Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-12-05
GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1883.
SEMI-WEEKLY
AN OREGON TRIBUTE.

AN OItEGON TRIBUTE.
In an able letter in the Portland
Oregonian, General Tyner, describes
Great Falls in terms which will in
crease still more our local pride and
stimulate our confidence in the bright
prospects Of this growing city. After
condensed but comprehensive &C
count of the cataracts, General Tyner
says: ..
With all this description Of the
water-power and its unfailing source,
here at Great Falls, the availability
could better be described in saying
that if all the mills at Lowell, Mass,
Moline, Illinois and Minneapolis,
Minnesota, combined were all located
at Great Falls on one side of the
river, there would yet remain power
enough to duplicate similar num-
Der Of mills on the opposite side OF
the river, and still an abundance to
spare. The assertion is based upon
the statement Of competent engineers
Here then, if water-power is Of any
account, is the coming manufacture
ing city. Here also is
combined location, natural drainage,
and natural spring of pure
cold water, if walled up to any de-
sired height, could supply the top
most room in any home on the highest
point here, and in quantity there is
enough to supply two such cities as
New York.
In speaking Of the general pro
gress of the city General Tyner gives
some facts and figures which tell the
story of our wonderful growth in a
manner that will interest business
men. He says:
tits not an idle newspaper state
ment to say that the natural ad-
vantages of this city are without an
equal in America In addition coal,
the very best bituminous, in endless
quantities is found, nominally on the
surface, at from 7 to 10 miles from
the city. This coal will coax, which
with iron mountains of it assaying
from So to g. per cent-and limestone
in equal quantity, should suggest the
coming possibilities of this city.
Three years ago the projectors of
the city, J. j. Hill, Col. Q. A. Broad
water and others, camped in tents on
the present site. It was these men
who constructed the present railroads
now operating here. This city is the
terminus Of the St. Paul, Minneapo-
lis & Manitoba railroad, also of the
Montana Central railway both COM
pleted lines, running freight and pas
senger trains twice per day, while a
branch Of the latter road connects the
city with the great coal fields of Sand
Coulee, few miles distant. Within
these three years there have been
built twenty-seven brick blocks
and enough other houses and
homes to shelter $500 citi-
zens, large percentage being young,
active and unmarried young men.
The total vote cast at the late election
was 973, and since then the first cleo
ton for city officers occurred, the city
having but recently assumed NUM-
cipal honors. Here also is the Park
hotel, building and hotel that would
grace and do credit to any western or
eastern cities. It is, in architecture,
furnishing and finishing, including
management, the equal Of any west
ern, and much superior to the general
average of tirst-class hotels. It has
electric lights in every room, and the
man who thinks he is going away
from or out of civilization by coming
here is simply lll-advised. Here also
are waterworks and a new completed
smelter ready for operation, the even
tual capacity of which is 1000 tons of
ore per day. The present pay roll,
which will continue until completion,
numbers 300 employees. Only one
fourth of the smelter is completed,
and now its capacity is near 300 tons
per day. Work on the second quar-
ter Of this building will commence
very soon, and it will be continued
until finished, costing, when complet-
ed, $2,000,000. Apeculiar fact, show
ing the faith of capitalists in the To-
cality and it's mining resources, is
that every dollar of this venture is
furnished from abroad, Colorado and
New York parties being the sole own
ers, even Mr.. Hill Of the Manitoba
railroad not owning one dollar of the
stock.
General Tyner writes with the ex-
perience of veteran Dakotian and
with the calm judgment Of one who
has seen come into existence the re-
publican Empire that extends from
the great lakes to the Pacific He
adds:
The increase in population of the
city has been at Che rate of 100 per
month the past year. Future letters
will furnish additional evidence of
prospects of the city, and unless signs
go for naught, Great Falls is destined
to hold its allotted place among the
coming cities of the west. The sur
rounding agricultural country. in