REPORT. 



Washington, D. C, February 1, 1872. 



Dear Sir : Herewith I present a report of my investigations of the 

 agricultural resources of the Territories during the i^ast season. 



I accompanied the exploring party from Ogden, in Utah, to Virginia 

 City, Montana. As it was evident the party would visit no arable areas 

 of importance while investigating the interesting region around Yellow- 

 stone Lake, it was thought best that I should visit other parts of Mon- 

 tana Territory. In accordance with this opinion, I separated from the 

 main party at Virginia City and proceeded to Helena. Here I was for- 

 tunate in hading a number of w^ell-ihformed persons from all parts of 

 the Territory, through whom I gained a large amount of information in 

 regard to the agricultural resources of the sections I was unable to visit 

 in person. From this point I crossed over the dividing range of the 

 Eocky Mountains to the head-waters of the Columbia. I take pleasure 

 in stating that my investigations have developed the fact that this 

 interesting Territory possesses a much larger area of arable land than I 

 had anticipated. It is true that the agricultural lands are separated 

 into comparatively small areas; but this character has its advantage, 

 as it secures an ample supply of water for irrigating purposes. I failed 

 to obtain any satisfactory account of the extreme eastern part of the 

 Territory, especially that part lying east of Fort Benton. That it con 

 sists of broad, level, treeless plains is well known, but the supply of 

 water and means of irrigation aj)pear to have been overlooked by those 

 who have visited this section. As the Northern Pacific Eailroad is to 

 pass through here at some point, it is important that this should be 

 ascertained, especially as the descent of the Missouri below Fort Benton 

 appears to be too small to give any promise of a supply of water for 

 irrigation from it by the ordinary methods. It is therefore important 

 that further data should be obtained on this point. 



The climate of this Territory is much more favorable for agriculture 

 than would be anticipated from its northern and elevated position. 

 Indian corn, of a tolerably good quality, is grown on each side of the 

 range without any serious climatic difficulty. Even melons and fruits 

 are matured in some of the valleys. Some have attenipted to account 

 for this by the supposition of atmospheric currents from the Pacific 

 Ocean, &c. ; but the real reason is apparent when we examine the barom- 

 eter. The Bitter-Eoot Valley, between the Eocky and Bitter-Eoot Mount- 

 ains, is fully 1,200 feet lower than the level of Salt Lake; and there are 

 no broad, open plains of that extent sufficient to give play to the sweex)- 

 ing storm that often visits other sections. 



The valleys and hillsides are generally coveted with rich and nutri- 

 tious grasses, alfording excellent pasturage for stock. The northwestern 

 portion has a large area covered with extensive and valuable forests 

 of pine, fir, and other coniferous trees. I was surprised to find the 

 passes across the main range so easy and smooth ; at one of them. Deer 

 Lodge Pass, the water being actually taken by a canal from the Atlan- 

 ' tic to the Pacific side. 



I found the citizens everywhere deeply interested in these investiga- 



