The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-01
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 CT the Dakotas.
and is the only section west of the Miss.
issippi river which can rival TIE cello.
b'a ell Red River Valley of the North in
the superior quality of its cereals. 1t is
the only agricultural section in the state
o Montana, where crops can be rlised
without irrigation. Vegetables of all
kinds re grown in abundance, while
apples, plums, peaches, cherries, pears,
and the small fruits such as s%trawber.
ries, blackberries, goosehe- rles, raspber-
ries are beng latsed successfully. With
a ready market for all products of TIE
soil in the rich mineral di tricts to the
east, west d south, the farmers of thu
Flathead valley will soon be classsd
among the wealthiest and most int1uen-
tail of thisnew countr'. Wheat averages
thirty five bushels per acre, oats sixty
bushels, barley forty bushels, rye thirty
bushels, potatoes 400 bushels, cabb; ga
ten tons per acre, rutabagas thir y tons
per acre.
The Flathead river, with its tribu.
taries-tte North, South and Middle
forks-the Saltwater and Whitefish
rivers, with tn .ir nume- ous br anches,
making a total of over Co miles Of log
ging streams, al of which converge at
Il 11ic~olJ H~,, .-,s ..r.A e~....
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 ~lO3,4S9,2S3 feet OF lumber cawed
in the st tie during the year 1891, 1oO,-
0 600 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 10 wards which the rail.
roads are already building, and the de.
velol ment of tins esource alone VIII
render this section the Pittsbuag of the
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 fi,e
clay is found, which oil, rs excep.
tional opport mites for Tho manufao-
,ure of pot,evry, and affords the brick
maker a converi NJ and unlimi g sup
ply for his kiln. Common and pressed
brick of a most superior quality have
b ZEN ale from this clay, and numer-
Gus handsome buildings throughout tho
va Icy stand rs monumen. 3 TO this in-
dustry.
Montana's mineral output, which now
SURPRISES that of any o her 8 ate in tho
uni n, will be largely augmen ed by the
Development of he hidden treasures in
Inc mountain ranges surrounding the
Fra head valley. Rich veins of gold,
silver, PIPER and lead, which have
already ben discovered, are attrac ing
the attention OF the capitalists who
have invested largely in mining proper.
ties throughout this section, and a:e
randy pushing thoir DEVELOPMENTS