The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-22
FARMING IN THE VALLEY.
An Illustration or Two OF How
Money Is Made in the
Prickly Pear.
Modern Methods to be Pursued
by Progressive Men
This Year.
Experience OF n Colorado Man-Contem
plated Visit of Connecticut Capitalists
How Helena Stands In the East.

Among the surroundings OF the city of
Helena which make n most favorable i'm
preston upon strangers at this season OF
the year, and a little later, ia the Prickly
Pear valley, extending for miles, and
clothed in a mantle of green. The natural
superstition of the VISITORS 10 that the Hell
ena market is supplied from this source
with all the vegetables, ANAL fruits and
other ranch produce which the city con-
sumes. When told that such is not the
case, that there 10 sent away from Helena
every year a million dollars for eggs, but
ter, vegetables and fruits, the stranger asks
for a reason, and is told that the Montana
farmer, AS a rule, only tries to raise enough
for his own family consumption, and some
times not even that. The soil is all right,
the climate and altitude are not against
him, but the old-time rancher does not care
to farm for profit.
Within the past year or two, however,
some few men with advanced ideas, and
who want to make money, have become
possessed of land in the valley, and some
of them will show this year just what can
be done by strict attention to business.
Last year one of these men sold from two
and one-half acres of strawberries and cur
rants 81, 600 worth, and thisi is but an ex-
ample of what any one else can do who will
devote himself to the business. Everyone
who has lived in Helena a year, knows that
Montana Strawberries command a better
price in this market than those shipped in,
because they are sweeter, have a better
taste. and are in every way more desirable.
In addition, apples nave been and are now
hafN~ oc0naooFr,ll las, rr1Su, - - ,l.o, .-l
oats, nowhere can these cereals be more
successfully raised, nor with a larger yield
per acre. Potatoes, as large and fine as
were ever dug out of the ground are always
a sure crop, and all the win
ter vegetables have been raised.
The trouble has been, as before stated,
that but few of the ranchers tried
to raise more than was barely sufficient tor
their needs. Those who did raise crops for
the market are to-day almost without OK
ception the well-to-do people of the county.
Some of the valley ranchmen have raised
hay exclusively, for which there is always a
good market in Helena at from SIG to $50 a
ton, but they have not made as much as
they could if they had gone more into
general farming.
During the previous two years, owing to
the slight rainfall, and light SHOWS during
the winter, there has not been a surplus OF
water in the valley, but quite enough for
all the land cultivated and a great deal
more. In order to make sure of water,
even in the dryest season, there will be put
on several places this year, pumps costing
from $500 to $1,000. The lower priced are
capable Of irrigaing forty acres of land and
the larger one so acres. These pumps are
not experiments, but have been tried and
found to answer the purpose fully in Color
ado, where the same conditions prevail as
in the Prickly Pear. This season on a mum
Der of ranches alfalfa will be planted and a
tpGt nnIa 40 10 ito aIuptnfi1ifu In M,
section.
A Denver man, who recently purchased a
ranch down the valley, said Yesterday:
The little attention that has been paid to
the resources of the Psickly Pear valley,
both by those who live there and bv the
people of Helena, reminds me OF a condi-
ton of things which prevailed near Denver
up to 1882. There they shipped in every
thing they needed, as you do here, till three
experienced truck gardeners, from Illinois,
demonstrated what the soil was capable of.
THESE three pioneers in that line in Colorado
are now wealthy men, and all they are
worth was made of of sixty acres of land,
each having a twenty. The old settlers
laughed at them for a year or so, but after
that the laugh was on the other side, and
now a section east of Denver, which was a
desolate prairie, with scarcely a blade of
grass and not a tree, is cut up into small
holdings of twenty or forty acres, and the
thousands of dollars which went out of
Denver every year for chickens, eggs, vege-
tables and fruits, is kept at home. | regard
property in the Prickly Pear valley at
present prices as a good investment, because
if practical men take hold of 1T, they will
make money. There is the market for all the
valley can raise, and at the best prices. |
have just paid $4,000 for a ranch in the val
Icy, and the man l bought of made off of it
for a number of years $1,000 a year.
knew just what | WAS about when | bought
it, and | have a party to raise it on shares,
who will make money for both of us out of
it. | will have no trouble about water for
irrigation. and intend putting in a pump
such as l have on a place l own near Dem
yer, and for $500 or s $1,000 l will be able to
irrigate all the land l care to, and be sure
of my crops, and everything we raise we
will sell in Helena"
Mr.. A. B. Clements, of Steele & Clements,
Is engaged on a little plan, which, if sue
%cessful, cannot but help Helena, either di--
rectly or indirectly. A number of Con
necticut mon are Interested in the Summit
and Gold Dust mines in Jefferson county.
Both mines have proved to be paying prop
osltlons, and naturally the owners have II
good opinion OF Montana Investments. On
a recent visit east, Mr.. Clements suggested
the ACCESSIBILITY of these gentlemen and
some of their friends visiting Montana
this year. Tho proposition was formally
received and Mr.. Clements is now in corre-
spondence with various railroad officials to
lind what arrangements he can make for
the party. If the railroads do the right
thing the party will come. A visit to the
mines and other points in the state, with Il
three weeks stay at tho Broadwater, is part
of the programme mapped out. TIL entire
party would he made up almost exclusively
OF men of means, and some Investments
would undoubtedly follow their visit.
Speaking of Helena Mr.. Clements said:
There is no city in the west with a better
reputation in financial circles thar this
city. Our correspondence proves his and
we find no difficulty in getting eastern
money to loan on Helena property. And
what is true of Helena is also t ne of the
entire state. No comnionwealth west of
us has the standing Montana has, and it is
honestly entitled to it,
- 1t was reported yesterday that n move is
on foot to turn the old electric light build
ing, on tho corner of Park and Sixth ave
nues, into a place of amusement. The big
chimney will be taken down and such alter
atoms made as will make it suited for the
atrical entertainments The only thing |
that stands III the way at present il the
question OF whether arrangements can be
made with the present lessees.
Special display of parasols and sun umbrellas
10 morrow Mt bruneli a Go. Is.
Baby carriages Mt 33ll per cent. discount Mt Tha