The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-02
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.
I put Of Kansas, Iowa or the Dakotas.
and is the only section west Of the Miss.
issippi river which can rival the cele-
bra ed Red River Valley of the North in
the superior quality Of it's cereals. 1t is
the only agricultural section in the state
Of 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. 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 ard south, the farmers of ths
Flathead valley will soon be classed
among the wealthiest and most int1uen-
tail of 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 its tribu.
taries-the North, South and Middle
forks-the Saltwater and Whitefsh
rivers. with their br anches,
making a total Of over 600 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 enacted by SON.
gress these boundless tracts of timber
land can be purchased at $3.50 per acre.
According to the state auditors report,
of the ~103,489,283 feet of lumber sawed
in the st1te during the year 1891, 1OO,-
100000 was sawed in Missoula 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-
roads are already building, and the de-
velopment 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 largo portion OF
the valley, u thirty-foot start
UNI of the finest quail ty of fe
clay is found, which offers excep.
tional opportunities for Tho manufac.
ture of pottevry, and affords the brick
maker a convent Mt and unlimi oil sup
ply for his kiln. Common and pressed
brick of a most superior quality have
b zen made from this clay, and numer-
Gus handsome buildings throughout tho
valley stand as monumen 8 10 this in-
duSlry.
Montana's mineral output, which now
SURPRISES that OF any O her s. ate in the
uni, n, viii be largely augmen'ed by tho
development OF The hidden treasures in
the mountain ranges surrounding the
Pa head valley. Rich veins of gold,
silver, copper and lead, which have
already boon discovered, arc attrac ipg
the attention OF tho capi, alis's who
have invested largely in mining proper
ties throughout this section, and are
rnpidly pushing their DEVELOPMENTS