The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-01
THE III 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 or the Dakotas,
and is the only section west of the Miss
issippi river which can rival the cele'
b. q 81 Red River Valley Of the North in
the superior quality of its cereals. 1t is
the lly agricultural section in the state
o. Montana, where crops can be raised
without irrigation, Vegetables Of all
kinds are grown in abundance, while
apples, plums, peaches, cherries, pears,
and the small fruits such as strawbOr-
ries, blackberries, goosebe RES, raspber-
ries are being 1aised successfully. With
q ready market for all products OF the
| soil in the rich mineral di tricts to the
east, west a d south, the farmers of tho
| Flathead valley will soon be classed
among the wealthiest and most infiuen-
| tail of this new countr Wheat averages
thirty five bushels per acre, oats sixty
bushels, barley forty bushels, rye thirty
bushels, potatoes 400 bushes. cabbtg go
ten tons per acre, rutabagas thir y tons
per acre.
The Flathead river, with its tribu.
taries-tfe North, South and Middle
forks-the Saltwater and Whitefsh
rivers, with thoir hume .ous br anche3,
making q total of over Co miles of log
ging streams, al of which converge at
kalispell, flow through vast forests OF
pine, tamarack, fir, larch and cedar.
Under tho recent law enacted by con-
gress these boundless tracts of imber
I, land can be purchased at $3.50 per acre.
According to the state auditors report,
of the 1O3,4S9,2S3 feet OF lumber cawed
N The st tie during the year 1891, lO0,-
0 UUOO vas sawed in NJ ssoula county,
thus demonstrating this portion CT 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
roaGs are already building, and the de-
velolment of this resource alone VII
renGer this section the Pitt=buag of thu
northwest. Adjoining these immense
bodies of coal lie large tracts OF oil land,
which give promise Of equa'ing the rich
petroleum fields of Pennsylvania.
Natural gas has also been discovered in
this region.
Underlying a large portion OF
the valley, II thirty-foot start
UNI of the finest quail ty of tte
clay is found, which otf,rs excep'
tional opport1n tics for he maaufac.
ture of POTTERY:, and affords the brick
maker a conyeli n. and unlimi ell sup
ply for his kiln. Common and pressed
brick of Il most superior qualify have
b ,en made from this clay, and numer-
Gus handsome buildings throughout The
va ley sand as monumen 10 this in
dussry.
Mcntana's mineral output, which now
SURPRISES that of any o her s'aLeln he
uni n, will be largely augmen ed by the
Development of he hidden treasures IN
The mountain ranges surrounding the
+ a head valley. Rich veins of gold,
silver, @ pper and lead, which have
already b on discov red, are attrac ing
the AT, ention OF the CAPT alisIs who
have inves ed largely in mining proper
tics throughout this section, and ate
RAPIDLY pushing heir d~eyelopmenh