The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-26
JUST LIKE A PARADISE
The Bitter Root Country Is Beautiful
These Days
SNOW is GOING FAST
Along the Whole Charmed Valley
are seen Evidences of lncreas-
ing Prosperity and the Future
Greatness OF the People.

months Is Only 10 COillllil Ntly
ally the first impression, that 1t is one OF
the fairest spots on the face of the earth.
Especially is this true this spring, when
all the rest Of the state is either covered
with snow or enveloped in mud, and
spring, If she has given any evidence of
her approach, has as yet only intimated
the possibility of her coming later on. Up
here in the Bitter Root il is different. very
different Here the snow has all disap-
peared in the valley and the sun shines
bright and warm. In the streets of Ham
ilton there is no mud; they are as dry as
IL there had been no snow here this win
ter. In the sheltered corners the grass Is
beginning to look little green, and far
mers are getting their pillow points sharp
ened and their harrow teeth in order.
There is n busy air OF preparation on
every hand. Business men, ranchmen
and stockmen are all hard at work, and
every one of them will tell you that this
is to be the banner year in the history of
the Bitter Root valley. Everything is
bound TO prosper, they say. and the Wis
itor is constrained to believe them. Ger
tainly no other section of Montana has
brighter prospects for n good season
Natural advantages almost beyond belief
and hearty cooperation on the part of the
citizens-that Is the combination that
makes the outlook bright up here.
For the farmers and fruit growers the
year has especially good promise. They
have demonstrated that the Butter Root
valley can produce almost anything that
will grow and can produce nothing that is
not good. While the producers have been
placing their grain anu fruit and vege-
tables in the Montana markets and have
been building a reputation for themselves
and their products, they have learned
thing or two about preparing their goods
for market and they know now what they
overlooked two years ago, that clean and
carefully handled farm products COM
mand good prices, where bruised and
''deaconed" shipments cannot be handled
at all. 1t cost some of them n good deal
to learn this important fact. but they will
not be apt to forget it now. If the farmers
of this valley will exercise care and judg-
ment they can defy competition.
The fruit men all over the valley report
that their trees and shrubs have wintered
remarkably we'll and are in prime condi-
ton this spring. The only threatened dam
ger Is that the present warm weather may
start the fruit buds prematurely, and n
subsequent frosty spell do considerable
injury to the crop. At present, however,
there is nothing to indicate that the
season will not be as favorable as was
last year. The small-fruit growers arc
elated over their prospects, and If there is
not another strike this year they expect
to make some money. Last year was n
tough one for them, as the long tle-up of
the railroad came just when their fruit
was ready for shipment, and nearly tho
entire crop was lost. The strawberry men
are not to be caught without boxes this
Soma IF fhaFa hav axNarinnnnH
losses in previous seasons for lack of
something to put their berries IN. This
will not be the case this year, as they have
all been laying in n stock this winter and
spring, and most of them have their boxes
ready now.
Stockgrowers and lovers of good horses
are more enthusiastic this year than ever
before over the possibilitirs of the Bitter
Root valley as horse breeding region.
Amateur horsemen and experienced
breeders and drivers all unite in saying
that no better lot of colts ever stepped
than the youngsters that went East last
week 10 represent the Daily ranch in tho
crack races of tho eastern tracks. They
are perfect animals and are worthy to
represent this rich region anywhere. And
there are more here just like them-equine
marvels of speed and beauty. The young
tnOTOuglDfcuS lOOkeu exceedingly III as
they went aboard their car and their
career in the East will be watched with
interest by the friends of the val ey.
But the Improvement and pro tress of
the valley is by no means confined to the
agricultural districts. Tho towns are
forging ahead and IN none of them is the
advance more apparent than here IN Ham
ilton. Here the spring opens with a rush
and tho town is in fine shape. The new
Rayalh county bank j. almost ready to
open its doors for business, the finishing
touches TO the attractive new building are
now being put on by the painters. Fore
man PIerson is getting ready TO resume
work on tho Lucas block. which will be
rushed 10 completion at once. 1t will be
n handsome structure and tho second
floor is TO be finished as an opera house.
Work was begun to-day on removing
the machinery from the old planning mill
to the new factory and the transfer will
be made so as TO occasion no delay. The
engines are all ready in the new mill and
the lines of shafting and pipe are all
ready for their connections. The new
mill will be a model affair and will COM
pare fayorably with any of its kind in the
Northwest. Other new buildings are be-
ing arranged for, and the indications are
that there will be large amount of build
ing in the busy town of the upper valley
this summer. Among tho projected en-
terprises are a complete electric light and
power station and new hotel.
TIE water system completed for Hamil-
ton last fall is giving splendid satisfac-
ton and the water Is undoubtedly as good
as any furnished by any water works IN
the world.
The entire absence Of snow in the upper
valley is in marked contrast 10 the slusuy
and muddy condition o. tho lower end of
the basin. ID 10 station is entirely sur
rounded by water, and passengers who
alight there are given their choice of wld-
ing. swimming or tlFinE. Tine roads. too,
in the lower valley are Iu bad shape.
H1miltou people are beginning t1 Zee
new the discuss on uf sine proposed wagon
road % salmon tl,y. and arH masking .a-
qu.r.Cs as 90 tlc feasibility oil J.e several