Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-11-14
Com. Stith Visits Beach
and the Golden Valley.

town of some $50 population, sprung up in
the last twelve months. Total improve
ments there now will reach about 5000.
100000. There are four grain elevators.
with total capacity of $4,000 bushels
These elevators will receive from the 1907
crop 10000 bushels Of wheat, 10000 bu-
shells of flax, $4,000 bushels of oats and
about 900 bushels of barley. Very little
of the barley raised is marketed as grain,
as the farmers use it for hog feed. The
wheat and flax GO mostly to Duluth. Oats
come west into Montana. Beach has lust
completed a IS barrel flour mill, owned by
the Golden Valley Milling Co., and grinds
largely Custer county wheat. In a talk
with the manager he said this wheat pro-
duces a better grade of flour and that it is
in greater demand than the Red River VAL
ley or Minnesota wheat. ! procured a
quantity OF sample sacks OF the Beach mill
-four and parties interested can try it free
of COS, ty calling on or writing me.
Beach has three general hardware stores
and these have sold in the past eight months
| o5 self-binders. 1925 mowers, 10 threshing
outfits. 14o plows, 1856 wagons, gear loads
of binder twine besides their trade in va
rious other articles. If the percentage of
their business in agricultural implements
compares, as it probably does with the total
business done in Montana general hardware
stores, these three stores have done total
business with the settlers of S216.45ooo.
The receipts of the Northern Pacific road
at Beach for the months of October and
November, for the shipment of grain, flour
and feed alone. will reach s24,
There seems to be nothing more sure
than that Billings county will be divided
short distance east of the roth guide me-
ridian on the north and south and on the
boundary line of the new county of Ham,
ilton on the east and west. About two-thirds
of the wealth of Billings county lies west
of the Little Missouri river and if the
country around Beach keeps up her lick
for the next two years, three-fourths of the
wealth of Billings will lie west of the 10th
guide meridian.
And this because the eastern part OF
Billings is bad lands used only for grazing
purp6ses, while the western part is fine
agricultural land. And it illustrates the
difference between grazing and an agri.
cultural section pretty clearly. While in
Beach enjoyed visit with the editor Of
the Golden Valley Chronicle.
Talk With Settlers
Il asked several settlers as to the value
of their lands. They told me improved
lands were selling readily at $500 per
acre. But they added, we consider our
lands worth more money One of them
stated it thus: Where l came from the
land. valued at $4,000 per. acre will not
as rule produce $500 net per acre.
My land here paid SIS oop per acre for a
year ago produced net income of $40. IS
per acre. For me prefer the land that
will give IS percent profit on my investment.
Another settler said: The, conditions this
year we're about normal. We have all
made good money; we are satisfied, con-
tented and happy, and now if you will
excuse me am just ready to start for
Beach, l noticed he had 3-inch Mandl
wagon loaded with $500 pounds of fax
Still another settler said to me: II came
here in March, 1907, from River Falls
Wis 1 borrowed money from brother
to pay my fare out here. got credi
from Beach merchants for lumber, nipple
ments and supplies. now have all m,
debts paid and have 100000 to m
credit>in the Golden Valley State Bank
all from my 1907 first crop. Besides
paid my expenses back to River Falls ant
brought out with me wife and" Jus
then there appeared on the scene one o
the most beautiful women l have eve
seen.
Another Good Town.
Il also visited Marmarth, located in til
southwest corner of Billings comfy On til
east line of Custer county. This is to t
the next division point on the Milwaukee
road east of Miles City. Here the roa
has fifteen side tracks in already, and
!, still grading. This point makes more ce
tain the division of Billings county,
stated, on a line east and west and parale
with Stark county. The new county wi
/. be called Hamilton, with Marmarth ii
- county seat. 1t will be the market an
- trading point for 1000 square miles
Custer county. In my judgement Ma
:. marth will be city of 1900 populate
:, inside of the next two years. There W
" be handled at this point, from prese
indications. by the fall of 1909 at lie;
" 200. 900 bushels of grain.