The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-09-23

are scarce DuJ WIZ, VI course, III
crease in number as the population
increases.
The climate is the best thing about
the valley. Windstorms, thunder.
storms, cyclones and billiards are I'M
known. The mountain air is very
healthful and invigorating and must
be breathed to be appreciated In
the summer the thermometer ranges
from 60 to so degrees, occasionally
to 10 degrees higher. The nights are
always cool and pleasant and it is
seldom too warm for comfort indoors
or in the shade on the hottest days.
It is hard for an inhabitant of the
Mississippi valley to believe in the
mildness of the winters of the Puget
sound country. The Japanese cur
rent warns the waters of the ocean
and the influence of the warmth ex-
tends eastward to the Rocky noun
tains. The government weather bu-
reau at Kalispell shows that there
were only four days last winter when
the mercury dropped below zero.
| talked to a number of people and
found no one who complained of the
cold weather in winter The Their
mometer averages a little below
freezing during the winter months,
| temperature recorded. The tender
fruits mentioned above could not be
grown if the winters were severe.
There is a good deal of snow in win
ter, but as there is very little wind,
it never drifts. Instead of heavy
snow storms, little falls at frequent
intervals and keeps melting. Horses
seldom sweat in summer and never
need fly nets.
The principal rains come in April,
May and June. The last rains came
during Fourth of July week this
year. The fall rains begin the latter
part of August. A good rain fell the
last day l was there, August 16.
Heavy, washing rains are unknown.
Light, gentle rains are frequent in
the spring.
How such fine crops can be grown
with so little rainfall is mystery to
eastern people, but seeing is believ-
ing Although no rain had fallen for
over a month when was there, moth
ing seemed to be suffering for mos.
ture and nobody seemed anxious for
rain. Sweet corn and potatoes looked
fresh and green, as did all forms OF
n1o iY,
Haymaking was being finished and
harvesting was commencing. Rasp
berries were at their best and the
last cherries were being picked. The
dry weather in July and August is
fine for the hay and grain harvest
The hay and grain stands up straigh
} and can easily be saved bright an,
green. The rush and sweat of har
vest which we dread SO much here i!
absent there on account of the abund
ance of cool, sunny weather.
AS might be expected, the farm
buildings do not equal those in olde
: sections of the country. Good house
and barns are the exception rattle
than the rule. This deficienc7 cal
easily be remedied where lumber il
so cheap. The water of the valley il
of the very best quality. Springs ar
numerous and wells mostly shallow
and never failing. The water in tn
lakes and rivers comes direct from
the mountains and is so pure an,
; cold that many use it for cooking
purposes and drinking.
. The ground works very easily an
9 is soft and seldom cloddy. Although
, no rain had fallen for over a month
|. stubble ground plowed easily, and il
cultivated orchards the ground wa
very moist beneath the loose groun
p on top. The soil is full of humus
q and the moisture coming up from bt
q low keeps orchard and field crop
:. growing nicely after the rains hav
f ceased to fall in summer.
e The price of land is higher tina
It one would expect in so new coul
d try, but is lower than thhe many fa'
/. orable conditions warrant. Goot
l. improved farms run from $25 to 50
D. per acre. The very best farms al
5, valued at $50 per acre and some eve
A. higher. Land close to Kalispel bring
$. 500 to 5000 per acre, but out thre
e to five miles it is about as cheap g
< ten miles from town. Distance fro
d town doesn't seem to count for muC
there, probably because good road
;e and pleasant weather make the ira
lie cling easy.
Is Nearly all the farms contain II
le acres. Many of these with part
O. the land in timber can be bought fl
1t SIS to $40 per acre. A new railros
ID is being built from Kalispell south
r the Northern Pacific This will opt
or the way to the great mining CAM
,e of Montana, and result in high