Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-02-22
FLarHEAD. MONTANA.
FLArHEAp, Mont. Feb. 10. ,94.

FLATHEAD, Mont, Feb. 16, "a.
Ed NORTHwEsT:-With your kind
permission, I viii try to give your
may readers an idea of this part OF
Montana
have been in this valley for near
ly four years, and am well pleased
with both it and the change ! made
when came to this State. The land
in the valley is about half timber and
half prairie, the principal timber be-
ing pine, tamarach and fir. The
crops raised from the black and yel-
low sand, which constitute the soil,
are wheat, oats, potatoes, and garden
truck.
When came here, there was plenty
OF government land that could be
homesteaded, but it is nearly all tax
en- now except in the northern and
western parts of the county, where
there are some good lands that can
be settled upon. About twelve town
ships of this section were surveyed
last season. At first this valley was
in Missoula county, but the increase
in population and wealth has been so
great, that the Legislature gave us a
new county, called Flathead, which
occupies the northwestern part of
the State. Demarsville, Ashley and
Egan were the towns when | came
here. but when the railroad came
through, two other towns sprang up,
Columbia Falls and Kalispell, and
the old towns were deserted, not over
five families being in them to-day.
This is a good farming country and
those who farm as they do in eastern
states, do well, raise good crops and
have as good market as they could
get in the East. There are two grist
mills, one in each of the towns men
toned above, and they have as good
machinery-roller process-as any in
the eastern states. Mining will be
the main industry in this county. The
minerals are gold, silver, lead, copper
and coal. Gold is found on Libby,
Fisher and Wolf creeks in paying
quantities, it being washed from the
gravel and sand of these streams
This is called plasser mining.
An abundance of game is found
here, such as bear, elk, deer, goat,
ibex, grouse, pheasant, rabbits, and
all the streams and lakes abound in
fish.
We are not compelled to travel
through mud, hub deep, nine months
in a year, but during the summer the
roads are dry and sandy, and in win
ter we have sleighing usually from
Nov. 10 to March 15.
There are good schools and church
es in the valley, and as the settlers
are nearly all from the Eastern states
the society is the same as in the East.
These are some of the advantages
in this part of the West, and | will
say to those who contemplate a
change that they could do well by
coming here, as we have advantages
that poor man cannot have in the
Eastern states. But do not wish to
be understood that all a man would
have to do is to come here and get
rich; he will have to work as they do
everywhere, but with the opportuni-
ties offered here there are better
chances for poor man, or man in
moderate circumstances. But if a
person is doing well, it is better to let
well enough alone.
Hon. w. d. Hill, formerly of Def
ance, is located at Kalispell and is
practicing law; he is building up a
good business, and is engaged in some
of the most difficult criminal cases in
the county. ]. p. B.