Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-18
OUR BUSINESS MEN
Also a Comprehensive Table Showing
the improvements Made i'll Great
Falls During the Past 3 Months.

"llSD u bAAS 49,
The promising town Of Great Falls is
situated at the famous series of falls Of the
Missouri river, one hundred miles north
of Helena and forty miles south of Ben
ton. 1t is beautifully located at a grace
full curve Of the river, which quietly
washes three sides of it. Upon the broad,
sloping bench-lands, where now the town
site is laid out, countless herds of buffalo
roamed at will less than ten years ago.
Here too, the ferocious grizzly, the superb
elk and the coy antelope made their rem
devious. These attractions, together with
the matchless scenery in this vicinity,
could not fail to make it the happiest Of
hunting-grounds for the wild children OF
nature Traces of the departed tribes OF
Indians still remain in the myriads Of cir
cles of stone, once the foundations other
rude, temporary abiding places. Here
and there the assiduous r%elic-hunter is re
warded with finds of hammers, Earrow-
headN, knives, tomahawks and pieces OF
primitive earthern-ware used and aband-
oned by the nomadic red-man.
Less than six years ago the ex act loca-
ton of the falls was scarcely known to a
score of people in Montana.
Two years ago now, the only evidences
of civilization on the toWnsite were three
tents pitched by the side of the river on
Broadwater bay, which spreads out its
smooth surface at the foot of town; offer
ING an irresistible invitation to all lovers
of boating.
One year ago there were half a dozen
shanties, the most %pretentious edifices
which had ever appeared above ground
ON this side of the river for many miles
around.
Let us now stroll about and examine
some of the Improvements which have
been made in Great Falls during the past
nine months by our population which has
increased to 500 inhabitants in spite of the
fact that no effort has been made by the
proprietors of the townsite to boom the
place. They have never offered any
special inducements to any onet to come
here. People arrive, look the place over
and are SO impressed with the
and consequent certain future greatness
that they either remain and go into bust
ress or invest in property, all OF which
they know will prove highly remunera-
tive.
Thelfrst substantial building erected in
Great Falls; was the Office Of the Com
pany, in which, busily works MIR. Paris
Gibson, the founder of the future great"
and the presiding genius of its present
future. To his foresight, breadth of mind
and sterling character, Northern
Montana is more indebted than
to that of anyother man. Backed
by j. j. Hill. the r. R. giant and
asvndicate Of other progressive, moneyed
kings-the possibilities of a town so gen.
erously endowed with natural gifts are
simply infinite.
OUR MILLS.
The Cataract mill was erected ut the
upper rapids in the spring OF 1885, by
Chowan & Jennison and operated by Fl.
o. EChowen, resident partner, until the
spring Of 1886, when it merged into a cor
poration known as the Cataract Mill Co.
1t is one of the best equipped mills in the
Northwest and is the only f1our-mill in
Northern Montana. To it, may be justly
attributed the credit of demonstrating to
the world that the benchIands are super
ior to the bottoms for producing wheat
and other cereals without irrigation Pre-
vious to its advent, wheat was grown in
this vicinity only to feed chickens and
swine. The successful production of
wheat upon the bench-lands has greatly
enhanced their value. The mill furnish
es a ready market for the wheat and in