The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-08-04
DAKOTA AND MONTANA
SEEN FROM THE CAR WINDOW
e Editor Us Short Report What He Sees His
Journey Montana, Which Will Be Continued
Through Washington O the Coast.

Along the line OF the Northern Pacl-
ic not much is produced but hay,
and the animals horses, cattle and
sheep-that flourish on that proven
der. The valley is so much of an
improvement over the sage brush
and bad land country that the jour-
ney along the river banks did not
seem tiresome. Rains had fallen re-
Gently and the cottonwoods and
grasses that border the wide stream
were as green as the verdure along
the Minnesota, except that the belt
of green is narrower one. Alfalfa
fields of limited size were about the
only signs of anything like farming,
and most Of the dwellings of the
small ranches were an evolution of
the dugout, generally of hewn logs
and about the size of a freight car.
When we came to such weIl-buil t
cities as Billings and several of the
smaller towns, we wondered where
the wealth and trade comes from,
We have been somewhat enlightened
since, on that problem. The wealth
of eastern Montana is very largely,
if not almost wholly in its focks and
herds. Sheep are not numbered by
the hundred, but by the thousands.
Only yesterday l read in the Liv-
ingston Enterprise, in incidental
local paragraph. that certain
ranchman had just purchased $4,000
spring lambs for his ranges, while
another had sold the last of his wool
clip, $4,000 pounds, for something
like $4,000, after having previously
sold the product of his first shear
ing at better prices. Mr.. Force,
who has been enIightening me some
what about Montana conditions, OBJ
served yesterday that when he first
came to Livingston he wondered
where the trade was coming from,
but that when he saw ranchers COM
ing in with freight wagons loaded
with hides and wool very much as
Minnesota farmers load with hay,
he soon reasoned out the conclusion
that this kind of product ran into
big money, and that the producers
ought to make mighty good cash
buyers of lumber, as indeed he has
found them. The credit nuisance
does not trouble the lumber dealers
here as in Minnesota.
Of course Redwood Falls readers
will be interested in the fortunes of
Mr.. Force and family. w. H. came
here with the task cut out for him
of overseeing the installation of an
entirely new lumber yard, including
the erection of new buildings and Sc
lection of stock. Hehas had large
two story building 140 feet long,
put up for Office and lumber shed
and smaller building for lime and
cement, and when his stock has all
arrived, will haye one of the most
convenient lumber selling plants
conceivable. Mrs. Force has had no
time to get homesick since arriving
here, her task as home-builder hav-
ing been complicated by trouble in
securing a suitable house, which
they moved into from temporary
quarters the first of this week. 1T
is a convenient, all modern house,
the hospitable.. hostess giving house
warming party the day after moving
in, with friends from Madison and
Redwood Falls dropping in unex-
pectedly to test her patience and
hospitality in a trying situation.
The guests of the day will not forget
the whole-hearted welcome they re-
ceived. Alvin Force is not yet quite
reconciled to separation from his
chums at Redwood Falls, but finds
enough to do here at twice the wag-
es he could earn at Redwood Falls,
to help reconcile him to his sur
roundings. All are in good health
except that Mrs. Mason has been
afflicted by the high altitude. Mr..
Mason went to northern Montana
today to install a bank-protection
system for the company with W hich