
agricultural land so intersected by fresh
water. Within q radius of 1000 miles is
half the fresh water OF the globe. AT Grand
Forks, Dakota, the Red River is less than
1000 feet above the sea. Follow the river
to its mouth. Lake Winnepeg, and 1t has
descended 800 feet, and in a boat one can
steam westward on the SASKATCHEWAN more
than 1000 miles, and then double
the distance on other rivers. Follow the
Red River to its source in Lake Traverse,
and in high watcr a boat can reach Big
Storm Lake, the source of the Minnesota.
and thence pass to the Mississippi, thus
joining Hudson's Bay and the Gulf Of Mex
leo. Two hundred miles to the cast Is Lake
Superior and a water way to the Atlantic.
Three hundred miles to the west the Mis-
souri, can be reached, and the traveller be
borne into the shadow Of the Rocky Noun
tains, from whose western side another
mighty river springs the Columbia-and
leaps to different sea. After the Mis-
sissippi and Missouri the Columbia draws
the largest basin in the republic.
From Lake Superior along the northern
boundary ofthe republic to the Pacif1c Ocean
the average altitude is less than 1000 feet
above the sea. 1t is the only line on which
connected agricultural settlement can be
made across the continent IL IL the ce-
real belt. and history shows that mankind
gathers in larger numbers where food Is
most abundant and cheapest. South OF here
is the roof Of the continent; the plains Of
! Colorado are almost as high as the noun
tains OF Montana; Denver, surrounded by
productive farms, is u half-mile higher than
the average OF Montana's valley and plains.
Between Omaha and Sacramento there is a
continuous elevation OF quite 1000 feet
Ascending every 300 feet makes difference
OF one degree in temperature.
or the twenty-five States and Territories
west Of the Mississippi. each one is larger
Montana each possess area double that
/ OF the New England States. Montana.
sea- cely known by name in England is
larger than all OF Great Britain, and Is rich
est per capita of all American common
wealths. Single counties Of Montana are
/ larger than fair Eastern States. The
! counties OF Choteau and Dawson. in North
| Montana, contain more acres than the State
] Of Iowa. With the exception of q few
mountains and high buttes. the whole
of tho two counties is described
as a rolling prairie. covered with
! grass and filled with running streams. The
main rivers are the Missouri, Milk Marias,
i Sun, and Teton. q total OF 200 miles OF
waterways, not to speak OF numerous
tributaries, all flowing through valleys OF
generous width and of great depth and
richness OF soil. Here the story Of the buff
falo was closed. Strange that the American
| people. usually sagacious, so long consid-
/ cred this Western land as sterile and worth
| less, regardless OF the fact that 1t gave sup
! port to countless heads of untamed cattle.
IL Is no doubt true that an nal life had its
origin in the warmer climates. but it Is also
! true that the colder climates have de-
! veloped the most sturdy. energetic and
brainy races OF men as well as the best
\ breeds OF domestic animals. Frost aud
health lines seem to be synonymous. The
races OF the frost climes are the most vigor-
Gus; 1t Is the lesson OF history that MOI tn
ern nations have always boon more succe ss-
full in war and progressive in peace than
] their Southern neighbors. Tho material
and moral conquest OF the world belongs to
the races Of the frost lands; they have been
the most energetic explorers and pioneers.
| the most adventurous colonizers, the
| most active merchants, the best