Year: 1879

TO be .sid that If man In this country waatsd to die


natssal death, be had to 90 TO the STATES some
where rlse to do so but although this caauiry is
eqnalied for health, perhaps. find that people die
her" as well as elsewhere.


The mountains full of the finest Streams, and
fish in the srratest abundance almost everywhere.
Game is plentiful almost everywhere, including buf
falo. grizzly bear and other bcas. mountain sheep,
different kinds Of deer, antelope and i'm fact. great
many kinds that know nothing about, together with
| great quantity of the winged kind.


The mines Of this Territory although just beginning
to be developed, yielding well, in both gold and
silver, to which, when added the agricultural stock
raising, and other resources, furnish an aggregate
wealth of not less than six millions Of dollars to be
distributed among population of not over twenty
FIVE thousand people; You may readily imagine
that there is now and must always be. much moro
money here, per capita, than in the States. This
country is full of towns and mining camps and busi-
ness of all kinds aourishing well everywhere far
know. Benton. forty-fve miles distant at pres
ent is the bead of navigation the Missouri River;
but company in this city will, next Summer put on
they say two steamboats, navigate the river above
the great falls, point twelve miles distant from
Helena, which, when done, will afford better facili-
ties for getting into this country than exist now till
railroads come i'm.


Dry goods, groceries, etc, few years ago, were
very high here, account of extravagance, high
freighs, and the expense and toll of getting here
but they not considered now, since reghs are
reduced to about three cents per pound or less and
the facilities for getting here much better.
But. after all, believe, IL to advise any one
to here, would he to engage in stock raising
and that for the reason simply that he could not lose
money in that enterprise, with every chance of max
ing not only good living, but of making much mony.
To do this, however, in few years, he must have, at
least few thousand dollars to start with, else this
enterprise will be somewhat discouraging As cattle
and horses require herding here. and only gen.
era roundup about twice year, lin which all en-
gage) for the purpose of branding You will that
stock raising does not interfere with farming opera
tions, and man have his ranch right in the vi
cnity of his cattle range that he can, if he wsh
look after them, but these roundups collect them all
together. Cattle will wander, often. forty or fifty
miles, but horses stick close to the range you put
them The former cheaper here than in Mis-
souri, Kansas but the latter higher The tight
est time with stock in this country, is undoubtedly
during the weather of March and April, land often
including May when the substance of the grasses has
been injured by melting and rains. and yet too
early for the Spring grass Hence, think, talthough
it is not generally admitted here ought to put
up hay, a few tons, at least, to be provided
against excessive storms and to feed it to his
weaker cattle in the Spring of the year. if need be-
1t used to be done here believe, but it sell
dom required, that but few do any thing of the
kind


Well, although have written at some length, yet
may have said but little, after ALL that you do al
ready know; but have TO say, that If have not
been specific enough on any particular subject, l
hold myself in readiness at any time. to any
inquiry you may make of ME, and will take pleasure
in doing so. Please allow The Chief and bulletin to
make any extracts from the Helena Herald they may
wish.


wrote to Joe Fox twice, but failing to get an
anewer, supposed he had gone back. He ought not
to have gone back. by any means. met Sam1 Word,
of Virginia City. NJ t. my way out here, and will
him again in few days, he is a member of the
Legislature, which meets here the second Monday
in next month, tJanuary, when will show him your
letter to me, and urge him to write to You, which
have doubt he will do. l promised to write to
VIM. NJ. Mann and John Rhue, but if you will let
them this letter. and show them the Herald pre-
sumo it will be as we'll


am taking on a little too much fat here, a thing
dislike very much, indeed. Before concluding this
letter. deem it proper to state, that any coming
to this Territory with goods, wares and merchandise
Or in fact, anything else to SELL bring the best
the people generally able to pay for what they
want. and will have the hest There are but few If
any paupers, here. Helena population about 4,oO0)
has at present. only two dry goods houses both very
heavy wholesale and retail but many other kinds Of
stores groceries, &e and two three saddle Shops


Yours truly,


EDWIN TOOLE