Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-04-05
DESCRIPTIVE or MONTANA.
L. ID. Glenn Writes ..eliabie Information
of General Interest

l.. ID. Gienn writes .e1fabie Information
of General Interest.
| LIVINGSTON MONTANA March %
| FRIEND M uNsoN:--As h, 23d dav of
March approaches / am caused to asso.
ciate it with several evente Of just year
Lago. This marks the date OF nv arrival
ir Livingston, one OF the MANY busy
little cities in the region general'v spok-
en- OF by eastern people as .sThe Wild
and Woody west" Although this may
have been very fitting name for some
parts OF the west, at one time, I do not
think it an appropriate name for this
part at the present. am also reminded
at this time OF premise by which
agreed to write you few items occa-
sionally CD. That word occasionally"
may be taken to mean considerable.
This time it means about one year. It
really does not seem one half that time,
but this, think, is because have been
so fortunate as to meet with very
pleasant class OF people and have been
kept busy ever since leaving ssOld ve--
non."
There seems to be something rather
fascinating about this city, as so many
people visiting here decide up parma
nent residence instead of going home
The climate is fine and healthful and
especially when an almost continuous
| wind is blowing at such terrific rate as
/, is common here. But, not considering
these heavy gales, we an have some fine
| weather. Livingston is far enough
west TO get some of the sea breezss or
"chinooks," as they are called. Another
popularity of this country, which Away 8
fools the Badger who has never visited
a mountainous region, is the distance
1t is nothing uncommon to hear an
eastern person say, "Those hills y do
look so beautiful that I believe I will
have to walk over there some afternoon
and sit on the top Of one and see the
sunset" There is a good story told OF
gentleman from the east, who visited
this city one time. He came hare when
the weather was quite warm and the air
exceedingly dry. He gazsd at the lofty
mountains, which are many miles away,
and then said to his friend, ~ am going
over there awhile this evening"" The
reply was smile and the simple state
ment that he had better wait till morn
| ing. Next morning he started, but
never thinking of what it meant to
reach those o-called hills. Towards
evening he did not return. Horsemen
were sent to find and bring him home
again. He was found long distance
from the city, sitting by the bank of a
small stream and undressing himself
He said he was getting ready to swim
across, as he was afraid to undertake
jumping or stepping it. Distance had
so deceived him that he could no longer
trust his own eyes. They cannot real
ize the fact that those hills are high
mountains, more than fifteen miles away
Even short distances are deceiving. Up
the Yellowston. alley, between Living
ston and the Yellowstone National Park,
there are several canyons, but with the
exception of these the valley is from two
to twelve miles wide. 1t does not look
it at all There is no question in my
| mind but all tn valley above the fret
canyon and extending to the Park. a
distance of fifty miles, was once great
lake. The shores, which now form the
table lands, can still be seen on either
side of the valley, and quite distance
from the river. The soil, though very
sandy and generally covered with stones,
is quite fertile. These stones, gener.
ally, termed boulders, are rounded and
of very curious shapes. This, of course,
is the work of the water.
! Montana is generally spoken of as
state of little rain fall, but there is not
much use Of complaining this year.
Last spring there was an unusual rainy
six weeks, and quite efficiency fell
last fall. The winter is record breaker
in Montana, in way of snowfall as we'll
as cold weather. The first part OF Feb
ruary there was snow to depth of three
feet on the level. That is where the
wind did not strike. In such places as
it did strike, it was three feet deep,
more or less. We had siz weeks OF
pretty good sleigbing and the greater
part of that time it was fine. The eli
mate is very cLsngsable and one must
be prepared for a winter day at any
time. / actually saw it sn moving on
July God, last year, and in August |
saw men working. in the harvest field
with overcoats on and during the came
time good coat Of snow was falling
The ranchmsn wears smiling face now,
as he knows these heavy SHOWS in the
mountains means plenty of water with
which to irrigate crops next summer.
The snow is never out of sight here, but
it takes considerable snow to make water
sufficient to irrigate large wheat crop.
Corn raising is impossible here on
account OF the frequent changes in the
summer season.
After finishing my spring term of
school, last July, / had the desirable
opportunity CT spending a few weeks on
a ranch. My short vacation was indeed
we'll spent there, as learned many i'm
portant facts in regard to irrigation and
western farming. Since September first
I have been in Livingston, and although
sti in the teaching business, am en-
lying good health and am we'll pleased
with my situation.
Livingston is very poor place for
the unemployed, unless we'll supplied
with money. Living Is very expensive
here. 1t is expensive in the way OF
board, clothing, fuel, and in fact, scarcely
nothing can be bought for less than
two bits, and it is generally six bits or
dollar. The "bit" is another express
sion for 12l cents. 1t is used great
deal here and especially among the
miners and shop men. Cabbage, ssuer-
kraut, tomatoes, and, in fact, almost all
vegetables are bought by the pound.
One thinks himself lucky if he gets
good board and room for less than
twenty five or thirty dollars per month.
Meats range in prices from ID to 10
cents per pound and upwards. Eggs
are much cheaper. They can now be
had for 35 cents per dozen. Aud so /
might go on, but will not worry you
with any more of my stale thoughts this
tlne. but may be able to apply diff.
ferent meaning to the word occasion
ally" in the future. With kind regards
I am IS ever, l.. ID. GLENN.