The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-12
THE FLATHEAD VALLEY.

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 or the Dakotas.
and is the only section west of the Miss.
issippi river which can rival the csle.
b,a ed Red River Valley of the North in
the superior quality 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, blackberries, goosele RES, raspber-
ries are beng raised successfully. With
a ready market for all products of the
soil in the rich mineral di tricts to the
east, west a d south, the farmers Of thu
Flathead valley will soon be classed
among the wealthiest and most infuen-
tail of this new country. Wheat averages
thirty five bushels per acre, oats sixty
bushels, barley forty bushels, rye thirty
bushels, potatoes 400 bushels, cabbugs
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 their hume ous br anches,
making a total of over COD miles OF log
ging streams, all of which converge at
kalispell, flow through vast forests OF
pine, tamarack, fir, larch and cedar.
Under the recent law enacled by con
gress these boundless tracts Of timbsr
land can be purchased at $3.50 per acre.
According to the state auditors report,
of the 1~O3,499,2s3 feet of lumber cawed
in tho st tie during the year 1891, l0O,-
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-
roaCs are already building, and the de-
yelolment of this resource alone W II
render this section the Pittsbuag of tho
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 ulso been discovered in
this region.
Underlying a large portion OF
the valley, thirty-foot start
UNI of the finest quality Of fl Q
clay is found, which otfe re- excep.
tional opportun. ties for 'he manufao.
ture OF potlevry, and affords The brick
maker a convent NJ and unlimi ed sup.
ply for his kiln. Common and pressed
brick of u most superior quality hive
been made from this clay, and mi
Gus handsome buildings throughout The
va ley stand as monume 10 this in-
dus ry.
Mcntana's mineral output, which now
surpasses that of any 0 her s'a 9 in ,he
uni, n. will be largely augmen cd by the
Development OF The hidden treasures in
Tho mountain ranges surrounding the
Fla head valley. Rich veins OF gold,
silver, copper and lead, which have
already been discovered, are attrac ing
the attention Of the CAPT alisis who
nave invested largely in mining proper.
ties throughout this section, and ase
rapidly pushing heir deyelopmeah