Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-08-22
GOVERNOR LESLIE,
A PUBLIC WELCOME ACCORDED
HIM BY THE PEOPLE OF
GREAT FALLS,

| A Big Crowd Assemblies to Greet Him
Hon. T. e. Collins Calls the Meet
ing to Order-C. M. Webster
Presides-A Noble Speech.
| Great Falls turned out last evening t.
accord Governor Leslie public welcome
The lobby and veranda of the Park hote
was crowded with merchants, banker
and the public in general. Many ladie
also Joined in the demonstration. Th,
Park theatre band very courteously dis
coursed delightful music in complimen
to the governor. After the band hat
played "Hail to the Chief" the Hon. Il
E. Collins called the meeting to order
and nominated Charles M. Webster fol
chairman. The motion was carried un
animously. Mr.. Webster said:
Fellow-citizens, we have assembled tc
welcome the honored head of the govern
ment OF Montana, who came to this ter
ritory not to add more honor to his al
ready over-laden brow, but to cooperate
with our people in making this great
| .ASoAS SoilAAAOA"OAltAs VIC WcI(.OluO, uOl
formally, but sincerely, our esteemed
guest, who has shown broad apprecia-
ton of the marvellous resources Of Mon
tana, the brightest star in the American
constellation. cheers. will now call
on Walter NJ O'Dwyer to read the ad-
| dress.
Mr.. O'Dwyer read the address, which
was as follows:
TEXT OF THE ADDRESS,
Governor Leslie: we tender you hearty
welcome to Great Falls and avail our,
selves of this opportunity to congratulate
you on the success which has crowned
your administration in this territory. On
every hand, peace and plenty reward the
husbandman's labors. The rude methods
of farming, which were followed in the
early days Of the territory, from lack of
proper facilities have been abandoned,
and Montana now takes her place among
the commonwealths as the "mother Of
fruitful tlocks and herds' Of the highest
class, as we'll as the producer of that No.
hard wheat, which has given Dakota
and Minnesota so much Industrial and
commercial renown. Our horses rival in
tieetness and symetry the far-famed steeds
raised on the blue grass of Kentucky and
will soon contend for the highest honors
of the turf.
While the ranch-owners thus cultivate
the pursuit, which is the Oldest and the
noblest OF all, our miners have placed
Montana at the head of all the states and
territories in the production Of the prec-
ious metals, IL h conner + { smelling n,,r t9. r..
proud position attained by Michigan after
long years Of tireless industry.
In railroads, which are the pioneers of
advanced civilization, our peerless Mon
tana merits the admiration of the entire
country. Since about year ago you
favored us with visit and undertook the
fatigues of stage coach journey to do
so, a railroad has been opened from the
eastern limits Of Buford to the great
mining camp on the west side, joining in
its progress the cities of Great Falls
Helena and Butte, thereby providing
main artery for commerce and enabling
Montana to profit by the limitless water
power, the exhaustless coal mines and the
immense and varied mineral wealth,
which are all combined at this city and in
the county of Cascade-a county which
had from the start your best wishes for
its progress and prosperity.
In addition to this material advance
ment which has marked your administra-
tion Montana may justly claim that she
cultivates those public and domestic vir-
tues which Marshall, Henry Clay and
other great Kentuckians have incul
Gated. We feel that as the result Of such
moral and material progress Montana is
entitled to enter the galaxy of states, in
which she would shine with undimmed
brilliancy. In that event we hope that
Montana may continue to profit by your
extensive experience in public affairs,
your judicial mind and your long associ
alton with men who have served to make
this republic great, glorious and free.
Again, we tender you hearty welcome.
GOVERNOR LESLIE SPEAKS.
Governor Leslie, who was cheered,
said:
Mr.. Chairman, gentlemen and fellow
citizens, | am at q very great loss to find
words and sentences to convey properly
my full appreciation of the very marked
attention which you have bestowed on
me. came here not expecting another
such demonstration as greeted me year
ago, when l listened to a welcome ex-
pressed in as glowing terms as that which
has been rendered me this evening. l
am deeply touched at the illusions to my
administration of public affairs.
Great Falls is the first place I visited
after my arrival at the capital. Since
then have gone to other places which
have extended my admiration for this
wonderful empire, but have not forgot.
ton Great Falls. (Applause)
Now, when return in little more than
a year by railroad, and look around, the
evidences of progress which l see are
wonderful. One year ago there was no
bridge over the Missouri, now it is span
ned by two; there was then not an inch
of railroad here, now there are we'll con-
structed railroads from here both to Hell
ena and Benton and thence to Buford.
There was then no railroad to the falls or
to the Sand Coulee coal fields, now there
are branches to both. In addition to this
Is the number of tirst-class buildings
which I observe throughout the city and
the extensive smelter works near the
Giant spring, where there was no struct-
ure at all last year. (Applause.)
GREAT FALLS LOOMING UP.
While progress is characteristic trait
of other places in the territory, you
can hardly realize how much Great Falls
is spoken of and how MUCH public atten-
ton it receives. Of the many letters
which receive relative to Montana fully
one third make specific inquiry regarding
Great Falls. Without any desire to dis