THE PROSPERITY OF MONTANA 



tion is destined steadily to increase, while manufactur- 

 ing must begin in earnest during the next decade. The 

 wheat, rye, oats, and vegetables produced in the irri- 

 gated valleys are remarkable both in quantity and qual- 

 ity. The brewers of Brooklyn, New York, selected the 

 Manhattan Valley for important agricultural operations, 

 because they found it would grow the finest barley in the 

 world. Small fruits are prolific and of fine flavor. 



Even the orchard fruits, especially apples and plums, 

 are produced successfully in the more sheltered valleys. 

 The exhibits which one sees at county fairs, particu- 

 larly at those on the western slope in valleys like the 

 Bitter Root, make surprising revelations of the fruit 

 possibilities in this northwestern State. But the settler's 

 chief opportunity will be found in supplying the com- 

 mon farm products required by the large and growing 

 population in the cities and towns. Of the present local 

 consumption, forty per cent, of the flour, ninety per 

 cent, of the pork, bacon, and ham, ninety-two per cent, 

 of the lard, thirty per cent, of the butter, ninety-eight 

 per cent, of the cheese, and forty-three per cent, of the 

 eggs are now brought in from elsewhere. When these 

 facts are considered in connection with the cheap land, 

 abundant water supply, and healthful climate, it is ap- 

 parent that Montana offers great attractions to colonists. 



The Gallatin Valley, southeast of Helena on the main 

 line of the Northern Pacific, is the most famous agri- 

 cultural district of Montana. It is well settled, with a 

 class of thrifty farmers engaged in producing a variety of 

 ordinary crops. Bozeman, the county seat, is the homo 

 of the State Agricultural College, and this institute haa 

 done much to raise the standard of irrigation and of 

 p 235 



