The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-11
RAILROAD OFFICIALS
ARE ENTERTAINED
REPRESENTATIVES OF PUGET
SOUND ARE TOLD OF GLORiES
OF THE VALLEY.

Hamilton. Dec. le.-on Thursday
evening mt the Rayaili hotel. an in
formal reception was rendered the
representatives of the passenger ana
immigration departments OF the MIL
waukee and Puget Sound lines who
Were visitors in the land of the Mcln-
tosh Red. There was Is gentlemen from
all PARTS of the country. Their in
Spectlon trip includes the new coast
extension. and four stops only were
made in Montana. one AT Iewistown
another at Butte one in this valley
and one at MiSsouia. ii is notable
that the visit To the Bitter Root is
the only journey made off their own
line during the entire trip.
Many prominent business men OF
Hamilton and the county were present
at the reception. and addresses were
made by Judge Myers. Mayor Drink
enberg. senator Romney. Mr.. Currie
OF the Bitter Root Valley Irrigation
company and others. Judge Myers
made the speech of the evening.
After few Introductory remarks. in
which Judge Myers welcomed the
visitors i'm behalf of the chamber of
commerce and the citizens of Ravalli
county and spoke of the valley in
glowing terms. he complmented the
Puget Sound and named IL as one Of
the good things of the country. He
stated that the Bitter Root, always
familiar with good things. would like
to see the day when the Puget Sound
line would enter the land OF the Nc
Intosh Red.
Then the Judge described the physi-
cal qualities of the valley. and the re-
lation of its size to population. THE
Bitter Root" he said. lis destined To
he land of great population and 1t
cannot get away from its destiny.
He described the process OF division
Of the large estates of yesterday-how
the Bitter Root stock farm was sell
ing some Of its land. how the Wards
had found success after years of pi-
oneering how the Bitter Root Valley
Irrigation company had built the
largest ditch in the world. and how
the o. w. Kerr company was develop
ing a splendid tract south of town.
Raising Mcintosh apples is as
profitable as raising oranges" stated
the Judge. and he recalled an incident
within our own state where he had
seen al grocery Bitter Root apples
and California oranges boxed side by
side. the former selling for SO and the
latter for $3.50 He related the au-
thentic story of an acre of apples
which produced sl..5o with a profit of
1920.
My friend. Mr.. Totman." proceeded
the judge, told me that about 10
years ago when he first came here
the output of boxes from the lumber
department of the Anaconda Copper
Mining company was 1900 per year.
and the entire county was served.
Last year the output was 100000 from
the local mill. and outside firms sup
piled thousands more. Last year
there were 5000 acres planted to or
chard. this year 1000 acres were add
ed and il is hard To compute the cx-
ceptional increase for 1910.
'.The days are gone when immigra-
ton passes through Montana to the
coast. The Bitter Root. the most
eastern valley of the Pacific north
west has now come tn its own. The
railroads and the country alike are
prospecting. We are glad To see the
Puget Sound line and wish to en-
courage outside capital To share with
70
resources We hope tn have the Puget
Sound line at our door. knowing that
there will be time when the Bitter
Root will have development in both
business and social way.
We are sorry Won are not going tn
stay over SO that We can welcome
you appropriately There are many
attractions in the Greater Bitter
Root"
During the evening the railway rep
resentatiyeS We're asked many times
regarding the Bitter Root extension,
but of course they We're unable la
make any positive statements. How
ever. the valley has attracted the
Puget Sound officials. and through
out the county il is believed that this
railway will make bid for such an
important and immense tonnage as
the Bitter Root can furnish.