Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-03-08
A Country Of Great Possibilities.


lfiOhttr l'ftss.
f. B. Northrup has just returned
from Helena and seems somewhat en-
thusiastic on the subject of the BAN
ana Belt" rs the country west of the
Yellowstone to the mounts tains is
called. lie said: 81 am Just beginning
to comprehend why st. Paul don't let
up any in its wonderful growth. Mon
tana is just as important to st. Paul
as the whole country is to New York.
Ii natural resources constitute the
backbone of commercial greatness, st.
Paul may become Theoretically and
practically, without n rival by simply
including Montana in its vert ebra
The climate there is perfec.; for while
the rains drizzle ON the Pacitic coast
and the SHOWS deso!ate the country
east, Central Montana revels in n
happy medium of spring-like weather
that cannot he realized unit il One ex-
periences it. | believe the natural
resources of Montana. which consist =
of agricultural lands Of great fertility
in the valleys, grazing grounds on the
plains, and untold mining wealth in
the mountains, are unsurpassed by
any in the country. AS an illustra-
ton of this would call attention to
the tact that while Montana has not
yet attained the digni. of statehood,
and has hardly begun permanent
development, her value in animal pro-
ducts exceeds that of any olre, of more
tl,a,, L.. lf a. pf t1,., 4
give a fac. which may help somewhat
to arrive n. proper appreciation OF
the possibilities OF Montana, | heard
it stated by expert authority that
there is in sight in n single mine, trib-
utary to the Northern Pacific railway,
ore which, if now mined and shipped
at the present freight rates, would pay
the enormous SUN OF Si6,OOO,O 900 in
freightage. visited good many low.
grade mines upon which just enough
work had been done to hold them
and while they are at present worth
less, owing to lack OF smelling facilities,
it is only n question of n few months
when these mines will be turning out
Orein large quantities. AS the number
OF these lOw-gr;tde mines or prospects
is practically limitless, am forced to
the conclusion that the output OF
Montana : wealth from and after the
completion of the great snielters at
Great Falls and Helena will be far
beyond any present conception. II is
certain beyond any that vast
amount of capital will go into Mon
tana this season. That means, OF
course, IL prosperity and growth that
the territory has not known up to
this time. expect u rapid influx of
population, the inpoiring of large
sums OF Eastern money, the establish
ment OF many lines OF business and
manufacturing now unknown in Mon
velOpment that will be phenomenal.
There is no reason why st. Paul should
not get the cream OF the present Op-
portunities offered. know that New
York is going in big in that region.
Chicago is making it's usual effort to
control business. st. Paul needs only
to awaken to the Importance that
Montana is certain to assume-some
thing that find Is not appreciated at
present. ii those natural resources
are now upon the eve OF development,
it follows as u matter OF course that
proportionate business in all lines will
result. Figures usually convey u
clearer meaning ihan argument or
generalization and happen to have
some statistics which | procured to
assist me in arriving ut something
like an adequate ide, of the present
business OF the territory. that | might
be able to better understand what
will result within u few years under the
theory that II rapid development is
now to take place. find that during
the year ending Dec. 81, 1887, the
Mort hern Pacific ir'.w Way hauled out
OF Montana no less than 1920 tons
of ore; and that the total tonnage for
war'lcd out OF the territory by this
one line of railway during SS1 was 1s,-
6S1 tons. Statements from the Union
Pacific and the Montana Union are
not easily prOcurable; but those OF
the Northern Pacific, showing what
one line is able to bring out OF Mon
taua, seems to me to he sufficient to ut
once arouse the attention OF business
men and capitalists. Ii the other rail
ways have secured anything like their
prOportiOnatc amount OF business,
and on the theory that the mex
haustiblc lOw-.r;ide ores are now com
ing to the front is correct, it is "a
pretty plain proposition that from
now on every commercial, financial
and transportation interest connected
with Montana will he worked to it,
fullest capacity. The travel and ton
nag,.into Montana is, of cour-e great
and will increase from now on in :,
remarkable ratio: bat il is the ton
mage OF products out, such as have
here presented, that iortells the story
oi future growth aud prosperity.
have just heard, by the way, that n
perfect "a smeter as has ever been
built is how assured for Helena. Iun-
| 81. .OOO,DO.