The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1888-11-23
ONE YEAR AGO.
Wonderful Metamorphosis and Phenome-
nal Growth Of Great Falls.


nal Growth Of Great Falls.
One year ago the Manitoba railroad had
just been been completed and celebra-
ton had taken place in Helena in honor
OF the event. Such orators as Major Ma
ginnis, Col. w. F. Sanders, Gov. Carpen-
ter, Lee Mantle, and the well-known au-
thor Charles Dudley Warner, enlivened
the grand banquet by appropriate and
eloquent addresses. This was the COM
mencement of new era for Montana.
1t was the precursor of cheap freights,
fast trains and low passenger rates. It
marked an era almost as momentous in
the history of Montana as the creation of
the Territory itself, or the driving of the
golden spike on the Northern Pacific.
Another year has rolled away, and with
1t has marked changes in the history of
Great Falls taken place. Then it was a
thriving village Of about 1900 inhabit-
ants, now it is fullfledged city with near
lythree thousand people, casting vote Of
almost thousand. A year ago when the
citizens of Great Falls took their first,
and alas, their only free ride to Helena,
we were obliged to cross the Missouri in
a row boat amid floating ice. Now
magnificent railroad bridge as we'll as
splendid carriage bridge spans the tur-
bulent waters of the Big Muddy. With
in twelve months, the accommodation
train which then was luxury had be-
come thing to growl at and has given
away to magnificent palace cars connect
ing with Helena in four hours and
with St. Paul in less than forty eight
hours. Then it took one day to make the
trip to Helena, now the Rocky Mountains
have been pierced, and the trip is made
to Butte in less time than it then took to
go to Helena. At that time Cascade
county by the efforts of our legislators
and prominent citizens of Great Falls
against great opposition, had been Great
ed, and since then it has become fully
organized and for nearly year has been
operating to the satisfaction Of nearly
every one within its borders.
Then only few men were working at
the coal mines at Sand Coulee, now, the
mines have been fully developed and a
new town has sprung up containing 200
or $50 inhabitants. Then there had been
scarcely a pick struck at the smelling
works, and now one-quarter Of the plant
has been completed at cost Of over a
quarter of million dollars and is made
ready for business. A railroad has been
built to the coal mines and another one to
tie smelling works. Two new hotels have
been built; the Collins block, the Phelps
& Maginnis block, the Dunn block, the
Miller & Boardman block, the Beachley
and Hickory buildings, the Luther block,
and Murphy, Maclay & Co.'s elegant
structure, have been finished. A large
number Of dwelling houses have been
built in all parts of the town; a new
school house has been commenced and
half finished, an elegant structure which
will cost $4,000. The Methodist church
and the Episcopal church buildings have
been erected; the electric light is in op-
Grafton; city has been organized and
established; last, but not least, another
daily newspaper has been established, an
Office erected and the hearts Of the peo-
pie of Great Falls and Montana are glad
ened every morning at the sight of the
DAILY LEADER.
Such are some of the events which
have taken place in Great Falls within
the short space Of twelve months. We
have not space to enumerate half that
has taken place. We can predict that in
the next twelve months many more events
and those. of greater moment will occur.
The building Of the Belt Mountain rail
road, the establishment of other large
manufacturing and smelling plants at
this place, the erection Of commodious
and elegant passenger and freight depots,
and the settling up of the country ad-
iacent to Great Falls are some of the i'm
portant enterprises which will be inaug-
urated and completed.