Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-02-28


Potatoes. onions and other root crops and
vegetables are easily produced and the
yield Is often enormous. The demand for
farm produce among the miners and stock
raisers has SO far kept prices at high fig
ures. eggs and butter In particular bringing
about double the prices OF the States.
The coming of the st. Paul. Minneapolis
& Manitoba Rail- Dad has given great
impetus to affairs in North Montana.
and the next few years will witness
marvellous growth. No transcontinental road
passes through q region OF such varied
wealth as lies between the mountains and
the Mississippi River. Passing through the
granary Of Dakota-the valleys OF the Red
and the Mouse-the vast pasture fields and
valleys Of Montana. it taps the granite vaults
OF the great hills. filed with gold and silver
and copper, but guarded with time locks. to
be fully opened now by the advent OF COM
petitive railway facilities. A rough noun
tain Is valueless for agricultural purposes.
but when full of rich ores single acre as
wealth producer scompensates for thou
sands OF acres of arabic land. Montana
is the richest mineral bearing district In
the United States: the output OF precious
metals last year led all the other States
and Territories. the total being nearly one
try. The dream of the alehemist has been
realized; the laborer of yesterday is the
millionaire of to-day. The mountains are
not only lined with veins Of precious metals.
but iron. lead. coal. and building stone
exist in limitless quantities. Coal is scat
tered over the entire Territory. in North
Montana cropping out in many places along
the Missouri and other rivers. North OF
the Missouri River. along the st. Paul. Min
neapolis anil Manitoba railroad the coal Is Of
the conch shell formation. black and shiny,
and burns to q red ash. while the variety
south Of the river Ia known as the Peacock
coal. on account Of its chromatic coloring.
and leaves white ash. The coal OF the
plains. eastward into Dakota. is Ignite. but
the mountain coal Is bituminouS. The
other day / went into coal mine. eight
miles from Great Falls. In which the vein
was ten feet thick. the entrance being in
the side of hill under heavy roof OF rpck.
It could not have been more conveniently
planned by man. This mine is reached by
| branch of the Manitoba. The extension
Of the Manitoba road. the rapid and solid
construction of which was one OF the me-
| chanical feats of the age. has opened up a
large area of both agricultural and mining
| territory. and the wise and practicable
| course of the company in dealing with the
| public will soon result in large settlement
and great prosperity to the entire country
| traversed.
Near where the Sun River enters the Mis-
souri, is the city of Great Falls. from whence
| write. 1t is 100 miles from Helena and
40 miles from Fort Benton. From here to
the Gulf. as the river runs. 1t is farther than
from Chicago to London. To st. Paul it is
l,UfO mlIeS. lneT6 are uF0 QlSblflcG ranges
of mountains in sight from the city. and
none nearer than IS miles. yet person not
familiar with this air would declare 1t an
after supper walk to reach any of them.
The valleys AMI plains leading up to these
FOUNTAINS . are g, covered d.. with iiaaa grass mi
a thousand times further. not an acre is val
ueless, and in time will be covered with farms
and stock ranches. Much OF 1t Is still gov
eminent land and free to settlers. The
grandeur is not all in sky pictures. lofty
mountains. winding rivers and grassy
plains, but near by is a cataract second
only to Niagara with an accompaniment Of
other falls. giant springs and cascades-a
combined fall of over 500 feet-which must
make this leading Northwestern resort.
Henceforth the great river will not be al
lowed to idle away Its time in rushing and
leaping. year in and year out. over the
| rocks. 1t is being put to work for the good
Of the human race. grinding wheat and
corn. weaving cloth. crushing ores. saw.
ing lumber. and in making this great mart
of industry-a city of homes. of comfort and
prosperity. Already the most perfectly ar
! ranged smelter In the country for handling
gold and silver ores Is in operation. with
| daily capacity of25O tons. and SO construct
ed that enlargement can be made to LOCO
| tons without an increase OF buildings or
machinery. A roller f1our-m mill. the first in
| dustry inaugurated. is the only one for 600
miles along the upper Missouri A great
gram region lS a1reauy tributary, anu
sooner or later q railroad from here will
penetrate the wheat-felds and pasture
lands Of the Saskatchewan. far to the north;
even now the project Is being formu-
lated. Readers OF this will live to
see a railroad to Asia and Europe by
way of Alaska and Behring Strait. Iron and
steel works. wooden factories. and other in
dustries are contemplated at Great Falls.
and not o 1.-THE Of the rivers strength is yet
laid out; there is power enough to build up
| a Minneapolis and Lowell combined. With
wide streets. spacious business blocks. fine
residences. churches. and school-houses. q
city is being reared by men born in the
East but developed in the West. Barely in
| It's third year. it supports two bright daily
papers. Nature could not have made q
more suitable site for city. and one laid
out on. scale commensurate with its
mighty surroundings There are already
three railroads. the St. Paul. Minneapolis
and Manitoba. the Montana Central. and
the Neihart Valley. The former. in connec-
ton with the Union Pacific at Butte. gives
from st. Paul a through line to Washington
Territory. Oregon, and California.
SEsoM.