The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-06-15
THE CITY OF FALLS.
Continued from Wednesdays LEADER.

Starting from point in the eastern
part OF Central Montana and going west
ward, one discovers th;t almost the en-
tire country is underlaid with coal: that
IN the east Is principally Ignite, but as
one travels on the quality improves until
IN the neiglborhood Of Great Falls, a
true bltuminous fuel is iound, as good in
quality as the best Ohio coal. The same
may be said of the eastern base of the
kocky mountains, from the British line
ana even north of that to point below
judith Basin, so that i. is safe to assert
that the supply Of coal in Montana will
be ample for all probable future demands
tor commercial and manufacturing pur-
poses, as we'll as for the consumrtion of
the individual. Along tile Missouri river
south OF the reservation are immense
oep1hs OF iron ore. which, subjected to
careful analysis by experts, have been
shown to assay very high in metallic iron
and low in phosphorus; to be free from
tltan''m, and comparatively free from
sulphur and other injurious ingredients;
III fact, the higa percentage Of iron and
the low percentage of phosphorus is such
that all OF the ore thus far examined
seems to be we'll within what is known
as the Bessemer INIT; or, in other words.
1t is fitted for the manufacture of steel by
the Bessemer process. The contiyuity
Of extensive
BEDS OF COAL, IRON AND LIMESTONE
here give the region natural advantages
fully equal to those possessed by the
state of Pennsylvania. A similarly fav-
orable condition of affairs is found among
the gold, silver copper and lead mines
of the territory, where suitable tlux and
plenty of fuel are within easy access; i'll
deed, it has been claimed that Montana,
in her mineral, grazing and agricultural
resources, has three foundations of wealth
III greater degree, more perfectly har-
moniZed and balanced for the develop
ment Of great empire than any other
state or territory in the Union. There
will always be 4 demand for her beef and
her wheat among the miners and the
the populous communities which will
grow up as d result of the workings of
the mines, even though eastern markets
should be slow. Again the farm
ers and stock raisers may be
saved Il dilemma, sometimes incidental to
agricultural pursuits at certain season, by
the bringing into circulation of money
brought about by the nature of the bust
ness operations in mining district. But
suppose one of these cardinal interests
should fail for Il season, or become dull
and inactive, the others could be depend.
ed upon to make up the deficiency; or il
two should fall short of expected returns
the remaining one could certainly keep
the people from starving
There are hardly any white men on the
northern reservation yet, but they are be-
ginning to 60 il rapidly, and, as the coun-
try becomes known on its merits, it will
soon become populous. South Of the
Missouri, have been for considerable
length Of time scattered settlements Of
white men, and a good deal Of profitable
cattle and sheep raising has been carried
on. The marvellous bullion product of
Montana is now SO well known to all
readers that it is unnecessary to dwell
upon it here. Last year Butte and Hell
cna and the country tributary to them
and to Great Falls, produced more than
y third of a hundred millions in gold and
silver, copper and other metals In this
country Of unbounded wealth and illimit-
iblo possibilities, one Of the most beauti-
rul spots is what is called
JUDITH BASIN,
the very name Of which would seem to
hint ut something of charming interest
1t is tributary to Great Falls, and the EN-
trance to it is some fifty miles distant
from the city. 1t is Il smiling valley, in
shape like an amphitheatrc, surrounded
almost completely by mountains or lofty
bluffs, some seventy-hre miles in length
and fifty miles wide: it is, without excep-
tion, the best watered valley in Montana,
covered with streams, chief among which
is the Judith river 1t has a rich, deep
black soil, capable of raising untold 4uan-
titles of grain or other useful products
Strangers in visiting the territory are
usually shown the Judith basin as an oh
ject Of particular pride and satisfaction
to the residents. 1t is as yet compara
lively unopened and unsettled country,
but its advantages are such that it will
not long remain so.
SIXTY MILLION
or people is what we confidently expect