The Western news. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1890-1977, 1902-09-24
VISIT OF FABER
PUSHERS ENJOYED
Trip to Bitter Root Valley Like q
Dream-Was a Revelation
Owned the Town,

From Great Falls Tribune.
To the members of the Montana
Press association the recent visit to
the Bitter Root valley was like dream
Of the promised land, such as the fol.
lowers of Moses may have pictured in
their minds as they trod the hot sands
of the desert. Nature was in a Joyous
mood, as when the fertile valley was
followed out of the landscape She
gave generously of her stores and the
thousands of level acres marked into
squares of yellow grain, the low lying
meadows Of cool, deep green, and the
forests of fruit trees make the most
charming spot in all the great west.
1t seemed to one accustomed to the
bare, brown hills of Butte that nature
had great deal left over aud heaped
all her gift into this jewel casket
among the mountains.
Something of revelation was the
trip to Montana's garden spot. The
newspaper men were prepared to see
m any beautiful ranches with their fer
tile acres, but few there were, indeed,
who had pictured the veritable para
disc known as the Bitter Root valley
HAMILroN's HOSPITALITY.
From the moment the press crowd
stepped off the special train until they
left for home, they were surrounded
by. flowers, fruit and a hospitality that
came straight from the heart. To say
that they were entertained royalty
would but half express the sentiment.
They owned the town. To use Mayor
Miles Romney's own words, "the city
is yours while you're here. Do with
it as you wish. If you return it to us
slightly frayed at the edges, we won't
kick" There was not a dull moment
during the entire three days spent at
Hamilton. The side excursions had
been planned with care and were con.
Quoted in manner that made every.
one feel at home. It was a princely
entertainment from start to finish, and
the newspaper crowd appreciated te
the fullest extent all that was done 70,
them.
| RESOURCES OF THE VALLEY.
Some idea of the wealth of the valley
can be obtained when one stops te
think that she assessed valuation o1
Ravalli county last year was So, ,642, $50
One orchard alone, which is the larg
est in the state, has 48O acres of the
finest trees that one ever saw. This
is owned by the Bitter Root Orchard
company, and is situated short dis
tance from the city of Hamilton. Il
is estimated that this land, with its
forest of fruit trees, is worth from $2ot
to $3.50 an acre.
There are numerous other large or
chaid farms in the valley, among
which are the Bass Bros. at Stevens.
vile; Thomas Padden's near Darby
Gus Gerus, eighteen miles from Ham.
ilton, and the Como orchard, owned by
W. B. Harlan, ten miles from Hanil-
ton.
| THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.
Nearly every fruit known to the
temperate zone can be successfully
raised in the Bitter Root, although
greater attention is given to the cult.
walton of apples and the various kinds
of small fruit. A ready market is
found within the state, yet there is a
growing demand for the finer grades
in the east.
There is one noticeable thing about
the fruit in the Bitter Root valley and
that is it is absolutely free from the
! pests that blight the orchards of Cali
fornia, Oregon and Idaho. Every
apple is free from the vexatious Goblin
moth and one may eat the fruit in the
dark with perfect confidence.
| Realizing the importance of keeping
the fruit farms free from infection
the state has fruit inspection law
which is we'll calculated to protect the
trees from outside contamination. II
is hoped that by keeping out infected
fruit from the state, the orchards o.