The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-31
THE VALLEY.

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-
bsa ell Red River Valley of the North in
the superior quality of its cereals. 1t is
the only agricultural section in the state
o. Montana, where crops can be rlised
without irrigation. Vegetables of all
kinds ere grown Ia abundance, while
apples, plums, peaches, cherries, pears,
and the small fruits such as strawber-
ries, blackberries, goosehe -rles, raspber-
ries are being raised successfully. With
a ready market for all products of tie
soil in the rich mineral di tricts to the
east, west a d south, the farmers of thu
Flathead valley will soon be classed
among the wealthiest and most lnfiuen-
tail of this new countr5 Wheat averages
thirty five bushels per acre, oats sixty
bushels, barley forty bushels, rye thirty
bushels, potatoes 400 bushes, cabbfge
ten tons per acre, %rutabagas thir y tons
per acre.
The Flathead river, with it's tribu-
taries-the North, South and Middle
forks-the Saltwater and Whitefish
| rivers, with tn sir br anche',
making a total of over tO0 miles OF log
| ging streams, al of which converge at
K%alispell, flow through vast forests of
| pine, tamarack, fir, larch and ceiar.
Under ths 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 1~O3,499,2S3 feet OF lumber sawed
in the st tie during the year 1891, 1OO,-
| O. 600 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
roa6s are already building, and the de-
veloEment of this esource alone VIII
renGer this section the Pittsbuag of the
northwest. Adjoining these immense
bodies OF coal lie large tracts OF oil land,
which give promise of equaling the rich
petroleum fields of Pennsylvania.
Natural gas has also been discovered in
this region.
Underlying a large portion OF
the valley, n thirty-foot start
UNI of the finest quality of fire
clay is found, which Offers excep-
tional opportunities for The manufac-
turs of pot,evry. and affords the bKlck-
maker a conveai NJ and unlimi ell sup-
ply for his kiln. Common and pressed
brick of a most superior quality have
b Ell II a lie from this clay, and numer-
Gus handsome buildings Throughout the
valley s end as monumen, 8 10 this ill.,
dus ry.
Montana's mineral output. which now
SURPRISES lha' OF any o her s Il e in he
uai n. will be largely augmen cd by the
Development of he hidden treasures in
the mountain ranges surrounding the
Fla head valley. Rich veins of gold,
silver, G pper and lead, which hive
already b en- discov red, are attrac lug
the attention OF tho CAPT alis e who
have invested largely in mining proper
ties throughout this section, and a;e
RAPIDLY pushing their d~eyelopmenL