The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-08-05

Although the first 80 miles Of the
stage route traverSeS a dreary, monoto-
nous prairie country, the second section
Of the trip generously makes up for all
it's deficiencies. After leaving Thirty
Mile" the trail enters a group Of noun
tains popularity known as the Bull
Range. These are low lying hills of very
wild and picturesque appearance. Cedar
and pine trees are to be seen growing in
scattered localities over the sides of
the individual mountains. Gigantic
boulders stand out conspicuously at fire.
quent intervals along the route, often
being alongside the winding roadway.
clutches and ravines are passed as the
stage rolls along and steep hills to climb
and steep ones to descend are trying
times for the horses and spicy periods for
the driver and the passengers. Often
there is uncertainty whether the bus will
remain right side uppermost and the
horses keep from running away. But
these are but small incidents Of the trip
that furnish spice and variety.
The day we passed through the Bull
Range the snow covered the ground to
a depth of four inches. The boulderS
and trees had a holiday appearance
which the ~crtSpnesS of the air greatly
heightened. The snow of the morning
had ceased and in its stead the sun kept
peeping over the ridges Of the mountains
and down through the ravines. About
so miles from Billings our stage received
4Io JnlIO CLdllBG VI nOISE5.
1.-The evening is o upon the traveller
in Montana during the winter months
and shortly after the third change at 4
o'clock it became necessary to light the
coach lamps or the sides. Before we
passengers closed the curtains for the
night, we heartily agreed that the variety
and scenery and spice Of our first day
Of daylight travel was altogether worth
while. Then we settled ourselves as best
we could for the night stage ride, trust
ing to u driver n his horses to see
us safely through on our journey.
1T is rather ridiculous at first to
think Of sleeping in a stage coach travel
ing over bumpety mountain roads al
from four to six miles an hour, but sue
cess, will reward the persevering for an
hour or two at least during h night.
THE famous Montana Musselshen dis
trict is reached by 8 p. m. where supper
is served, horses changed, drivers also
and everything got in shape for the al
night run to Flatwtllow and Grass Range
Mail is transferred and new sacks StoWeC
away. Baggage is shifted and made as cas-
and convenient for the horses and driver
and passengers as possible. After all IL
in readiness the start is made and the
famous Bench Land District" where
crops are raised without irrigation, il
JraverSed. Five years ago land in thii
/ section could hardly be given away. I
was used chiefly by cattlemen to graz
their stock upon. A few enterpriSinl
rancherS undertook to determine If whea
could not be grown in the so-calleC
desert soil and grow without irrigation
They experimental and with so grea
success that at the present day this LAM
is able to produce wheat varying from A
to go bushels to the acre.
THE news that crops could be s.
readily grown without irrigation on lam
previously thought to be -unproductiv
rapidly spread throughout the country
Farmers flocked to the Musselshell, Flat
willow n Grass Range districts witt
the result that in five years this localit
Of Montana has become well settled an
Of great agricultural value.
THE trip from Grass Range to Gil
Edge, a famous gold mining camp,
made in daylight, the route being over
smooth and level prairie with ~attractiv
mountain scenery in the distance.
Gilt Edge is reached in the afternoon
from where the stage transports you t
: Lewistown, a live, bustling town Of 2,00I
J by nightfall, just rs the lights from tn
: households are beginning to shin
: through the windows.
, is a magnificent 36-mile Lew
> stretch Of prairie from Lewistown to
: small town stopping place called Utici
{ This stretch lies within the famoU
? Judith Basin and is as level as the f1oC
: Of a house for the entire SO miles.
. drive along over this kind Of countI