The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-16
ON THE IDAHO LINE.
A Word or Two About That Portion
of Bitter Root Valley.
1T IS A SPLENDID COUNTRY
Prosperous Farmers. Rich SOIL.
High Altitude and a Very gree
able rlace in W hich 20 he,
side-N otes on the Side.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Hamilton. May 15.-To the people of
Montana generally the upper end of the
Bitter Root valley, lying at the foot of
the range of mountains which form
dividing line between Montana and Ida
no, is an unknown country and is re-
garded as being naught but a trackless
wilderness, uninhabited save by wild
beasts. A trip into this section of the
valley in the spring of the year is
worth the time of anyone who appre-
ciates an outing, and especially is ii
interesting to those who have never
seen crew of loggers at work on the
drive During the past winter several
logging camps have been established in
the Upper Bitter Root and just at the
present time that portion of Ravalli
county is full of men waiting for the
water to rise in order that the logs cut
this hast winter may be fioated to the
sawmills here at Hamilton. For 40
miles above Hamilton there are ranches
whick are cultivated every year and
while there is but little grain raised
above Darby, still the extreme southern
end of the county is admirably adapted
to hay raising and the product per acre
is as large and the quality as fine as
that in the lower end.
One of the most beautiful agricuitur-
al portions of the valley is known as
of here and. like most of the country
south of Darby, is a fine hay-raising
section The ranchers living in Ross
Hole, being removed by so great dis
lance from the railroad, cannot md
market for their crop, so that II is fed
to cattle and there, are now several
large bands being grazed and fed there.
Probably the largest band in that sec
ton is being fed byNScott Sheriff.. The
foothills surrounding Ross Hole, which
is a small valley containing probably
5000 acres, are covered with good grass
which makes cattle-raising there as
cheap as II is anywhere in the state,
and the abundance of water renders ir-
rigation very easy. The altitude is so
great that the season is not long
enough to raise fruit of any kind, and
only vegetables that mature quickly
can be grown there. The ranchers are
all in an apparently prosperous condi-
ton and their ranches are without ex-
ception as beautiful as any section OF
the state can boast OF.
About six miles this side of Sula, the
postoffice at Ross Hole, Is Wilds Hot
Springs. This place has in the last
year or two become quite summer re-
sort, and even during the winter there
is seldom a day passes without some
one being at the springs to take one OF
the locally celebrated hot baths. Wiid's
Hot Springs is most certainly the place
for anyone troubled with rheumatism.
The number of cures affected by these
baths is large and some of them are
little short of miraculous. A large no
tel has been erected during the last
wear and there is room in IL to easily
accommodate so guests while, If neces-
sary. rs could be accommodated The
hotel is conducted by DIR. G.. S. Lord,
who also attends to patients coming
there to try the baths. The bath houses
rsA
the hotel being just across a smalI
stream known as Hot Springs creek.
These bath houses are being fitted up
with porcelain bath tubs and by the
end of this month everything will be In
readiness to receive and take charge
of any and all visitors. The bath
houses are built within three or four
feet of the springs and the water is
/ conveyed from the springs by means OF
! mines into the bath tubs. Although
the springs are not 100 feet apart, ana
some of them not more than three or
four feet, there is no two OF them nav
ing the same temperature. The coolest
one of the springs Is as warm as az
most any one cares to bathe IN, whlie
in the warmest there are but very few
who can stand IL to take a bath. The
great distance of the springs from the
| railroad has prevented them from be-
coming widely known, but the waters
certainly contain valuable medlclnai
properties and. as they become better
known. the springs will undoubtedly:
In the course of a few years, be one OF
the most popular health resorts in the
state.
This county is undoubtedly possessed
of as many resources as any other one
in the state. but the retiring disposition
of the average Bitter Rooter has, in a
great measure. prevented proper ad-
s,artisapnant of the county being made.
This valley is rapidly becoming fruit
producing rather than an AGRICULTURAL
country and in the course of but very
few years when the numerous young
orchards begin to bear, Ravalli county
can be depended upon to supply sum
cient fruits and berries for the Mon
tana markets.