The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-04
schools, churches, and all other things shat
60 to make up n progressive and prosper
Gus c~ommunity,

GUS CCLuuluultys
Il may DO asked how far has experience
shown that mixed farming can DO prose-
cuted successfully in the Missouri river val
ley. and what lines offer the quickest and
largest profits? Repeated tests on . com
psrativelv largo scale have shown that al
falfa IS o good crop in the valley. The OK
p~erience of Others has shown that when
hogs are fed on alfalfa and peas the rork is
superior to that Of corn-fed animals. Hog
raising. in conjunction with general farm
ing would be a. profitable in the Missouri
valley as any line q ia: mer could follow in
my section. As it 10 now. there are not
enough hogs raised in the valley to supply
the local demand, to say nothing OF the
needs Of tho Helena market. No attempt
has been made to supply the Helena market
with butter and eggs. and yet Helena,
only twenty miles away, sends annually
to the east many thousands OF
dollars for these articles. An Illinois
farmer with experience in these lines could,
by attention to business. make q small for
tune in FIVE years in the manufacture and
sails OF butter, end the raising Of poultry
for the market. In the Townsend market
dressed chickens sell for 70 cents each.
This is as good an illustration of the supply
and demand in this line as could be given.
Eggs in ths same market average the year
around 35 cents q dozen. The eastern
farmer will know. without further COM
ment. the profits to the agricultural at
these figures. Another field for the q.
perisnced farmer in the valley is market
gardening. A half dozen good market
gardeners in the valley would find a ready
sale for everything they could raise. and at
prices that would insure a competence in a
comparatively short time. Little. II n AZ
tempt, has been made to meet the demand
for melons and tomatoes. and even tho
raising of the ordinary winter vegetables
Is confined almost to home use. The
farmer who has q liking for horse breeding
raising Of road and good American work
horses. Recently a few OF the farmers in
the valley have gone into the breeding OF
good horses, for which there is always q
market in the immedinte vicinity.
Townsend, the supply and shipping point
of the valley, is just ten years old. 1t 10 a
thriving little village, and in addition to
! the trade of the Missouri and Grow Greek
| valleys. tho promising St. Louis mining
district Is also tributary to ii. The bank
ing business is lone by the Bank of Town.
send, which has a capital of $25. 600. IT.
| directory being composed of some of the
wealthy men of the state. There is an ex-
cellent school, three churches, a good
weekly paper, the Messenger, two good ho-
tells. two extensive general stores. a furnit.
u.e establishments; in fact almost every
line of business is represented. and the
prosperity of the farmer finds a reflection
in the solidity and business done in The
town. Since its establishment the town hal
had a steady growth. every year seeing thu
addition of new and tasteful residences
With the completion of the big canal
water power will be available. a1ordinR th'
opportunity to establish a fouEing mill
Another enterprise TINT is being considered
is the establishment OF an oatmeal nill.