The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-18

from the Yellowstone . distance Of about
fifty miles, aud almost TO the carbonate
camp OF Cattle. Its average width 10 about
twenty miles, giving IL an area Of 1000
square miles or csc, 600 ac,ss. Tho Cay
range OF mountains bound II on the saat,
while ita western boundary 10 formed BY
She Belt ranee. Tho valley proper of ths
river. bordered BY the bench lands, will
average I've miles in width. This Il all =
rich alluvial deposit, making II the finest
kind Of hay and grain producing land. Tho
plateaus or bench lands which flank this
bottom extend in a gradual moline
back TO tho mountains, interssoted
By the multitude OF tributaries that
supply the Shields river. These perennial
streams, some Of considerable size, have
their source IN the mountain ranges, and by
their valleys contribute largely to tho fer
tile nrea of agricultural lands, while tho
undulating bench lands which form their
divides produce n iuxuriant growth Of
nutritious bunch z asses that maintain
large herds Of cattle, horses and sheep.
This renders tho Shields valley especially
advantageous to small stockgrowers who do
not possess Tho capital 'equired in an ex-
elusive stock business and who desire to
engage in that industry i'll connection with
agriculture. Stockarowing. which orig
inally m~onopolized nearly the entire valley
by the presence o, large bands of cattle.
that everywhere followed the extinction of
the buffalo. has Of lato yenrs been giving
place to agriculture. woolgrowing and
atockraisinU upon o smaller but no less
profitable scale.
Much Of the agricultu al land for which
individual effort has suficed to supply tho
artificial moisture required il now under
cultivation and producing largo yields of
cereals, timothy and alfalfa. while immense
areas yet remain to be reclaimed by more
extensive irrigation enterprises conducted
by stock companies or associations formed
by neiRhborinc land owners. Stockraising
and Woodworking, which have been n source
of large revenues in the past must continue
profitable, for many years Mt least, as the
large area OF more broken lnnds Mt the base
of the Belt range, rs we'll as portions of the
Craziea, a's comparatively unavailable for
agriculture, and by their luxurinnt growth
Of grasses are rendered more valuable for
pnsturaGe. This section also possesses
great possibilities as q wheat producing
locality. The immense ttncts of gently
undulating table lands lying along the
Crazy range OF mountains. are admirably
adapted to the & owing OF winter whent, as
has been demonstrates ~ practica! expert
ments during the past two yenrs. The soil
Ia deep and retAiws the moisture near the
surface. rendering irrigation in most parts
unnecessary. while the mountain SHOWS lie
until late in the srring, affording abundant
protection to winter wheat and keeping the
ground moist until late in the season when
the need of artificial moisture by Irrigation
Is raised. Els, ecially j, this applicable TO
to the higher lands near the mountains.
Now that it has been demonstrated what
the soil is capable of producing, another
field is opened up for those interested in
irrigation enterprises. There Is now a
canal in Paradise valley. taken out near
Fridley. about twelve miles long, and carry
ing 5000 inches Of water. There are a
number OF bitches in Shields River valley,
car wing an aggregate OF 2O.O 600 inches. Tho
5000 inches. The Livingston Water
Power company has a canal carrying $4,000
inches. and various ditches taken out OF
the uprer Yellowstone carry about 10000
inches more. All, or nearly NIL, the water
taken out By the above canals is utilized,
and there remains n fine field for capital to
reclaim thousands of acres suitable for
settlers in that section of Park county trib-
utary to Livingston. That county produces
more coal than any other in tho state, and
in addition 1t has mines OF gold and silver.
These give employment to n large number
Of men. and each year the number engaged
in these industri.s increases, thus insu ing
| consumers at home for all the farmers can
raise. Now thousands OF dollars are sent
out of Park county and the state annually for
common, ordinary farm products that can
be grown in great abundance In the county.
In any branch of the flaming industry
there are oppo tunities for hundreds OF
experienced eastern farmers.