The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-08-17
MADISON COUNTY.
What Com m issiOner Mills has to say
AbOut ms.

What Com m tssiOner Mills has to say
About ms.
The Hon. James n. Mills, who for 50
many years ably moulded public opiu.
ion through the New Northwest, but
who is now commissioner of the Bureau
of Agriculture, Labor and Industry,
has just issued 4 state document of val.
ue. The title of the book is ''The
Treasure State" OF Madison county
he says;
The area OF Madison County is 1850
square miles. Virginia City. the county
seat, was formerly the capital Of the Terri
tory OF Montana. 1t is not reached by any
railroad yet. but can be reached bv staging
ffty-ive miles from Dillon on the Union
Pacific system. Branches of the Northeru
Pacific system reach Norris and Pony,
from whence stages also run to the county
seat. Other railroads are contemplated
and partially constructed. Virginia City
has now a population OF 500 to 600, and the
county about $500. Virginia City is To-
Gated In Alder Gulch. which was discover
eO In 1868. aud is estimated to have yielded
to the present time from $50. 900 900 to $780,.
OOO. 600 IN placer gold. 1t Is shout seven
teen miles long and probably the richest
gllch ever discovered. Considerable plac.
er and quartz mining is still done there
Other principal points in the county are
Sheridan. Twin Bridges, Pony and Gay
lord. at which latter place the new Parrot
smelters are being erected. The State
Home tor orphans. tOundiings and destitute
children. is located at Twin Bridges. The
county is abont two thirds mountainous .
the remainder large. fertile valleys, bench
lands and foot hills.
G"ld. silver. copper. iron, lead and coal
are found in the county. and m,n,ng for
the precious metals is the principal indus
trv. Very promising mines are being
opened OF late years and Madison County
ia regarded as one OF the very best gold
quartz mining counties in the state :.
Prominent among the valleys are the RUDY,
Madison. Willow Creek and Jefferson.
Their elevations range from a.100 to $500
feet. The soil OF the bottom lands is gen.
orally deep black loan in the bottom. and
on the bench lands a sandy loan with clay
snbso'i. 1t varies from few inches TO
five or ak feet deep. Except in rare in-
stances on high up,ands all lands require
irrigation tor successful cultivation. All
the grains. grasses, vegetables, potatoes
and other root crops grow we'll. There is
a great des. nt very fertile soil in the cOu1-
ty. An small fruits are raised successfully.
and considerable quantities OF hardy ap~
! IL
etc. 1t is stated thew do best near the base
ot the mountains in sheltered localities.
There are good local markets In the towns
and mining camps. Grain aud hav are
sometimes marketed in Butte and Dilisu.
There are large areas Of pasture lands and
stock raising il generally combined with
farming. Pnller's Hot Springs, eminent
near Virginia Citv.
Farmers generally obtain fuel and fenc-
ing IN from one to ten miles OF the farms.
Lumber sells at from $t3 TO SIS and brick
at IS per thousand Water is obtained
in wells at from four to fty fleet Most
OF the lands where water ia available for
irrigation have been taken up. There are
stated to be lands on the Jefferson and
Madison benches which large irrigation
bitches would reclaim. but it would be
quite expensive. 1t is believed aside from
mining. there are inviting fields in the
county for industrious incoming farmers
prenared to do most of their own work,
and that creameries. an oat meal mill,
wooIen mill and other manufactures that
could utilize the abundant water power
would be remunerative.
Fairly improved lands with water rights
can be bought at from Sc to $50 per
acre in nearly all valleys, the absence OF
railroads communication holding many
lands below their actual value.
Among those who may be applied to
for further information are: w. J. Fore
man. assessor, Virginia 3lty; M. Il. Lott.
Newton Orr, Twin Bridges; Joseph j.
Boyer, Pony.