The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-08
THE VALLEY.

THE FLATHEAD ALLEY
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 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
spples, plums, peaches, cherries, pears,
and the small fruits such as strawber.
ries, b%lackberries, goosebe RES, raspber-
ries are being raised successfully. With
q ready market for all products of the
soil in the rich mineral di. tricts to the
east, west AID south, the farmers Of thu
Flathead valley will o be classsd
among the wealthiest and most intluen-
tail of this new country. Wheat averages
thirty five bushels per acre, oats sixty
bushels, barley forty bushels, rye thirty
bushels, potatoes 400 bushels, cabbags
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 Whitefish
rivers, with their numer ou br anches,
making a total of over GOO miles Of log
cling streams, all Of which converge at
kalispell, flow through vast forests OF
pine, ta%marack, 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 1O3,4S9,2 s3 feet OF lumber cawed
in tho st tie during the year 1891, 10O,-
10000 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-
roa6s are already building, and the de-
yelolment OF this resource 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, a thirty-foot start
UNI OF the finest quality OF f.e
clay is found. which offer excep.
tional opportunities for The manufac-
turs of pott.vry, and affords the brick
maker a convent nj and unlimi ed sup
ply for his kiln. Common and pressed
brick of a most superior quality have
b,en made from this clay, and numer-
Gus handsome buildings throughout tho
valley stand as monuments to this in-
dus ry.
M~ontnna's mineral output, which now
surpasses that Of any olher 8. AT in the
uni II, will be largely augmen ed 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 boon discov red, are attracy ing
the attention OF the CAPT alis's who
have invested largely in mining proper
ties throughout this section, and a,e
RAPIDLY pushing heir de%yeloDmenh