Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-01
DEVELOPMENT OF the NORTHERN
PACIFIC COUNTRY.


the .Ne,c Northlcss. (philsdeiphis), on |
both sides of the Northern Pacific Rail |
road, during the present year. has far
exceeded the most sansu;ne expecta-
tons, and even at this late season peo-
pie are still focking iu in large numbers.
Without exception tine towns and cities
along the line of the road, both old and
new, are in prosperous condition. The
completion of the magnificent bridge
over the Missouri river has given new
impetus to Bismarck, and its enterpcis-
ing inhabitants expect to see it rapidly
develop into an important center of
trade. Two new additions have been
recently laid out to Miles City to accom-
modate the demand for building lots,
and the people of that place have con
structed an irrjgating ditch from
Tongue river to supply the whole town
and the neighboring valley lands with
water. Billings, place scarcely six
months old, has now permanent pop
ulation of 1000 and is Still growing rap
idly. The Clark's Fork Bottom, Of the
Yellowstone valley, of which it IL the
business center, contains 10000 acres.
now ready for irrigation by main
ditch 80 miles long. 1t is expected that
next year at least $1,000 acres Of this
bottom will be sown in wheat and oats,
affordino surplus yield for shipment
on the Northern Pacific of from 100000
to $4,000 bushels. The success of the
important irrigating ditch terminating
at Billings has stimulated enterprises
in other localities in Montana. West of
the Belt mountains, between Bozeman
and Helena, a number OF ditch enter
prises are now in progress, which will
very largely increase the area avail
able for cultivation in that section.
At the mouth of Boulder creek, about
100 miles west of Billings, and just over
the border of the Crow Indian reserva-
ton, an active little town has sprung up
during the past few weeks, under the
impetus of the construction operations
of the road. 1t is called Boulder City.
and will undoubtedly become Il perma
nent town of considerable Importance.
Still further west, at the point where he
railroad leaves the valley of the Yellow
stone to cross the Belt rance, is the new
town of Livingstone, where 300 people
are already on the ground waiting for
the town site to be put upon the market
i
Pacific Railroad Company. This place
has evidently good future before il, as
market and shipping po.nt for an I'M
por.ant grazing and mining region.
A year ago Bozeman had population
of abO1t 1000. 1t now contains at least
300 people-its recent growth being en-
tirely the results of the Hear approach
of the Northern Pacific ;sailroad. The
ctr of u tv hn
with brick stores and warehouses
some of which are two ard three stories
high. A large number % handsome
residences have been erected darin1
the past season. An addition to the
town of COO acres in the vicinity of the
newly located railway station has just
been put upon the mlrket, affordIng
ample roOn for the heal:hful expansion
of the place. Bozsmaa derives its i'm
portance from its location in the fertile
valley of the Galiatin, the oldest and
best developed agricultural region OF
Montana, the fine water power of the
neighboring streams and it's proximity
to the coal and iron deposits in the
mountains close at hand. The Trans
continental survey, cOuducted uud r
the auspices of the Northern Pacific
Company, has recently determined be-
yond question the location of extensive
veins of true bituminouS coal in the
Belt range, within short distance of
BoZeman. This f'ct, together with the
known existence of beds of iron ore III
the same region, warrants the belief
that an early day Bozsnan will become
large manufacturing place. Already
it has three -four mills, one Just crested,
uf a very large capacity.
The discovery Of extensive deposits of
pure bituminOus coal In the heart OF tue
continent, and IN region supposed to
contain nothing better i'll the way of
fuel than an inferior Ignite, is an event
the significance of which, III its bear
ings upon the development Of the
country tributary to the Northern Pa
cific road, 0sn scarcely be exaggerated.
The city of Helena. the capital Of
Montana, also exhibits remarkable
recent growth. M my of the best quartz
mines in the Territory are in its neigh
hOrhoOi, and it Is n mercantile center
for very large region of grazing and
farming country.
West of Helena. and just over the
main range of the Rocky Mountains, u
new town has sprung up ut the Junction
of the Little Blackfoot and hell Gate
rivers, to which tue name OF Garrison
has been given. This will be the juno
ZION of the Northern Pacific branch tn
Butte City.
Missoula, still further west. formerly
only 4 military post and sn all Indian
trading point. il fast assuming the di-
mSnsions and activity of large com
mercial town. The railway building
west from the Pacific slope will soon
reach this point. Missoula Is already
the most import INT town he ween Hele-
na aud Spokan Falls. and as thu on of
a division of the road, and the outlet If
the fertile valley Of the Butter Root riv-
iks fnf 20 x,r6,cxsaIifu L.. aaSrlrad