The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-07-26
LenueI Eli on Montana.
Bird's-eye Glimpses at the Keystone
Of the Northwest.
He Don't Say Whether Montana is
Democratic or Republican,


But he Thinks Helena (hell-in-her) is
aGreat Place for Feminincs.
Permanent Wealth of Montana.
The last Sunday issue of the New
York Tribune contains some interesting
historical reading from the versatile pen
Of Lemuel Eli Qutgg, its correspondent,
in his current series Of letters entitled
'The New States." Referring to the min
ing and agricultural wealth of Montana
he writes:
The first coal mine in Montana began to do busi-
ness two years ago. In 1883 the product Of the
mines reached III 800 tons. 1t will reach $4,000
before 1853 Is ended. The assessed value Of prop
erty liable to taxation is $67, ,4sO,5SS The actual
value Of all property cannot be less than $200.-
100000 From %, ,l55 acres sown In wheat 77O,M
bushels were harvested. A production of 7O.072
bushels Of corn came from 2,425 acres planted
and corn Is not considered more than possibility
in this climate. The yield OF oats and potatoes
was Of itself fortune to the Territory. From
8497S acres sown In oats came 3O26,572 bushels Of
harvested grain, nearly forty bushels to the acre.
while 1858 acres OF potatoes supplied 842 4S BUSH
els in the Yield From 725,6G8 sheep sheared (and
don't believe half the number Of sheep and cat
tie in Montana are reported to the assess ors) L..
AZ, ,0sO pounds Of wool we're taken.
OF course his glimpses are but birds
eye views-taken as the grand panorama
of realities has risen before him in far
too hasty tour Of observation through IL
subdivision of the country in extent
equaling nearly one quarter of the area
of the Union, embracing the rapidly in
cubating states of Montana, Washington
and North and South Dakota--in either
one of which he could protitably have
employed the whole time allotted to him
for them all. His conclusions, therefore,
were instantaneously formed and some
times are so erroneous, not to say ludic-
rous, as to provoke broad smiles from
those better advised in the premises.
We are not, however, disposed to be cap
tious, but rather inclined to accord to the
young man need of credit for industry
and tact in the accumulation of much
valuable information concerning the ma
terial resources, the prospects and the
people of Montana-"of the clothes they
wear,the food they eat,the language they
speak, and many other things
"Montana," he cogitates, "has now be-
come the greatest mining region in the
known world, and its mines are all with
in $50 miles OF Helena" OF the possibili-
ties of the unknown world, if it were
only little nearer Helena, he has not
even attempted to afford us an inkling
Now that is consoling to the poor nerves
of our Helena cousins, truly! They arc
within $50 miles of the great mines o'
Montana!
Thrice blessed, bliss-inspiring hope;
It lifts the fainting spirit up;
It brings to life the dead.''
The beautiful villa of Oakland is ais;
within $50 miles of San Francisco Ho
boken and lovers lane are also withil
$50 miles of New York. Happy thought
Newcastle is within $50 miles Of Londol
and Paris is within $50 miles Of Bordeaux
but alas! Bordeaux has not yet gloritie'
Paris; Newcastle in all these years hasn'
found it expedient to send her Goals alone
to London; nor has the proximity O.
Oakland to San Fran cisco or Hoboken Il
New York given them more than til;
prestige ofpleasant suburban settlements
The great commercial emporiums of thu
world were ordered and plated by TIL
Architect Of the univcrsc-nOt because
they were within $50 miles of the might,
mineral belt, but because III His owl
economy endowed with the essential elc
ments of commercial or industrial ag
grandizement. The foundations of tn
majestic metropolis are laid in the skill
of her mechanics and artisans, the indus
try Of her laboriny people and the devel
opment of her grain-producing, stock
growing and manufacturing resources
strengthened, stimulated and supporte
by the sinews of capital. Mines ma
produce gold, silver and copper; but the.
cannot be eaten or worn.
The mines of Spain and Mexico, di
vorced from the plodding, earnest an
honest agricultural and other industri:
pursuits, have impoverished them, Il
also, under similar conditions, all othe
: mining peoples or nations.
OF the most moral and religious tow
in the whole northwest Mr.. Quigg seem