The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-20
INCEST OF WEATHER
SteVenSVille Blossoms Out Again With
a Batch Of Surprises.
BUSINESS ON ALL SIDES
Farmers and Fruit Growers Pre-
pairing for the Spring Work.
Reports From the Cur
lew Mine-Notes.

Stevensville, March 19.-This town al
ways has some surprise in store for the
stranger who ventures within its hos
pitable gates, either in the way of CHI
mate entertainment or accommoda-
tons and not infrequently in the way
of all three The climate just now is
the first surprise that greets the visi-
tor. 1t is a genuine surprise. too. There
is so much of 1t and it is of such ex-
cellent quality that the valley seems
like a little world in itself. Although
there is snow well down toward the
foot of old st. Marys mountain, here
in the lower valley the grass is already
turning green and in sheltered spots is
as bright as 1T will be in June In the
meadows and in the groves along the
river the robins and meadow larks are
holding high carnival and, unless
March is more than usually treacher-
Gus this year, spring is certainly upon
the valley in earnest. 1t has hung off
a long time but ii seems to be here
now.
The small sawmills which run while
there is snow enough to sled logs on
are about winding up their seasons
business. Some of them are making
their last shipments this week and all
of them will have finished by April 1.
The McKeen mill at Carlton will run
nearly all summer, there being a big
supply of logs on hand there. The old
Silverthorn mill which has been in use
above here for so long has been taken
down and is being prepared for ship
ment to Quigley, the new mining camp
in Missoula county, where 1T will be
run by Levi Johnson.
The farmers and fruit growers are
busy on all sides with their prepara-
lions for the spring work The present
indications are very favorable for a
good year. There is snow enough in the
hills to insure a liberal supply of water
for the summer. The spring has been
so cold thus far that but little danger
is anticipated from the premature
starting of fruit buds. There will be an
immense number of young trees plant
ed this spring, more probably than in
any one previous season. The large
majority of these trees will be, of
course, standard apples but there will
be many peach trees started, last year
having demonstrated that the peach is
a practicable crop i'm this valley.
The mining excitement at the Cur
lew and the adjoining properties be-
tween here and Victor has occasioned
deep interest here as the Whip-Poor-
VIII and the Last Chance are almost
owned in Stevensville. To a Standard
reporter to-day Amos Buck said: II
have just returned from drive up to
the Curlew mine and | found the pros
poets there brighter than ever. The
more work there is done on the mine,
the more ore is found and all of il is
much richer than anybody ever
thought would be found there. On the
Whip Poor-Will, the tunnel has not yet
reached the lead but it is approaching
it. From the Curlew side of our
claim, the lead has been penetrated for
10 feet and some of the richest ruby
silver yet found has been taken from
there. on the Ellen, which adjoins the
Curlew, some promising work is being
done and from the Curlew itself, this
week, a carload Of first-class ore was
taken in three shifts. l think that we
will have a lively camp up there this
year."
Here in Stevensville and all over
Ravalli county, in fact, the people are
feeling very much gratifled over the an
nouncement made by bankers and
brokers that Ravalli county warrants
will be bought for par. 1t is splendid
showing for so young a county and
speaks well for the administration of
the affairs of the county. In less than
four years from the time of the estab-
lishment of the county this condition
of affairs was brought about.
1t is expected that there will be quite
an increase in the number of farmers
in the valley this year. greater perhaps
than that of two years ago when so
many small ranchers." so-called. set
tied around this place. Already there
have been numerous prospective pur-
chasers on the ground and nearly all of
them are looking for small farms for
fruit-growing or gardening. Frank
Thomas of Missoula to-day completed
the survey of large tract across the
river. which will be cut into small
farms of this class This is, without
doubt, a plan which will greatly in
crease the prosperity of this valley.
Judge Sloane of Missoula, was in
town last night on business.