The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-04-18

Large Tracts of Fertile Land Near
Neihart, Open to Settlement.

AifO hiitOc Voc Vi Sis' ''tS wiz
celebrated Belt park farming region.
1t is situated SO miles south east
of Great Falls, $50 miles north of
National park, and near the geogra-
phical center of Montana. 1t is a
beautiful open bench or table land
about nine miles long by four wide,
with the enterprising towns of
Neihart and Monarch lying at the
southern and northern extremities.
1t contains about SO square miles of
arabic land, sufficient to afford homes
for nearly $50 families, allowing
them a quarter section each. On
either side of Belt park flow the
beautiful mountain streams, Belt
and Tillinghast creeks, both of
which are filled with the finest of
trout, gray!ing and white fish. The
cool pellucid water, rising in mount
ain springs, flowing over granite
bottoms, always free from mud, is
the purest and best to he found in
any country.
Owing to the rich mineral resour-
ces of the immediate surroundings
the attention of settlers has been de-
tracted from this farming belt, hun
dreds of men, in quest of mineral
wealth, having crossed it without
taking note of its peculiarly notable
agricultural advantages. However
, a few have taken homes in the park
and are gratified to find that its
t rich black loan with but little labor
s will produce the finest hay, grain and
vegetables in abundance, a
ready market for which is found
at Neihart and at Monarch, two
commercial centers only a few miles
distant. Horses and cattle roam at
large over the unoccupiel portions,
fattening on the luxuriant native
grasses, winter and summer, without
the necessity Of their incur
ring the expense Of providing food
and shelter.
The winters are comparatively mild
~J A. Nl1a &c. %t,o
! production Of all northern crops. As
, for healthful climate, Belt Park is
e not surpassed by California or any
IS other state in the union. The
Summers are delightful, being free
: from the sultry weather prevalent it
the south and east. Although con-
,r fortably warm it is always favored
id by a soft cool mountain breeze, to
y, gether with clear cold spring water
producing health and vigor in even
the weeker types of life. Cyclones
% have never been heard of in thi!
country, and not ever a high WING
has been known to the oldest inhabi
. tant. The surrounding mountain:
~ form a natural barrier to such inva
sions. No fruit culture has beef
n tried. But raspberries, Strawberries
I'd serviceberries gooseberries, blue
IN berries and currants grow abundant
he y in the wild state.
IN Numerous deer and bear aboun'
III in the mountains while grouse, pleas
ant, quail, wild chicken, fool hen ant
rabbit inhabit the more open country
offering an easy prey to the hunts
man.
Belt Park is truly all that its nam
implies. A beautiful stretch of fertil
!. plain, surrounded by gorgeou
mountains, crowded to their yer
IL SUBMITS with heavy fir and pine tim
Der with their dark green foliag
presenting a splendid contrast VIII
the lighter green shade of the fertil
prairie. Here are thousands of acre
;, of land without a shrub to imped
tie the onward progress of the pillow shar
as while the adjacent hills and slope
are covered with the best of dry an
green timber, for which, as fire WOO
the few ranchers find a ready marke
in the adjacent towns. This WOO
meets a ready sale at 81 a cord, an
one rancher reports that he sold s
loads in the past winter, producing
nd sum sufficient to buy his spring see'
'rs prove up on his land, and retain
snug sum for the maintenance of h
ny family during the coming summe
Lumber and mining timbers are ais
of easy access, salable at GOO
~ figures.