The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-07-11
a TRIP To.THE GREAT FALLS.
/, beautiful Reg1on-Magniicent Water
Power and Valuable Springs.

Montana is a great country, with a
GREAT, great big G, and since the railroad
has within the last two years brought
"a. 50 to speak, into the United States.
we have begun to catch Oh to the boom
or, to speak more properly, the boom
has begun to catch on to us. We have
heard on various and sundry occasions
in the RIVER Press and other leading
papers of our huge territory of the great
natural resources-nature's gifts-so val
uable as to almost call them priceless.
and yet here they are, free to all, like
salvation, to be had without money and
without price: Great mines, where the
eager pursuer of mammon may find
wealth great mineral springs, where
the modern Ponce de Leon may realize
in ameasure that the old tabled fountain
of eternal yonth is not altogether a
myth; great pastures, which for fairness
of cattle and sheep would put tx shame
even the famous blue grass region of
kentucky; great rivers for the busy
man of traffic, those arteries of trade
which tend to keep in check those SOUL
less corporations, the railroads; great
mountains, geysers and waterfalls, where
the tourist searching for the beautiful
and grand in nature may be fully salts
fed.
The old saying that "distance lends
aenchantment to the view is we'll Illus
trated in the Great Falls of the Missouri.
Eyery one knows that they are only
Forty miles from Benton, a short trip in
3his country of magnificent distances,
Yet how few have ever taken a few days.
#ime to see these grand natural curiosi-
#ies. From Benton it is no trouble for
8ny one, though they be not a John G..
Fremont or even a Pathfinder, to find
heir way via the now deserted Smile
kprings and Bulls Head to the famous
B-Mile Springs. If you will only re-
hember the very simple directions Civ
ID you there by that clever landlord,
T.. Evans, you will never, like sheep,
y astray. | am ashamed to say, though,
Al lat several parties who had been thus
lilly instructed did persist in leaving the
raight and narrow path which leads to
HE Falls, and went wandering around
aa q heavy rain, in an aimless sort of
manner, hunting coulees and prairie
pg towns, | guess. AS they are all
lends of mine I resent with scorn the
Emulation made by a person who at
einpted to follow up their tracks, that
mere was too much rattlesnake antidote
circulating for the drivers to be at all ac-
kurate in the choice Of roads.
The whole prairie is carpeted with the
kreenest of bunch grass, and adorned
with the gayest of flowers. The asser-
Bion hat good grain can be raised on our
Bench lands without irrigation is COM
ug true this yea, sure, as any one will
be convinced Of by looking at the fine
Grass everywhere. What q paradise for
battle this is is shown by the fine fat
BOWS with the risky young calves by
Hheir sides. 1T would make an eastern
stock mans eyes bung out with surprise
t told they had to rustic the year round
Eor their grub, the only care taken Of
Ihem being done with q red hot brand
Fng iron and a rope.
While the Missouri at the mouth Of
Sun River flows between low, grassy
banks, in the next twelve miles, or to
below the Great Falls, In making a des-
cent by means of rapids and the several
Fails quite a gorge has been cut down
Through the rocks, making it quite a task
10 get down to the river. There is for
Funately a small bottom of about forty
lacres right below the Great Falls, and
Ithis has just enough cliffs and crags in
to make as romantic looking a retreat
rs any one would wish to see. MI. Chas.
Roth was far-seeing enough to settle on
TINS place two years ago, and its value is
shown by al English company, repre-
Iehted by 1Ir. Chatter, negotiating for its
purchase for $1,000. With a railroad
punt alongthe river its value as a pleas
Eufe resort could hardly be estimated,
mat is if the Improvement Of the water
power and its consequent conversion in
a manufacturing town did not spoilit
In sightseeing. Mr.. Gregg, Of the
Fargo paper mill, was taken there a few
uays since; he expressed himself as
much pleased with the water power, and
Ilought it could very easily be made
available.