The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-26
UP THE BITTER ROOT
Those Who Live There Insist That
There's Nothing Like 1t.
1T IS A LAND OF PLENTY
They Saw Logs There and Raise
Horses-But the Fertile Region
Is Suited to Small Fruits
and II Is Like an Eden.

Hamilton, May 25.-ln the broad
bend of the Bitter Root river. where
that stream sweeps toward the north
cast after its rapid. turbulent rush
down the narrow valley through which
Chiefs Joseph and Looking Glass re-
treated so skillfully from their relent-
less pursuers 20 years ago; where the
magnificent valley widens into a broad.
fertile plain; with grand mountains
rearing their rugged heads. eternally
capped with snow, to the south and
west: sheltered from chill winds by
these mountain walls and abundantly
blessed by nature with all the advan-
tages which go to make a town at once
beautiful and prosperous-in such an
enviable location is situated the town
of Hamilton. the metropolis of the Bit
ter Root valley. 1t is an ideal site for
city. 1t is as If the spot had been
created for the location of a flourish
ing community. And, while nature has
been so liberal, ii is not true of this
spot that "naught but man is vile" for
man has contributed his best efforts
toward making this thriving town.
and he has succeeded. There are few
better towns in the west than Hamil-
ton.
When, a few years ago. this town
was established, IL was not believed
that il would ever become more than
a busy lumber camp. Its peculiar sit
uation as to the river renders IL adj
mirably adapted to that, and so moth
ing more was thought of il. But cir
cumstances rendered il impossible for
Hamilton to remain a crude town. Sit
uated as it is, in the very heart of the
most productive valley in the state,
il is only natural That II should have
become the distributing point of
prosperous and wel-Settled community.
Each year has witnessed fresh growth
and new development. until now Ham
ilton Is a substantially built city. with
a water system unsurpassed in the
west with an electric light plant in
course OF construction, with good
municipal government and, best OF all,
devoted and loyal citizens, whose in
terest in the town Is answering and
whose faith in It's future is unfalter-
ing. ID
The chief industry upon which Ham
ilton's prosperity depends.is the big
saw mills and planning Factory of the
Bitter Root Development company, sit
uated along the river bank west OF
town. These mills are the largest and
most complete in this state and their
daily output il almost incredibly large.
Every day a long train winds It's way
down the valley laden with the prod
ucts of these plants. and a small army
of men is kept busy by the operation of
these mills. The timber is cut in the
Bitter Root range, from 80 to GO miles
above the mill, and the log drive in
the spring is always an interesting
sight. when the vast quantity OF rough
timber is floated down to be stored In
the big pond back of the mill dam, TO
remain until it is required for the mill
Scarcely second in Importance as
contributor to the prosperity Of Ham
ilton is the wonderfully rich agricul-
tural region which is tributory to the
town. The fame of the Bitter Root
valley has spread afar. Its fruit. its
grain, it's vegetables are all too well
known to require special description.
To say that an article is Bitter Root
product is to say that il is uneXcelled
in quality. The resources of this fer
tile region have been developed by
class of men Of sterling worth. To
whose interest. no less than that of
her own citizens, is due in "A great
measure the present flourishing condi-
ton of Hamilton. 1t is their city and
they are proud OF II.
There is no other valley in Montana
that possesses the rich and varied re-
sources of this region which is tribu-
tary to Hamilton. From early spring.
when the first garden truck Is ready
for shipment, until late in winter, when
the last of the aple crop is sent to
market. there is at all times apparent a
stir and hustle that betokens a pros
Porous community. Farm products of
all descriptions are successfully grown
in Hamilton's surrounding country and
on the high bench lands and in the
sheltered hooks Of the mountains, thou
sands Of horses and cattle Craze, add
ing to the revenue of the thrifty farm
ers who have infused new blood into
the valley and whose progressive meth
DDS are crowding out the indolent and
fogyish policy which formerly charac
terized the Bitter Root husbandman.
Wherever the names of Tammany
and Montana and Senator Grady are
known, the remarkable advantages
possessed by this valley as a horse
breeding section are recognized and
wherever the Bitter Root apple is
known, the merits Of the valley as a
fruitgrowing region are admitted.
Foremost among the agricultural sec
tons of Montana, this marvellous val
ley must always stand.
With such a combination Of circum-
stances in her favor. it is no wonder
that the town has advanced apace.
This spring there are few towns In
the West that present a scene of great
er activity than this thriving young
municipality IL is Less than n year
since the town was Incorporated. but in
that time the development has been
unusual. a system Of water works has
been constructed, obtaining it's supply
from Skalkaho creek. and expert en-
gineers have expressed the opinion
that the system is by long odds the
best in the state. Substantial business
blocks have been erected, one Of them
occupied by the recently organized
Ravalli County bank, which is the re-
pcsitory Of the county funds. In an
other is located a neat and complete
opera house which will be formally
opened i'm June. The Odd Fellows
lodge will have its quarters in still an
other. and others are devoted 20 mer-
camille purposes.
At Hamilton are located large grain
elevators and extensive warehouses, /
which enable the farmers 10 market
their hay and grain to a much better
than they otherwise would. I
and there are several important mer-
camille establishments. whose condition
IS evidence OF their prosperity The
equipment OF the Northern Pacific az
Hamilton Is complete. The depot and
" arehouse is a large building and the
side tracks and spurs are well ar
ranged and sufficient to meet the