The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1890, 1888-06-23

VOL. /.
NORTHERN MONTANA.
ANY. Tribune Correspondent Writes
of this Great Region-Great
Falls Receives Attention.
OF the Indian lands thus opened in re-
cent years, no single body Of land ex-
ceeds in area or variety and extent OF re-
sources that known as the Great North
ern Reservation of Montana, opened to
settlement by the action Of congress, in
the spring Of the present year. Boudded
on the east by Dakota, on the north by the
British Province Of Assiniboine, on the
west by the main divide OF the Rocky
mountains and on the south mainly by
the Missouri and Marias rivers, this great
section has mean length Of $50 miles,
mean width from north to south OF eighty
miles and an approximate area OF 36,OOO
square miles-a territory half as large as
all New England-an empire in itself.
Always famous hunting ground OF the
Indians. 1t has been known to explorers
since the Lewis and Clarke expedition OF
1sO4-6 as region unequalled for grazing
and agriculture purposes. Well watered
by the Missouri, Marias, Milk and other
rivers and their tributaries, it enjoys
climate milder and more equable than its
eastern neighbors. This is due partly to
its low elevation and in great measure
to the influence of the 'chinook" winds,
which are here felt in full force, the uni
formly moderate altitude Of the mountain
ranges to the westward in this latitude
giving free passage to these westerly
winds warmed by contact with the tenn
perate currents of the north Pacific ocean.
Official figures show that the average
winter temperature of Helena and Great
Falls near the reservation, has been for
the past tn ears about fifteen degrees
higher than that of St. Paul. The sum-
.mer climate is delightful.
To the southwest of the reservation,
close on its borders, lie the immense min
ing districts which surround Great Falls,
Helena and Butte. These mining dis
tricts, yet in the infancy OF their develop
ment, produced last year over OOoo,oOO
in gold, silver and other metals, and give
employment to a large and and rapidly
increasing population. They will furnish
a naturatl market for the products OF the
agricultural and grazing regions OF the
reservation.
1t is impossible, within the limits of
this article, to give an adequate idea OF
the capbilities of this wonderful region
and of the whole territory of Montana.
Possessing the most generous natural
provision Of forest, field and mine, it has
already added to these advantages that OF
CHEAP railway transport..t The Mon
tana extension of the St Paul, Minneapo-
lis & Manitoba railway, completed in the
fall of 1887, enters the reservation at its
eastern border, traverses its richest por-
tions, through the valleys Of the Missouri
and Milk rivers, as far us Assiniboine,
where it turns to the southwest and, via
BENTON. reaches Great Falls, where it con-
meets with the Montana Central railway,
leading to Helena and Butte, the great
mining centers, with branches penetrat-
ing the coal fields of Sand Coulee and
other mining districts of the territory.
Great Falls is situated at the confluence
of the Missouri and Sun rivers and is ex-
ceptionally we'll located for commercial
center. The Missouri river at this point
falls, by series of cataracts and rapids
known as the Great Falls of the Missouri,
over $50 feet in less than three miles, af
fording an unfailing power estimated at
from 100000 to 100000 horse power.
When it is considered what the water
power of the Falls of st. Anthony has ac-
complished for the city of Minneapolis,
it is easy to appreciate what effect this
immense power of the Missouri river Will
have on the future of Great Falls, with
the great mining districts lying at its
skirts and in need of cheap and ample
power to handle their daily increasing
output of ores.
In the immediate vicinity of the city
are great fields Of bituminous coal, much
of it making fine quality of coke. Iron
ores suitable for conversion into steel by
Bessemer process, limestone, fire clay,
building stone, etc, are all found in close
proximity.
These exceptional advantages have not
escaped the attention of manufacturers
and capitalists. Works for the reduction
of gold and silver ores are in course of
rapid construction and on completion will
form the largest plant of the kind in this
country. Some idea of their magnitude
NAV be obtained when it is stated that
their cost will be in the neighborhood of
$2.OOO,OOO, and that about 35,OOO,OOO
building brick and 100000 fire brick
will be used in their construction. Among
other New York men interested in these
works may be mentioned the name of the
Hon. A. s. Hewitt.
A very extensive plant for the reduc-
ton of copper ores is about to be begun.
The full development of the mineral
resources of this section will show re-
suits astonishing even to those best ac-
quainted with its possibilities.
The whole region is inviting alike to
the farmer looking for cheap lands, to
the business man seeking opportunities
for investment, and to the tourist, who
will find much to interest and please him
in the beautiful farming and grazing
lands of the reservation, in the superb
mountain scenery of the central portion
of the territory, in the wonderful cataracts
of the Missouri, and in the mining towns
and camps.
Already the tide of immigration is
pouring into the reservation, the people
eager to secure the rich lands open to
them under the operation Of our bene-
ficent land laws. No portion of these
lands Is reserved to railroads or corpor-