Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-02-18
STEADY PROGRESS.
REMARKABLE BUILDING RECORD
OF GREAT FALLS.
Large Expenditure For Bridges, H'tsi-
ness Blocks and Residences
Prospects of u Great In
crease This Year.

Steady growth marked the progress Of
Great Falls from January, 1887, to Febru-
arv, 1888, when our record closed. The
construction of the Montana extension Of
the Manitoba inspired general confidence,
and building went on rapidly. The In
ducements TO wait for low freights and
prompt transportation were great, but
merchants went ahead regardless of the
high price Of building material. They
calculated rightly that the extra cost
would be more than offset by the advan-
tage of being early in the commercial
field.
The business blocks built last year
were notable for their large size and per-
manent structure. Houses such as that
of Mcknight Il Co., are not excelled by
any in the territory. They seem built
not fol a day. but for all time. The base
the storage Of merchandise in large
quantities. The business floors are long,
broad and lofty. They are furnished ex-
pensiveiy with counters, shelves, desks,
and all other equipments needed for
large business. These houses do a fair
jobbing business at present, but they are
in a position to extend it and keep pace
with the facilities which the railroads
afford for building up trade all around.
These stores are all paid for. The lots
nave been bought, and the buildings
erected by home capital. All Of them
Weld a generous return on the invest
ment, and would readily sell for much
more than they cost.
In residence property there was much
activity last year, and as the result, some
fine dwellings adorn the city and Its sub
urbs. But the demand was greater than
the supply. At times there was not Il
house vacant. Those who built for the
purpose of renting found tenants readily.
Early in the summer the townSlte COM
panY announced that it would sell work
ingmen's lots on easy terms. from $500
upwards. This gave an additional inn
pulse to building.
The addition to the Park hotel was Il
notable improvement last year. The an
mex made the hotel p~alatial in appear
ance, and metropolitan in ~accomn.fHd2-
lions. Between st. Paul and Portland
there is now no finer hotel than the
Park.
The Central block also merits special
mention. Is was built by Fl. D. Minot,
the Boston capitalist and railroad direc-
tor. 1t is occupied by the county offices,
First National bank and the Great Falls
Water Power and Townsite company. |
This block has a frontage of so feet and
is three stories high.
The railroad bridge, which has been
completed at a cost of $4,000, is also a
noteworthy enterprise. This splendid
bridge, which is 900 feet long, crosses the
Missouri in front of the city and brings
the locomotive almost to the doors of the
factories and business houses. The
wagon bridge, which is nearly complete,
will also be d splendid structure, resting
on seven piers composed of Great Falls
sandstone. This bridge connects the city
with Sun river valley and the fertile re-
gion to the west.
All these Improvements, which include
a public school and the Presbyterian
church, make a grand total of 1884, 800.
This gratifying amount will be greatly
exceeded during the current year, when
the reduction works, the railroad depot,
and many business blocks will swell the
amount to metropolitan proportions.
Following is the building record of the
year in detail: