The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-09-08
The Sand Cou|ee Coal.
Its Present Realitics-Its Rapid In
crease Of Consumption.
The Magnificent Future for Montana
and Great Falls.
An Interesting Article from Paris
Gibson, Founder of the City.

A Comprehensive View of tho Question:
EDITOR OF THE LEADER:
Although much has been said in favor
of the great Sand Coulee coal fields, their
value to Montana and especially to Great
Falls, as an industrial center, cannot he
appreciated by those of us who are living
here today. When the population of
Montana reaches a million or more, then
will the economic value of these coal
measures begin to be understood.
When few years ago, = map of the
falls of the Missouri and the adjacent
coal fields was prepared aud shown to
Mr.. Hill, the railroad magnate, for the
purpose of interesting him in establish
ing what is now the promising town of
Great Falls, he placed his tingerupon the
spot indicated AS coal and remarked If
that is as good coal as you represent it
to be will take hold of this townsite
enterprise. for in time large city will he
built here. The result was that then and
there this far-sighted, gifted business
man decided to invest his money in the
water power of the Missouri falls and in
the adjacent coal fields, notwithstanding
they were located in wild, unsettled
country with no railroads in any direc-
ton, for hundreds of miles. A few years
only have elapsed and we now see a
rail road stretching its arms of steel from
the Mississippi valley to Great Falls, and
so on to Helena and Butte. We see
thrifty coal mining town at Sand Coulee,
where are employed large force of men
with all modern Improvements for coal
mining, and producing daily output of
one Thousand tons of excellent bitumi-
nous coal.
We see trains passing out daily from
Great Falls carrying this valuable fuel to
all points west on the Montana Central
and as far east as Minnesota over the
Manitoba railway, total distance of
| nearly one thousand miles.
The Manitoba main line, soon to be ex-
| tended westward from Great Falls, will
carry Sand Coulcc coal over the main
range and distribute it in eastern Wash
ington territory.
Let us see what this coal will do for
our town of Great Falls. Its existence
so near to the water power of Great Falls
renders it certain that it can and will be
delivered at that place ut cost for less
than it or any other coal can possibly be
delivered at other towns in Montana
where ores can be slnelted.
| Helena is more than one hundred
miles distant from the nearest workable
coal field, with an uphill haul the whole
distance, while Butte is two hundred
miles from the nearest coal field, with
heavy grades to overcome.
AS against these disadvantages and dis
tance and elevation the smelling sites at
the water power of Great Falls, are not
more than nine miles from the coal
mines, by the new route, with favoring
grades all the way. 1t will then be seen
that cheaper fuel and easier grades for
hauling ores, will give Great Falls the
advantage over other towns in Montana
for smelling ores and for all manufactur
ing enterprises requiring power and fuel.
Looking ut the future OF Great Falls it is
apparent that Il vast quantity of coal will
be required to supply its demands, tlencc
it is gratifying to know that the supply
in the adjacent fields will equal the de-
mand for centuries to come.
| In Montana, coal is king, for it makes
cheap fuel here absolutely certain and
dedicatory for home manufacture the
raw material of our Mountains, valleys
and prairles.
Through the potent agency of cheap
fuel Montana in time will support mil
lions of people and will become one of
the wealthiest and most prosperous states
of the union. She could give up her
mountains Of silver and copper and al
most limitless deposits of iron and lead.
She could part with her unequalled pas
toral resources and still she would be
, come great commonwealth; but deprive
Montana of her coal resource and she
!, would always occupy a secondary posi-
ton among the western states.
PARIS gibson.
MINNEAPOLls, Sept ;.
! Just received large shipment of car