Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1880-10-22
MISSOURI RIVER FALLS
THE FUTURE SUMNER RESORT
OF AMERICA.
A Fall Next in Size to the Niagara---The Great,
Cascade, Rainbow, and Upper Palls---Twen-
ty Miles of Rapids and Water Power
Importance Of Fort Benton.
FORT BENTON.

importance OF Fort benton.
FORT BENTON.
Few people are aware ofthe fact that1200
miles on the river northwest of Bismarck
there is town, in which merchantile
firms are doing business ofover 81 ,0O0,-
900 year each where brick buildings,
costing not less than 10000 each, are scat
tered along the streets aud residences of no
less expense deck the hillsides overlooking
the city, yet such is fact: Fort Benton
situated directly on the gravelly banks OF
the Missouri river, which at that point is
as clear as crystal is town of about 22OO
people, and is destined at no distant day
to rival Helena, the first town in Monta-
ma, AS a summer resort, this mountain
ous country will, in a few years, become
popular. Nowhere in the country Is
here finer scenery than that bordering
on the banks Of the Missouri between
Bismarck and Fort Benton, and the clear,
cool, and invi gora,:ng atmosphere is in
deed a marked contrast to that OF Long
Branch or Saratoga in the summer
months. Sixty miles above Benton are
The
GREAT FALLS
of the Missouri-picturesqu stately,
grand. Here, in the foothills of the
FLEETWOOD mountains, the seethlng. rush
inc Missouri has cut its way through the
sandstone rocks, and century after cen
tury has produced a fall, next in size 0he
quantity OF water cohsidered) to that Of
the great Niagara. Approaching it from
any direction naugh: is seen OF the river
until the very bluffs overlooking the
stream are reached, but the wild 1oar is
heard tor many miles. To the north and
east Of the falls extend wild, unbroken
prairie as far as the eye can reach-except
that ia the DIM distance from seventy to
one hundred AMI fifty miles away loom
the Cypress, Sweet Grass, Woody, Bear
Paw and Little Rocky mountains. 10
the south and west are the Highwood and
Belt mountains, which, when THE 1RI-
BUNE man visited them in July. were still
capped with snow. Descending the rug
wed bluffs Just below the Cheat Fails is
not an easy task, but after reaching the
waters edge and exploring the cavern dl-.
reclly behind the rushing water, ninety
feet above, one is amply repaid. Beside,
III the eddy at the lctt "f,he fall are as
FINE SPECIFIED TROUT
"A ever fisherman pictured in his dreams.
To sit on table rock twenty feet from
this foaming cataract, gazing Iistlessly at
one Of natures pretllcst pictures and at
the same tine "bend the rod" with 4 two
pound trout, is q treat which few people
have ever experienced. Five miles up
the river from the Great Falls are the
Rainbow or Centre Falls, which, though
not 80 gigantic as the lower ones, arc
equally magnificent. The fall is forty
feet straight drop in horseshoe form,
making altogether, nearly a male OF fall,
arising from which is IL mist, III which,
during sunshine, is continuous rain
bow. Of brilliant hues. Eight miles fur
t:ler up the river are the Upper Falls,
with a twenty foot drop Above these
falls the Missouri, though rapid in places,
is navigable to within twelve miles OF Hell
ena. In few years thls portion OF the
river will be nsvisated by small steam
boats and thousands of pleasure seekers
will take this route to the National Yel-
lowstone Park In the vicinity Of this
vast extent Of wonderful water power IS
a country destined IN few years TO be
MAGNIFICENT WHEAT COUNTRY,
as the climatic changes are more and
mere apparent every year and the rain,
fail gradually increasing. At present 1t
il sor, of sportsmen's paradise whcre
antelope, deer, elk. wild geese and ducks
abound in countless numbers. Buffalo
were once monarchs OF all they surveyed
in this great plateau but the numerous
herds ef cattle have driven them far
south and nothing remains to mark their
old camping ground save the numerous
we'll beaten trails and the occasional skel-
cton Of an unfortunate beast. Benton will
be u resert in few years for thousands
of pleasure sce1ers. Every one who has
visited the upper Missouri in summer,
must have appreciated the climate. the
scenery and the people OF this western
frsntier.