Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-02-18

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throughout the territory was less than
was supposed. The fall shipments
were large, and showed that Montana
could still rely upon this important
source of wealth. The Manitoba rail
road was completed in time for these
shipments. It announced reduced
freight rates for cattle, which the
competing line was constrained to
adopt. This general reduction put
money in the pockets of the cattle
owners, while the proximity of the
Manitoba railroad to ranches in
northern Montana effected further
saving. The abundant grass served
to place the cattle in good condition
for market, and despite low prices the
year closed with the grazing interest
hopeful. and in the enjoyment of a
fair degree of prosperity.
The severe winter of 1867 also
caused losses in sheep, but not to the
extent which the owners feared. The
market for wool was less buoyant
than others, but the clip was nearly
as large as in former years, and the
prices paid for wool were fairly re-
munerative. Some new sheep COM
panies were formed, and despite the
steady encroachment of settlers on
the ranges, the woolgrowers are pros
porous and profit by the Manitoba
railroad, which insures them low rates
and rapid transit for either sheep or
wool to the great markets. In north
ern Montana 1,633,00O pounds Of
wool were marketed and brought a
fair price. It is expected that this
year Great Falls will be the leading
market for wool in northern Montana.
1t is proposed to provide ample ware
houses and to encourage the estab-
lishment of wooden factories. The
total wool clip of Montana in 1887
was over 100000 pounds. This falls
short Of the capacity of the territory
for woolgrowing, but it serve as an
indication of what may be expected.
The past year was onesof great ac-
tivity in mining. The great mines
Drum Lummon and Granite Mount
ain were very productive, and SO were
others of less extent. In Butte-the
greatest mining camp in the world
the silver and copper mines yielded
liberal profits, despite the high rate
of freight on salt.
The rapid rise in the price of cop
per toward the close of the year had
an encouraging effect, which will be
felt for some tune to come.
Throughout the territory many
new mines were opened, and there
was much enterprise displayed at the
new camp in the Castle mountains.
In northern Montana the Neihart.
Barker and other well-known districts
in the Belt mountains showed graft
flying progress, and important devel-
opments were made, demonstrating
that the region is rich in gold and
silver, as we'll as in copper and lead.
The determination of the Montana
Central to extend it's Sand Coulee
branch to Neihart early this year af-
fords much encouragement to the
hardy miners of the Belt mountains,
whose properties will also be rendered
more valuable by the establishment
of reduction works at Great Falls.
Referring to the mining interests
governor Leslie said in his annual
report to the secretary Of the interior:
at will be safe to state the value of
| gold, silver. copper and lead produced
from the mines of Montana during the
present year 19S7) at $~26,000,000."
The Importance of abundance of
fuel for domestic and industrial use
has been felt throughout Montana,
and steps have been taken to develop
the immense deposits which nature
has so generously provided. The
Montana Central railroad acquired
part of the immense coal feldin Sand
coulee and is completing a branch
line from Great Falls to the mines
a distance of IA miles. Great Falls
receives coal from these mines, but
the Montana Central railroad is de-
veloping them on a large scale, with
the intention of supplying Helena,
Butte and other mining regions. At
Bozeman the outputof the coal mines
las increased, and a railroad is being
built from the neighborhood of Bill