The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1894-02-10
DEER LODGE. Mont, Feb. 8, 1894.

Mr.. r. IL. BENT, Antwerp. n. Y:
DEAR SIR: Yours Of the 21th ult to
the editor of the New NORTHWEST.
has been referred to me for specific
answer. will try to do 50 as accurately
Us possible, realizing the responsibility
resting on one who conveys Intelligence
to another whose future may be inll-
cnced by such knowledge.
In conversation with those who are in
a position to know, | am inclined to be
lieVe that, within radius Of not over six
miles Of this place, the milk from least
300 COWS could be secured for a cheese
or butter factory. The price per pound
that the patrons would be willing to pay
for manufacturing their milk into cheese
or butter cannot be told, bat it is reason
able to suppose that the price would be
proportionate to the increased cost of
labor, etc, here, as compared to that in
New York. The retail price Of New
York cheese is from zoe. to 25c. per lb.
10 not think there is a cheese factory in
Montana and the price Of cheese is rrgu-
lated wholly BY the cost Of getting it from
the east. Butter varies in price with the
season. Minnesota and iowa creamery
never rctails Tor less than 3Oc per lb.
and often goes to I5c. Dairy butter can
be bought i'll the summer for 25c. at the
store. Fhe average price during the
year is about SOC In fact. some of the
best dairymcn in tho valley contract their
entire make for the year at the latter
figure. Good butter is scarce in the sum
mcr, rs large amount OF the ranch or
dairy butter made in the summer is not
up to Grade. But little butter is made in
the winter, so that the main dependence
is on creamery butter shipped in.
Deer Lodge has Il population of 1900
or 1900, and is on the Montana Union r.
| r., connecting link between the North
ern Pacific and the Utah Northern Ry,
| the latter being under the management
oI the Union Pacific. The town is 10
miles from the junction with Northern
Pacific
Milk rctails at 10c. per quart Or 25c
per gallon. The demand, however, being
limited, the supply is at all times album
| dant.
This is not {; dairy country, chiefly
because the farmers have never turned
their attention to it. | see no obstacle to
its becoming such. The benches and
foothills furnish very nutritious grasses
from the middle Of April to the middle
rain the grass cures, standing; and while
able to keep animals thriving, does not
conduce to an abundant flow Of milk This
could be easily remedied by growing
green fodder. Grain and hay heretofore
have brought good prices, but FOR the past
too years the tendency has been down
ward and all are seriously considering Q
what shall take the place in farming OF
grain and hay. Dairying would seem the
most natural substitute, as the cattle are
already in the country. Private dairies
will not pay unless better butter is made
than the average now brought in. There
are no creameries, such rs you think Of
in the stateat least none within rs miles
of this place-and there need be no feal
of crowding at present. There are some
large dairymen, but no effort has beer
made to combine.
Deer Lodge city has a splendid system
of waterworls, supplied from q areservoil
two miles from town, and some two hun
dred and fifty feet above it. This reser-
voir is fed from Il mountain stream, ant
the water is as pure and cold as unsoilec
snow can make it. The supply is ex
haustless. The water pipes extend al
over town and connections with them are
easily made. The use of the water woult
cost less than to pump it from well
But wells are easily dug and good waite
is obtainable from them. Americans
constitute the majority of the farmers
and Swedes, Danes and Germans major
ity of the balance.
When Montana is spoken of the East
ern man at once thinks of the climate a
partaking of the arctic. That he is en-
tirely mistaken, a residence here viii
prove. The winters are more equable
than those Of Central New York, and tn
summers, though not so long, are suiii
GENTLY long to raise all the cereals, excep
corn, and of the finest quality. Irrigation
however, is necessary to the perfectio
of all crops, except hay on the lowe
ground. This is considered an advantag
rather than drawback to successful
) farming, as it enables the farmer to con
7 troll the moisture needed, and at the tim
7 needed, rather than being compelled t
J. depend on the caprice of the clouds. Al
l vegetables are successfully grown. Smal
t fruits also grow abundantly.
So far have striven to answer you