Connecticut western news., 1890-06-11
OUR MONTANA LETTER.

Editor .of He Neaos:
 Leaving you on the platform at Canaan, some days ago, now call to mind little promise made at that time, to write you letter upon my arrival here. Now that promise seemed so trifi- ing at tne time but the enormous side of it makes its appearance when one comes right to the point of fulfilling It.. It bothers me to think of what would interest an editor so many miles distant, and much more what would interest the readers of his paper in the good old states of Massachusetts and Connecticut.
 Leaving Connecticut Monday, May 18th, from New Haven by the Derby Extension of the Heusatonic railroad we were whirled over the New York Central to Buffalo, then over the Grand Trunk through Lower Canada. At Port Huron the whole train was run upon an immense ferry boat and run on to United States soil again, in the state of Michigan. Making stop at Lansing, Mich, of one weeks duration, it was my ambition to gain as much knowledge as possible of that fast-growing city. My uncle, who shas been resident of that state for nearly forty years, pro- ceeded to show ne through the capitol, the engine works, the reform school {, the blind school and great many oth CT places O. interest which I have not the space to mention.
 Just to say few words of the blind school. It seems almost an impossibili- ty to learn a little child who has never seen to read, but it certainly can be done, for saw little girl only eigh years old, take book of raised letters tho larger than fair-sized print and read as rapidly as almost any one who had the best of eye sight.
 Lansing is located on nice plot of rolling prairie ground, but great deal of Michigan is so very level that the rain fall ln the spring lies so long on the ground that it ini ures crops great deal. This year they are afraid the corn crop will be an entire failure, on account of wet weather. It seems to the New England boy that country without hill or stone would be next to paradise, but boys you will find drawbacks in any country.
 Leaving Lansing the 18th inst. we started to complete the journey of 5000 miles, going by way of Chicago. From there by the way of Chicago, Minn. St Paul x Kansas City R. R., by the way of Dubuque to St Paul, thence by the Northern Pacific. All the way from Michigan to St Paul the wet, cloudy, weather prevailed, but from there we found Minnesota and Dakota very dry, with no way of wetting their soil only as some few try artesian wells.
 Coming through Montana we find it pretty we'll cut up with irrigating ditches, with chance to raise crop no matter how dry it is, as the streams are fed here by the melting of the snows in the hills which can be found at any season in the Rocky mountains.
 Cattle are looking nicely here this spring, and crops also. We are about as far advanced in the season as Litch- field county. Spring wheat about four inches high, and oats the same.
 Since last fall this locality has under gone some great changes. Mines have been sold and developed. Three branches of railroad from the Northern Pacific striking out for other mining camps and passing through this place, 8 town last fall of three hundred, now a thousand last fall one hotel, now eight; DO churches then, now two have been started, soon to be completed ; two stores then, now ten and building of everything in proportion. And we must not forget to add that the town has recently started very spicy paper, with "patent inside" I will try and get copy when mail this that will give you more of an idea of the busi- ness of the town. lis we'll, I presume, to mention the greatest industry next to mining, viz, stock raising. We will mention horses, as they are the more numerous, for the reason there are very few markets as yet for horses in this locality, and the facilities for raising them are unexcelled for the reason that horse can live on these ranges without bit of hay being fed him, as the nutritious bunch grass of this state | is as good as the very best of timothy hay, and to tell 8 New England boy he could buy a horse for $50 or $60 as nice looking as any horse that could be purchased, seems like telling "horse story" nevertheless it's the truth. But should the boy take it into his head tc harness this Bronco" las he is called here) and take his "best girl' out riding, he would naturally get left, and so would the sweetheart. This particu lar horse that I mention is one that has never been handled by anyone never had rope on him only to hold him fol branding with red hot iron. Ther imagine this same boys surprise wher he mounts this horse to take ride. | he ever gets on, 'tis only very shor stay, for the horse puts his head between his front feet and jumping as high as his strength will permit, and some times seemingly shaking himself in the air, the unsophisticated rider finds him
 self little bruised and great dea more of the opinion that he is not
 Bronco" rider, and lastly he finds ths boys have played trick on him by putting him onto "bucking Bronco.
 Is this the way the boys always treat new conner will be asked Yes, tha
 is the way they have of introducing
 him to the ways of the country" a.
 they term it.
 Of course the name "Pilgrim" Ii
 familiar in every household and Ii
 always applied to one from the east
 Now I will treat you to little jok,
 once played upon an unsuspectins
 Pilgrim" and I will then draw thi
 letter to close. Be was one of thos
 good natured sort of boys, rather ambi
 tious, tor he wouldn't have been here
 wanted to s' stand in" with the boys
 He was from New England, where gam l is not as nlantY as here and he natlr