The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-07-10
On Higher Ground.
The Editor Makes IA Visit to the
Table Lands Of Montana.

The Herald Advance man has
had a vacation of just two weeks,
and has enjoyed this time in the
little hill-surrounded valley of
Willow Creek, Montana. The
town is comparatively new, al
though there are a number of
settlers who have had ranches
in the valley and lived here for
the last fifty years. Long before
the Northern Pacific railroad
pierced the valley to reach the
Pacific coast country these
mountain Wales had been APP
propriated by the hardy pioneers
who came up from the south,
Utah, Missouri, and other states,
with the immigrant wagon, and
enduring the hardships of an
almost entire separation from
civilization, and constant dan
gers from hostile Indians that
threatened the frontier settle
ments before the advent of the
railroad. These early settlers
took possession of the valleys,
which irrigation projects estab-
lished have been yielding rich
returns of crops ever since, the
great bench lands and hillsides
affording a wide range for their
cattle, horses and sheep, and
until few years ago these range
cattle constituted the greater
portion Of the wealth of Montana
outside of it's mining production.
It was universally believed that
the bench lands were only fitted
for grazing purposes. However,
with the advent of the dry farm. 4
ing system it has been demon
strated that these bench lands
are rich in grain producing
qualities, and that with proper
cultivation from 25 to so bushels
ofwheat to the acre may be rails
ed on them. An average crop
for several years past has been
35 bushels. Oats yield from so
to SO bushels. It was on lands
in this county that the oats were
raised that were awarded the
prize at the great land show held
in New York a couple of years
ago in competition with oats
from every section of the United
States. The soil and climate are
particularly well adapted for
raising potatoes Of large size and
Of fine quality One man report
ed yield of 400, bushels and
vegetables Of all kinds thrive.
| understand that apples, pears
and the small fruits are raised
with success when given proper
cultivation, but little attention is
given to these things as yet
In regard to development the
bench lands present some.
what the appearance that Grant
county presented about thirty
years ago, while the valley lands
with irrigation have the appear
ance of older settled com
munities, and some very fine
homes and farms are to be seen.
A view of the valleys from any
of the surrounding hills is
beautiful picture. In the clear,
dry atmosphere of this altitude,
and with the snow.clad noun
tains constantly in view IN near
ly all directions, the picture
is one to delight the eye. To the
plainsman, who has spent most
of his life on the prairie, these
snow-topped mountains have
a peculiarly attractive fascin.
alton. We never seem to tire
looking at them, and the words
Of the old Hebrew poet come in
voluntarily to our lips, l will
lift mine eyes unto the hills
from whence cometh my
help And it is literally true
that these snow-crowned hill
are the farmers help, as it is
from them that the life giving
waters for irrigating the lower
lands are constantly flowing.
and a never failing supply Of
water for the irrigating ditch is
secured. One of the advantages
on the valley land is the fine soft
drinking water. which is obtain
ed here at Willow Creek at
depth Of from 20 to 81 feet. On
the bench lands deep wells Of
several hundred feet have to be
drilled, and many of the farmers
have gasoline pumps to secure a
supply from these deep wells.
These bench lands are only soWn
to grain every other year, The
lands being summer fallowed,
plowed and disced and generally
SOWn to a winter wheat known