The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-01-01
MONTANA'S CLIMATE.

Lively EC4oO4 "AAC AAto A64NA t4AC $3oo>A
fortune to visit Great Falls this fall has
been profuse in expressions of surprise
and delight at the unexampled character
of our seasons. Some have doubtingly
inquired, 'sIs not this charming weather
an exception, rather than a rule here?"
And when assured that, with rare excep-
tions, we are not the recipients Of Old
Boreas' attentions till. after New Years,
the greatest astonishment is expressed.
And when informed that our winters do
not usually continue longer than through
the month Of January, or, at farthest, the
earlier part Of February, it is still more
matter Of astonishment. Sand this, too,
so far up towards the Canadian boundary.
/ cannot understand it, 1t must be con-
fessed that, in our thermal lines, all the
ordinary rules of temperature seem to be
ignored; but facts are very stubborn
things. They remain, though unexplajn-
ed and wholly at variance with accepted
theories and philosophic rules. A fact
still more extraordinary than the continu-
ance OF mild summer weather here into
the winter months, was the subject of
comment by all intelligent observers who
passed over the St. Paul, Minneapolis
and Manitoba railway this fall, to wit:
that throughout the whole of Northern
Dakota and Minnesota, the wheat was
generally destroyed by heavy early frosts,
and not a vestige of green vegetation could
be seen through that entire region; every
sign Of vegetation having been cut OFT by
the frost; whilst almost Immediately upon
entering the confines of Montana, every
thing was green and summer-like. Not
a frost-bli ght was to be seen anywhere
from short distance west of Fort Buford,
and it actually appeared, from the tcstl-
mony of many who remarked the un-
accountable change in the face OF the
country, that the air became more balmy
and congenial as the train rolled OH to
the west till Great Falls was reached.
We do not pretend to be able to account
for these wonderful freaks of nature, nor
have we yet encountered the philosopher
able to explain them to our satisfaction.
We can only say that they exist. Strange,
phenomenal and ,naccountable as they
are. they are facts. They are features
peculiar to Montana which is Il land OF
peculiarities; for here we have the great
est silver, copper and iron mines known.
We have subterranean mountains OF gold
bearing quartz inexhaustible and unpar-
alelled elsewhere Our coal-measures
rival all others. We have the broadest
and richest beef-ranges in the world. We
have the greatest water-power and the
mightiest cold-water spring on the globe
We have the most wonderful succession
of falls. We have more government
lands than can be found elsewhere with
in the Union, all arabic or grazing. we
have no desert waste or bleak, barren
mountains of rocks. We have in North
ern Montana the most healthy and salu-
brious climate. We have the most vigor-
Gus, hospitable, prolific and happy people,
with ample room for more: and such ana
such only are invited to come to Montana
and share with us the delights OF the
purest, brightest and best climate, pro
] yided by q beneficent Father for the high
est types of His sons and daughters on
the earth.