Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-11-03
GOVERNOR LEsLLE'S REPORT.

|
Governor Leslie has made with his Gus
tomary ability and zeal for the public
good his annual report to the secretary OF
the interior. Every line in this mastery
report is interesting and we wish that ii
could be distributed far and wide, In ord
er that the world at large might know
more of the vast domain to which Mon
ia "a invites the sons Of toll. One of the
great merits of this report is its freshness.
! 1t is up with the times. 1t deals with
| Montana as progressive state, for such
she is, although she lacks the title for
mally. 1t passes in review the
social, educational and material progress
OF Montana displaying throughout pains
taking industry and laudable conserva-
tim, We say laudable because Montana
like good wine needs no bush. Her pre-
cept to all who would describe her match
less resources is Cromwell's: "Paint me as
am"
Toward the close of this report, Gov.
Leslie outlines the general progress of
Montana, showing the rapid strides she
has made within decade which in the
growth Of states, is brief period, indeed.
He says: ~.m',
The annual output Of our mines ten
years ago was estimated at $7,OOO,OOO.
Now it is over $31,00O,OOO. Tie total
value Of taxable property in the territory
then was $12,00O,O00; now it is $4,000,
900 (not counting the value of the mining
property. The number of cattle in the
territory then was 100000; now it is
100000. Number Of sheep then was 12O,-
900; now it is over 100000. Number of
horses then was 10000; now it is 100000.
Number Of acres OF land then under cul
tivation was 100000; now there are over
100000 acres appropriated and settled
for farming purposes. Then the com
merce of the whole territory was $780,.
100000; now it is $5O,OOO,OOO. Then
there were but a dozen or so miles Of
railroads now there are over 2,OO0 Then
the population was 10000; now it is 14O,-
900; Then the territory was in debt
$4,000; now it is out Of debt and there
is plenty of money in the treasury. Then
taxes We're high; now they are low Then
the contest fer the mastery of this coun-
try between the Indian and the white
man was red with human blood, and ev-
cry household trembled in anxiety for
the triumphs Of peace and of rest. Now
all is quiet and the hostile foe has laid
down his battle-axe, put on the robes OF
civilization and treads the path of indus
try side by side with the white man.
That this progress has solid basis and
may be expected to surprise still more
the American people, accustomed as they
are to the rapid advancement Of states,
may be Judged from the following out
line Of the imperishable wealth we pos
sess in our broad acres:
There are various localities in this ter
ritory separated from each other by great
natural landmarks-mountain OF rivers
either and.each of which considered in
its extent and acreage, its quality of soil,
timber, stone and water is great state in
itself. The far-famed grain growing
Gallatin and Bitter Root valleys, the Flat
head, Yellowstone, Ruby, judith, Sun
River, Missouri, Beaverhead, Big Hole,
Big Horn, Rosebud, Milk River, Madison,
Deer Lodge, Prickly Pear and Boulder
valleys and many others have demonstrat-
ed to the world their superior capacity in
the yield Of wheat, oats, grass, potatoes,
peas, vegetables OF all kinds small fruits,
and in some of them the large fruits.
These beautiful valleys, plains and their
foothills are not eXcelled in the United
States. The great streams Of fast flowing
water which pass through or touch these
lands is the source from which all
needed irrigation can be cheaply
supplied. There are many millions
of acres Of these lands yet in their
virgin purity inviting the plowman's
hand. By an act of the congress of the
United States, passed and approved In the
early months Of this year, large boun-
diary Of lands covering more than twenty
millions of acres heretofore reserved to
and set apart for the use of the Piegan
and other Indians, was redeemed from
Indian ownership, is soon to be surveyed
and offered to the purchase and occupan-
cy of the people of the United States. The
Manitoba railroad, stretching from ST.
Paul to Great Falls, and by the Montana
Central from there to Helena and Butte
a distance of more than twelve hundred
miles, courses its way through the vast
area OF fine lands whose surface has
notoi soO peeu pioheH ny lue pow, nor
their rich grasses trodden down by the
ranchman's herd. To these lands, with
all their rich offerings, Montana invites
the home seekers Of the east. There are
only three land offices in this territory, at
Helena, Miles City and Bozeman. The
lands now soon to be sought after to
which ! have just referred, and vast guam
titles of other lands in their immediate
vicinity yet vacantand unappropriated, are
far remote from each and all the offices
already established. from two to five hun
dred miles. | ask that another land
office be established in the territory To-
Gated near those lands.
This report has not the remotest CON
nection with the pending campaign. But
people Of practical turn of mind will
conclude from it, that territory which is
SO wealthy, so progressive, so full of
vigor should be worthily represented IN
congress. The candidate so qualified to
represent Montana is William A. Clark.
Let us elect HIM by big majority.
The good news which Colonel Broad