Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-09-04
THE BIG SPRING.
A Few Facts and Fancies Regarding
the Big Spring Worthy OF Careful
PerusaI.
Its Temperature, Depth and inhahlf-
ants. and General Appearance.
Etc, Etc.
Written for the TRIBUNE.

Written for the TRIBUNE.
Close beside the great Missouri,
Ere il takes its secoad leap.
Is d spring of sparkling water,
Like river broad and deep
The poem of which the above verse IS
the beginning, appeared in the TRIBUNE
September 18th, 1885. The single letter
NJ was signed at the bottom and from the
local column we CLEANED that the writer
was rising local poet, no further hight
was shed upon the name OF the author.
This rising local poet surely cannot be
visited very often by the muse; for We
have not heard from him or her since. In
the same issue of the paper it said that
the present writer would furnish the
TRIBUNE with an article upon the lsig
springs as soon as he had worked them
up sufficiently to speak authoritatiyely,
Since that time we have also been re
quested to give our humble opinion as to
the origin of the spring and any other
items of interest concerning It. we can
best describe the impression made by
first view of the spring in again quoting
from the poem:
Right in front the wild, brown river,
Hurrying foaming, rushes by.
Greeted by the spring with laughter
docs it laugh or does it sigho
Emerald green its unknown depths are,
yexeI as by some spirits spell,
See how far beneath the surface
How the rising waters swell.
The Big spring is situated On the banks
of the Missouri, about three miles north
of Great Falls, almost midway between
the Black eagle and the Rainbow falls It
forms one Of the greatest natural cur.osi-
ties in Northern Montana We think it is
unique. This huge spring has a river
frontage Of about 500 feet, is highest III
the centre, sleping on three sides. being
lever at the bank. At one time there has
been bed Of solid rock in place Of the
spring; but, now the water rushes out
from every cTeviee. Near the centre
however, there is q large irregularly
shaped hole Of ,arying depth the bottom
being strewed with great rough rocks
many of them covered with rich growth
Of vegetation. The water Of the spring
is unusually pure, as was shown by Prof.
Montgomery's analysis, which appeared
in the last issue of the TRIBUNE.
The origin Of the spring is a puzzle to
many. Some scout the idea Of its being
a spring at ali, thinking it to be but a
subterranean arm Of the river originating
in the vicinity Of the Dlack-eagle falls;
but, we think that opinion is wrong.
Long ages ago the mountains were form
ed and the waters were driven into their
proper places, and some think the spring
was formed then. Still we differ.
Let our readers travel over the vast eX
extent Of country lying between Great
Falls, the mouth Of Belt creek, the head
of Sand Coulee and Tiger butte, making
much water will they find that is, in
large streams, for, springs are common
enough The answer is very little" Then
let them traverse the extent Of the Belt
mountains, and the foot hills lying be
tween the head of Sand Coulee and Tiger |
butte, and count up the many springs and |
small streams which flow all the way
from few yards to a few miles, and
then sink and enquire of themselves |
where all this water goes when it disap- |
pears beneath the surface. Then let |
them come to Great Falls, as the crow
flies, and count, as they come, the springy
places which crop out here and there
in the valleys, Or on the benches en-
route. Now where do you think the
spring originates Our friends, that
spring is neither more nor less than a
mighty river, which plainly drains the
great area described. Part of this i'm
mense area is in limestone region, and
part in sandstone. Now, the water many
hundreds of years ago sank into the por-
Gus places in the earth and rock until 4
they we're full. Gradually this porous i
matter softened and erumbled away, 1!
making room for more water. Presently 4ee
the water reached crack or rift in theI'
rock, probably made when the mountainsI
were upheaved, and crept along, fndingl J
more cracks to accumulate in as it vent :
Of course these holes would enlarge alA d
The while, through the action of the waII {
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