The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-08-10
A DESIRABLE COUNTRY.

A DESIRABLE COUNTRY.
In the Montana department. of the Far
mer and Stock Breeder for August we
find the following pointed suggestions and |
illusions: ss.$
Yes they are, in moderate numbers
no great rush, but a healthy filling up by
men and families, who are COM
ing to stay. The days of the mere "pil-
grims" are about over. There was a time
when they were arriving in great num-
hers. They came, they thought they saw
and they left. They did not investigate
and they were not pleased, nor did they
please the bona fide residents, except
when they lifted their bundles, took a
hitch in their trousers and disappeared
The man here denominated a. "pilgrim'
is the useless specimen, who expects to
locate 100 acre tract of the choicest land
in the valley, adjoining the town, hold it
six months or year and then sell 1t at
1000 per cent. advance in the mean time
getting some soft job where work is light
and wages high, by means of which to
support himself and lay up "stake" for
his homeward journey, for mind you he
has not the least intention Of becoming q
resident. He is usually from the Estates"
1--WE might mention which ones, but that
will be guessed.) HIS stay is brief, the
country unattractive in appearance,
the cattle fossil Montanian who believes
that the earth and the fulness thereof
belong exclusively to the cattlemen, gets
his head which, though large, he fills
with the idea that this region is nowhere
fit for anything but grazing purposes,
while just in this locality (no matter
where that locality is) there never can he
found grass enough to support a goose on
a rs acre tract. AS a consequence the
"pilgrim' skips,as 1t is best that he should
do. But another class is coming in here
who will stick. They do not expec
to see thousands of acres of breast-higl
grass waving in,the gentle prairie breeze
with the horns of myriads of cattle jus
know the indications Of good countr.
when they see them. They investigate
they drive back into the country; the,
visit the mountain springs and streams
they study the grass and picture to them
selves what changes will result from civ
ilization and from the presence of farm
buildings, trees, and the thousand an
one things consequent upon settlemen,
and they are pleased with the prospec1
They stay and they are welcome. Man
of this class come from the west. The
come from the Pacific coast and fro,
Dakota and Minnesota. Pioneer life ha
+ no secrets from them. They know its pr
vations and its blessings.
: TO SUM IT ALI. UP,
The Milk River valley is an extensiv
, and fertile region, adapted when, proper
ly developed and worked, to grazing an
Y agricultural purposes. In close proxim
z ty to Chinook toward the mountain tn
: country is we'll adapted to ranching, da
It rying and grain raising. The rainfall,
Il ordinary seasons, is good during tn
n months when most needed for agricult,
il raj purposes. An ample fuel supply {
It good quality is assured. An abundant
e Of good building stone is of easy acce'
e and will always be inexpensive. I'll
d clay Of the valley is we'll adapted to brio
q making and extensive yards will soon |
in operation in the vicinity OF Chinoo
\ The climate Is healthful and invigoratir
e Settlement though somewhat retarded
,r the present unpropitious season, is pr
crossing, and will gain new impetus eat
year. The people who have establlshe
homes, whether In town or in the farmir
,s and stock growing districts are contente
7 and prosperous, and, ''the longer they sts
:. the better they like It," Northern Mo
III tana with its valleys, bench lands, 70
IL hills and mountains is without doubt IL
in choicest body of government land now r
at naming, and its complete occupancy
~ " but the matter of few brief years.