Year: 1872

January.
MESSRS. EDITORS Having breathed
Montana air now for nearly two months,
[ will venture to offer an opinion in re-
gard to it. Yet this is the most unfOrtu-
nate season of the year for stranger to
| form anything like a favorable idea of the
West. The snow storms have been unu-
sually severe, so much so that we seldom
get an eastern mail. Up to this time, l
have not been away from the capitol.
The Legislature has had forty days
session, and the Supreme Court has had
one sitting since / came here thus have
been able to see the leading men of the
Territory, either in the legislative hall, on
the bench or at the bar. And again, there
were many of the leading men Of the Ter
ritory here, looking after favOritc measures
in the Legislature. Among the members
of the Legislature / found some of no
mean ability. They would compare well
with most of the State legislators.


The Supreme Court is presided over by
Chief Justice Wade, a nephew of Old
Benz assisted by Judge Knowles, of Indi-
ana, and Judge Murphy, of Tennessee.
Judge Murphy has succeeded well SO far.
I was present at one term of his court. He
presided with dignity, and was very strict
in his rulings. | never seen better order
in a court room. He has the confidence of
the people and the respect of the bar
The press speak very highly of his course.
He has been very impartial and kept him
self aloof from political rings, which so
infect these Western countries. l confess
to surprise when l see the ability of the
bar in this mountain country. They are
generally men of active energy and an
average amount of intelligence.


Montana has vast area, but is sparsely
populated, there being probably not more
than p, 900 inhabitants in the Territory.
1t presents advantages to the young and
enterprising of stupendOus magnitude. Its
mineral and agricultural resources are sec
Ond to none; but, like East Tennessee, we
want capital aud labor. The valleys are
the most fertile have ever seen, and the
mountains are full of gold and silver ere /;
but the mining is mostly quartz, and this
requires much more capital to run the
mills necessary to separate the ore from
the rock.


Farming and stock raising have been
carried on with a success scarcely ever
known in theWest. Men who came here n
few years ago penniless are now indepen-
dent. 1t is only necessary to herd the
stock in the mountains. It is not neceS-
sary to feed them.


Montana furnishes market for all that
her farmers can produce. The country is
well watered, but generally irrigation is
necessary.


What we now need is connection with
the East, and this is now a certainty.
The contract for the Northern Pacific road
is now let to the very border of Montana,
and will be finished inside of Il year.
About fifty miles have been made from
Puget Sound extending east. When this
road is finished we will then be called into
notice.


As to the climate l have not time to
speak at large, but l think it is generally
much milder than it has credit for. Of
course it is very severe crossing the Rocky
Mountain ranges, at this season of the
year.


l think, upon the whole, this is great
country for a young man, if lie has cOur-
age enough to break down the common
difficulties that all encounter in the West,
and moral courage to withstand the inn
moral tendencies of this country; but no
one must come here with the expectation
that he will accumulate in a day fortune
without labor. If you have any such, l
advise them to remain within reach of the
charity of their friends. w. l.. II.