The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-06
THE FLATHEAD VALLEY.

THE 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.
bta ed Red River Valley of the North in
the superior cr34lity of it's cereals. 1t is
the only 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 strawber.
ries, b~lackberries, goosebe 'rles, raspber-
ries are being raised successfully. With
a ready market for all products of the
soil in the rich mineral districts to the
east, west and south, the farmers of thu
Flathead valley will soon be classed
among the wealthiest and most intluen-
tailof this new country. Wheat averages
thirty five bushels per acre, oats sixty
bushels, barley forty bushels, rye thirty
bushels, potatoes 400 bushels, cabbage
ten tons per acre, rutabagas thirty tons
per acre.
The Flathead river, with it's tribu.
taries-the North, South and Middle
forks-the Saltwater and Whitefish
rivers, with THAR br anches,
making a total of over Coz miles Of loy-
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 boundless tracts Of timber
land can be purchased at $3.50 per acre.
According to the state auditors report,
| of the 1O3, s9,2s3 feet OF lumber Gawed
! in the st tie during the year 1891, 1OO,-
100000 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
roaGs are already building, and the de-
veloJ ment of this resource alone will
render 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, thirty-foot start
UNI Of the finest quality Of fire
clay is found, which offers excep.
tional opportunities for the manufao.
ture Of POTTERY:, and affords the brick
maker n %conyeui MT and unlimi cd sup.
ply for his kiln. Common and pressed
brick of a most superior quality have
ben made from this clay, and IN
Gus handsome buildings throughout tho
valley stand as 10 this in.
dustry.
Montana's mineral output, which now
surpasses that of any o her 8 ate in The
uni, n, will be largely augmen ed by the
development Of The hidden reasures in
the mountain ranges surrounding the
Fa head valley. Rich veins OF gold,
silver, copper and lead, which have
already been discovered, are attrac ing
the attention of the 'capi; alisls who
have invested largely in mining proper
ties throughout This section, and a,e
rauidly pushing their de-, eloDmenL