The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-18
THE FLATHEAD VALLEY.

The Flathead valley, ten years ago an
almost unknown region, the home Of the
savage and wild beast, to-day is the
most productive section Of the north.
west, yielding per acre double the out.
put of Kansas, Iowa CT the Dakotas,
and is the only section west Of the Miss.
issippi river which can rival the cele.
ba elRed River Valley of the North in
the superior quality of its cereals. 1t is
tho o lly agricultural section in the state
o Montana, where crops can be raised
without irrigation. Vegetables of all
kinds tre grown il abundance, while
apples, plums, peaches, cherries, pears,
and the small fruits such as strawber.
ries, b~lackberries, goosehe rles, raspber.
ries are being raised successfully. With
a ready market for all products of the
sol in the rich mineral di tricts to the
east, west a d south, the farmers of the
Flathead valley will soon be classed
among the wealthiest and most intuen-
tail of this new countr5. Wheat averages
thirty-five bushels per acre, oats sixty
bushels, barley forty bushels, rye thirty
bushels, potatoes 400 bushes, cabbage
ten tons per acre, rutabagas thir y tons
per acre.
The Flathead river, with it's tribu-
taries-tte North, South and Middle
forks-the Saltwater and Whitefish
rivers, with thsir numerous br anches,
making a total of over Coz miles of log
ging streams, all of which converge at
kalispell, flow through vast forests OF
pine, tamarack, fir, larch and cedar.
Under the recent law enacted by con-
! gress these bolndless tracts of timber
land can be purchased at $3.50 per acre.
According to the state aud tors report,
of the 1O3,4 LIS ,2S3 feet OF lumber nawed
in the site during the year 1891, 1O0,.
10000 was sawed in M ssoula county,
thus demonstrating this portion Of the
| states SUI remacy in the lumber in.
dustry.
In the northern portion OF the valley
are hidden vast measures OF a superior
quality OF coal towards which the rail-
| ROADS are already building, and the de-
yelol ment OF this esource alone WI
render this section the Pitt. buag of tina
northwest. Adjoining these immense
bodies OF coal lie large tracts OF oil land,
which We promise of equalin the rich
petroleum fields of Pennsylvania.
Natural gas has also been discovered in
this region.
Underlying a large portion of
the valley, u thirty-foot start
UNI of the finest quail ty OF ii Q
| clay is found, which Oft rs excep.
tional opportunities for he manufac.
turs Of pot.eyry, and nffe rds The brick
maker II conveni n and unlimi o sup.
! ply for h q kiln. Common and pressed
brick of a most super. or qualify have
b>en male from this clay, and m
GUS handsome buildings throughout ihe
va ley 8 and as monumen 3 10 this in
dus ny.
Montana's mineral OH put, which now
surpasses that OF any 0 her s a e in he
uni n, will be largely augmen ed by the
development of he hidden reasures in
the mountain ranges surrounding the
F.a head valley. Rich veins OF gold,
silver, Q pper and lead, which have
already b on dis,ov red, are attrac ing
the attention OF the CAPT alis 9 who
have invested largely in mining proper.
lies throughout this sec ion, and ass
rauidly pushing ,hoir DEVELOPMENTS