Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-18

miles from Great Falls. will become IA
nous throughout the land and hotels will
there be erected for the reception of guests
/ from many parts of the country.
THE UTILITY OF THE FALLS
Is it the mere dream of an
enthusiast which leads the proprietors of
Great Falls to believe that these great cat
aracts were not placed here by nature,
merely to waste their magnificence upon
the desert and to forever, as they have
through countless ages, leap boisterously
over preeipices and rush, unfettered to the
sea? Are they visionary in predicting,
that ere long, the sounds of human indus
tries will be blended with the ceaseless
roar of the cataracts?
No, indeed. The practicability Of their
use and development is unquestionable.
That they are easily accessible is patent to
anyone who takes a glance at their respec-
tive situations. Without great engineer
ing feats they can be made available A
substantial dam has already been put in at
the first rapids and a -four mill built there.
Even here. there IS power enough to pro-
pei a goodly number Of flour mills, woolen
mills. etc. while the heavy draught cata-
racts below will be pressed into service
Tor turning the ponderous machinery of re-
duction works and iron manufactures.
There is a descent of 50 feet along the
townsite proper, and Immediately ada
cent thereto the descent for three miles,
including Black Eagle, Golfers, Rainbow
and Crooked, is nearly 200 feet more.
These four falls furnish an avail
able power, at least ten-fold great
er than that of the NorId-renowned
st. Anthony Falls at Minneapo-
lis. From the dam, at the first rapids to
and including the Great Falls, there is in
twelve miles a pitch of 512 feet. OF course
the power Of the latter is almost inestima-
bic, but is by no means as capable of being
as the others. 1t will doubtless be
remembered that the water insinuated
itself into the assures of the under
lying rocks of st. Anthony Falls; and
but for the expenditure of fabulous sums
OF money would have destroyed its entire
Water power. Such catastrophe can
never occur at the falls OF the Missouri.
The bed Of the river, throughout the
whole extent Of The series of falls and
rapids. consists OF compact sandstone IN
SGta. The stratum thereof has been as
by careful, expert investigation
to extend to Il depth of from 400 to 600
feet, in as solid a mass as the hand Of
could compress it. Another
fact OF great significance is that even IN
he seasons Of drouth, old Missouri has
her faithful little emmissaries constantly
bringing supplies from innumerable sur
face and sGbterranean sources. Then too the
yield their SHOWS with reluc-
ance. gradually replenisling the river
throughout almost the entire year. The
rolume Of water at the falls of the Mis-
oum will never be so reduced during any
eason, that steam engines will have to be
procured TO keep the mills running. With
his matchless water power and boundless
mining and stock resources
tributary to Great Falls. its possibilities as
city Of Importance can scarcely be esti-
mated.
BY its natural location Great Falls is
ound TO be the gateway through which
II the products of this God-favored coun-
ry must pass. Already capital is seeking
Investment here, for the development of
lose natural advantages which have so
ong awaited the coming of intelligent,
rogressiye men.
We ask none of the TRIBUNE readers
} take our statements for proof of what
e claim for Great Falls. To whomeyer
lis paper may come, we have to say: it
Ill pay you to embrace the first oppor-
nifty to visit Northern Montana. To
our surprise, you viii find that the half
as not been told
Winter in Montana seldom begins
efore the first of January, and
Streme cold scarcely ever lasts
ore than two or three days at a time.
orthern Montana is favored with the
arm Chinook winds which steal over the
ountains from the west, lick up the
low and insinuatingly melt the ice upon
e streams before their presenceis hardly
arceived. Stock roams over the plains
roughout the year, never lacking, long,
n an abundance of food and water.
The summer just past has been the dry