The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-08-10
THE MILK RIVER VALLEY.


the Milk river was indeed revelation to
them all. Even those fairly we'll ac-
Quainted with the country, but who had
not seen it the present summer,were sur
prised at the extent and luxuriance OF the
native meadow. For miles it spreads out
like an ocean of verdurc as if reckoning
the tired and way-worn wight to stay and
rest his weary head upon its breast.
Besides the exhibition Of grass, grain
and vcgctabl es-- all grown without irri-
gation-that was presented to their view,
they saw at various points along their line
Of travel, the evidences of extraordinary
progress in the settlement of country
but little upwards Of a single year ago
comparatively unknown aud occupied as
an Indian reservation-they saw we'll
plated towns dotting the railroad line
which bid fair in the near future to be-
come the marketing and supply points
for rich and populous farming and stock
raising districts.
If Chinook may be taken as an example
of the facility with which towns are to be
built up along the route of the Manitoba
way, then it may be safely predicated that
the settlement Of this country and the es-
tablishment Of prosperous towns through
out the Milk river valley will mark new
area in the rapid growth Of the settle
ment Of the great west. 49,.
The oapacious and handsome freight
and passenger depot erected at Chinook
being 105 feet long, the main building
two stories, with substantial raised plat.
form all around it and for 800 feet along
the track has been thought to he in ad
vance of the needs of the place; but when
it is considered that the local receipts
there for the month of July were $0,S13,
II and that those Of the present month
will be greatly in excess Of that amount
this idea will be at once found erroneous
And this at town not yet three months
old!
or the developments along the line be
tween Great Falls and Chinook q specia
in the Independent says:
Very few of the residents of southern
and western Montana are aware Of tn
rapid changes now taking place i'll tn
Milk river valley and the balance of tn
great reservation Of northern Montana
thrown open for settlement somethin!
} over year ago. Early in February al
immigration of sturdy farmers from tn
eastern states seti to that section of Mon
tana and has continued in steady strean
) ever since. The majority of these hav
taken homesteads In the main valley O
the Milk, either In the vicinity of Glaf
gow or Chinook. The Milk valley vii
: average from three to eight miles i
width, and large percentage Of its SUI
! face is a luxuriant natural hay meadow
. Il l,onanzc this dry season for the settler
t who are ind,lstriously putting up tAol
: sands of tons from its broad acres.
+ The peculiar advantage Of the BE,
}. Paw bench lands, and Of the valley f
= fifty miles east and fifty miles west
J. Chinook has been the very heavy Jul
. rains, converting the country into IL gre
# ocean of verdure. There is a possibilit
Il that Montana, north Of the Belt rang
g will prove capable OF producing the grail
>. without irrigation, and il this proves
l. be the case. its value and benefit added
+ our irrigablc area can hardly be over-e
IL timatcd. The money now sent out of Il
.t state for brcadstuifs can he kept at hon
H. thus adding greatly to the general bene
N of the entire community. Dry rs is Il
' present year the settlers have fairto go'
-. crops of wheat, oats, potatoes and veg
is tables.
IL Grass is excellent along the Milk al
tn tn in the valleys of the Bear Paws, and
~ =, the last few weeks thousands of shet
y cattle and horses have been driven in
to shipped by rail. Of late people west
III the mountains have begun to spy out
,~ nr land lying so invitingly ut their doc
Or and already the majority Of settlers goi
III in are from Washington, Oregon, Ida
and the valleys of western Montana. l
us little Of a sensation is being made
al m Montana's big reservation, Int the co,
by Try Is being effectively and rapidly oc'
'us pied hy the two eastern and western ii.
So of homcseckcrs.
W. Big Sandy. just west of the Bear Pa
1t. is :. favoritc unloading place for stt