The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-05-30
FROM MONTANA.
A Brief Description Of the Way
They do Things Out
There.
A Typical Western Town With
One Church and Twenty
Five Saloons.
correspondence of THE BAzoo.

Correspondence III TIE BAzOo.
STEvENsvILLE, Montana, May Dc
"A few lines from this far away sec
ton of the world may be of interest
to some of the readers of the BAZOO,
which has. | know, large circulation
in Central Missouri and is the favorite
paper with the people in that garden
spot of the world, because the grow
ing new state of Montana, the En-
pire state of the marvellous North
west, is a sort of product and progeny
of Missouri, Just as Missouri is re-
garded as u child of Kentucky, from
the fact that Kentuckians, more than
others, led the way in her settlement
and upbuilding. There are many
Missourians here. not few of whom
have friends and relatives in Pettis
and adjoining counties of Missouri,
who may, perchance, being readers of
your valuable paper, of course, read
these lines with passing interest.
Sturdy Missouri pioneers settled
this state, destined to be one of the
largest in the west, and blazed the
pathway of civilization. The first
considerable influx of Missourians to
Montana was during the latter part of
the late civil war, when times were
troublous in Missouri and many Mis-
sourians were glad to leave the the
alter of fratricidal war and seek Sc
clusion from strife and turmoil
in these far removed quiet
wales. Since then, there has
been pretty considerable and con-
tinual stream of Missourians here uI-
til they now form a considerable part of
the population and are more than there
are from any other one state. They
are in the majority in this section of
the state, known as Bitter Root Val
ley, lying between the Rocky and Bit
ter Root mountains, in the extreme
western part of the state and border
ing ON Idaho.
/ am at loss to know what to say
of this country in this article. as / am
well aware that Missouri is the best
state in the union and that Central
Missouri is the garden spot of the
world. Hence, comparing any other
section of the world with Missouri, for
the perusal of Missourians, is a deli
cate task. If the writer, in his de-
scription of the attractions of a new
country, delineates them with such en-
thusiasm as to surpass Missouri in any
respect, he is apt to be regarded by
residents of Missouri as paid immi-
grafton agent or a monumental liar or
both. as they are about the same thing
With due Difference, however, to
Missouri, the Imperial State of the
union, by a Missourian, who knows
and appreciates her greatness, this is
a good, a great and a growing coun-
try. To any one who desires health,
frontier life, a new country, opportu-
ni;y for profitable investment. greater
possibilities, broader opportunities, or
Il change from any cause whatever,
this is good and an inviting field.
There are vast forests, rich mines, fer
tile valleys and growing towns here to
be yet developed and some of theni
are being developed at rate that
would make a Missoulian's head swim
in his native state.
This Bitter Root Valley is about
one hundred miles long and from two
to twenty miles wide. 1t is lined on
either side by lofty mountains, whose
majestic peaks can be seen, covered
with snow, the year round, In all sea-
sons. 1t Is well watered. gently slop-
ing and said to be the best agricultural
valley in the state. 1t is certainly
very productive. All tales OF man.
moth pumpkins. big potatoes. marvel
Gus turnips, tall oats and prodigious
yields of wheat will be omitted from
this article, however. as they would
not be believed in Missouri.
A large part OF the valley is covered
with thrifty farms and good farm resi-
dences and barns, many of which
would be a credit to Central Missouri
farms. There is yet considerable
good land to be had in the valley at a
small cost by pre-empting it.
The mountains lining this valley
are covered with an endless world ~