The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-05-10
FLATHEAD VALLEY.
PICTURESQUE AND DECIDEDLY
FERTILE REGION.
itch Farming Lsnds-Excelle0t Timber
Varied Mineral Wealth - Large Rivers
and Lakes Mild and llealthful Climate
A Paradise for SpOrtsmen.
Garden Of the Northwest.
iSnell Mont s.nrrosnOn6en Ca.

In only TWO localities In the nlfeu
States can the Rocky Mountains he
seen from Il steamboat. and both Of
these are in Montana: first on the Mis-
souri, River at Fort Bent N. east of tho
range. and then on the Flathead river
and lake. west of it. Surprises await
the tourist who descend, into the noun
taln-g!rtel valley of the Flathead.
where he finds everything of a marni-
tude in keeping with the general feat
ures of Western Montana, where Ma
ture has created rivers. lakes. forests,
prairies, and valleys upon a large scale
The Flathead. instead of being shall
low rivulet ia hing down the mountain
sides, is 4 majestic stream larger than
the Mississippi at st. Paul. + lathead
Lake is the largest body of fresh water
west of the great lakes. and is but one OF
anumber of pretty bodies of water scat.
tered over the valley. Situated upon
the Pacific side OF the continent, the
climate give, mild Winters and tine
summers, much in contrast with the
seasons in the same parallel on the At
lantic coast. There are no billiards
and cyclones. The liberal rainfall has
nurtured forests of pine and other trees,
the valley itself, the timber being
interlaced with prairies winch give
the country park-like apls arance re-
scmbling the oak openings of Michigan,
Ohio, and New York. Unlike the soil
where pine grows in other localities.
here it is rich loan and makes the best
kind of agricultural land when cleared.
Seeing is tel ewing" is an u age as
old as it is true, and there are those SO
incredulous that only with reluctance
will they accept any but this kind of
proof. 70 all such a visit to this val
ley is source of delight, and the COM
mon admission is that the half has
never been told" What a change. too.
after the magnificent trip through tho
Rockies. over which tho railway has
pass down among peaceful and attrac-
tive prairies with cultivated fields and
gardens. and sec busy towns with hum
ureds of people engaged in the pur-
| suits of peace and hOme-seeking, where
only short time ago a few Indians
; roamed in search of game and fish. A
few years and thousands more whites
| will be here sharing the plenty indus
try is certain to give all willing to WOO
the earth with its treasures of field,
mine. forest and water.
Flathead County, formed by the last
Legislature, has an area of :, 400 square
miles, territory larger than the
States OF Connecticut and Rhode Island
combined. The Great Northern Rail-
| way from its first station in the county
| on the east to its last on the west runs
| distance of 1913 miles. The Flathead
River and tributaries, with logging
waters aggregating 6Oo miles in length,
converge at kalispell, and the manu-
facture of Lumbar and shingles is be-
coming an important industry. Tho
principal forest trees are the cedar,
FIR, birch, pine, and tamarack, the lat
ter often attaining a diameter of six
feet, instead of being mere telegraph
pole As in the east. It makes fine fur
| niture. samples of which were seen in
| the Montana Building at the Worlds
Fair
There Is much that is attractive from
health-giving. scenic and sporting
standpoint in this region. Snow peaks
, are in view all the year round, and the
winters are seldom cold enough to close
the streams 20 navigation. Lake Nc
resort. Among the visitors last Q I'M
mer were Bishop Whipple, of Minne-
sofa. and Vice Pres ident Webb. of the
New York Central Railroad. Lakes
and streams abound with trout and the
hunter has chances to look along his
gun barrel ut deer and grouse. Farm
ers dis tant from town are said to build
high fences around their gardens to
keep the deer out. Skins to be seen at
stores show that bear are still to he
found
The mountains in all directions con-
tain precious and base metals, and in
the northern part Of the county large
beds OF coal and petroleum springs ex-
list. Railway surveyors have be IN over
route to this secii and also on q
line south to Anaconda and Butte
New sources OF wealth making are be-
ing constantly brought to light as set
Element progresses from the common
centers along the railway, which gives
connections between st. Paul, Mime
apolis and Puget Sound. Much of the
country is still Government LAM, and
valuable tracts of timber and ia ming
land can be taken up under the home
stead law. Two years ago the site OF
kalispell was vacant spot on the
prairie: now i. has over =, 40 reople.
several banks. three newspapers,
schools, churches. electric lights,
wdterworks, large Touring mill. saw
mills, business houses and excellent
hotels.
The other towns along the Great
Northern Railway in this country are
Columbia Fails. Pleasant Valley, Jen-
nings. Troy and Libby Creek. the lat
ter being a prominent p2int in the
hootenai mining district. Jennings is
steamer point FIR the Fort Steele
gold district in British Columbia.
Nalispen is county seat and division
point of the Great Northern Railway.
with two-story brick passenger depot
and Office building The writer is UNI
der obligations t G. E. Conrad. Presi-
dent of the Conrad National Bank.
kalispeH, Mont. for printed matter
and other information. All applicants
and inquirers will get prompt atten-
tlon from the same gentleman.