The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-07-27
The Milk River Valley.
Mendacious Statements by One Frank
WilkesOn.
Pretending to Know the Country.
Shows His Ignorance.
More Malice Prepense Than Desire
For Truth.
ED1ToR OF THE LEADER:


Northern Pacific railroad, has recently
an article on Northern Mon
tana for the New York Times which is a
most appalling tissue Of misrepresenta-
tion and wilful falsehoods, also betrsying
symptoms of malignant mischief to this
part of Montana in general and the Milk
River valley in particular. which should
AROUSE THE APPREHENsloNs
of his friends as to his compos mentis
His article is entitled, "The Milk River
Swindle" and is on a par with certain
other emanations of his brain in regard
to that part of the country west of the
Tooth meridian, and which for their evil
dent
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
of the actual situation of western
growth and conditions, made him public
laughing-stock and brought down upon
him the contempt of the whole western
country. This mans article is Of piece
with the ridiculous report of Gen. Haven,
years ago, declaring that the whole coun-
try
WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
was desert waste and never could be
made fit habitation for civilized human
ity. If it depended upon such men as
Frank Wilkeson and Gen. Haven to re-
claim the desert places and make the
wilderness blossom as a rose, the imperial
city of Denver would never have risen
from the sandy waste of Cherry creek;
nor would the desolate boulder piles of
last Chance gulch today bear upon their
ruttled bosom
HELENA, THE wEALTn1EsT CITY
of its population on the continent. Such
men as these have not the mental capaci-
ty to draw correct conclusions in regard
to the future prospects or resources OF
any part Of the country. In their imagi,
nations an alkali patch as large as youl
hat will ruin whole section and tho
rough, forbidding exterior of the noun
tain spurs at Butte, to their eyes, woult
be prima facie evidence that they
CONTAINED NO TREASURES
within their depths. But it would be tot
charitable to Mr.. Wilkeson to attribute
altogether to his Ignorance the misstatc
ments contained in the article referred to
He is evidently actuated byactual malice
Moved thereby he would strike, withc
and palsy u whole community to attain Al
| Ia ho a
individual absolutely without regard t"
. truth or the rights Of his fellow mel
Such a man is
. AN ENEMY OF HIS KIND "
and US such should be Stunned as IT,
t poisonous adder. The magnificent devel
opment of our western country woul
never have taken place if the croaking
of such birds of evil omen had bet
given credence. If our memory serve
us Alright, it was Mr.. Wilkeson wht
t when the Northern Pacific was bein
+ constructed across the bleak prairies {
Dakota, made trip to the present site .
u Fargo and declared that even early j
Z September the cold wintry gales
SWEPT DOWN SO INCREASINGLY
from the Arctics that this now magnil
. cent breadwinner for the nation woul
q and never could be peopled. Are sue
Il men as Frank Wilkeson to pit the
J. Judgment against President G. A. Broa'
. water, who, whacking bulls while
10 freig ghter along the alleged alkaline was
e of the Milk river at the same time carve
IS out q rich fruition Of honor and veal
d and who, after years of persona! observ
ton, declares the Milk River valley
- be
THE GARDEN OF MONTANA.
Did not Gov p. II. Leslie. in his last I
mort, declare the Milk River valley to
III one OF the most inviting egions still op