The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-11-03

SCutTc,
Fhe Leading Railroad Centre of the
Montana New Northwest.
Mr' Muzzy Tells Some Facts of General In
terest.
Washington Muzzy's name has become
well known to eastern readers, as we'll as
to those of the LEADER and of north
Montana generally as a practical, candid
and critical writer on the resources. gen
eral characteristics and prospects of this
sectlon-more particularly that properly
tributary to Great Falls. His articles
published in the foremost agricultural
periodicals of the west have awakened a
widespread enquiry into the peculiari-
ties of the country.
When it is asserted that the bench
lands contiguous to Great Fails have pro-
duced profitable crops of grain without
irrigation, the statement is received with
degree of incredulity, resulting from
the generally-accepted opinion that this
is part and parcel of the great arid belt
of the continent and incapable of produc-
ing an agricultural crop without irriga-
tion.
1t is a fact as yet not satisfactorily ex-
planned that the atmosphere of north
Montana partakes somewhat of the eli
matte conditions of Minnesota and Wis
consin in respect to humidity, while at
the same time we have here much milder
winters than any of the northern states:
and such thing as blizzard has never
swept across her peaceful breast
The rainfall here in years past has been
ample, during the terminating months Ct
May, June and July, to grow both cereals
and vegetables-the civil service records
of the Assinboine, as We have heretofore
Notwithstanding as much as nine
inches of rainfall in the month of June,
the month when rain is most needed for
their growth and maturity.
MIR. Muzzy is d close, keen observer
and discerned, very soon after his arrival
here, that the climatic conditions are alto
gether dissimilar to those of the arid
irrigating belt of tie continent,and even
this great dissimilarity is distinctly mark
ed in the two great divisions of north and
south Montana-the southern half of the
state conforming in all respects with 9th
er arid sections of the Rocky mountain
regions and requiring irrigation to pro
duce crops.
Answering certain inquiries through
the columns of the Fergus Falls Journal
Mr.. Muzzy says:
Some OF the readers Of the journal are inquir
ing, "What about Montana and Great Falls b
this time? ?' and, with your consent, will brief
reply to the query, avoiding, so far as can, CIV
ing anyone occasion for saying that I overstat
the facts.
The dry summer has been followed by a dry fal
so far (Oct 21) and what feed had grown upon tn
ranges is long ago dry and yellow-was dried int
hay early in September-s0 that the fr0sts wh1c
we are lately having did no harm to range feed
and, what seems strange to new c0mers, as 500
as the grass becomes dry the stock begins to pu
on flesh rapidly and is now as good as stall-fe
stock The reason is, the grass was cured by tn
hot sun before frosts came, and there has bee
no rain or snow since to bleach and spoil it. TIL
fall has been exceedingly pleasant so far. no ba
4 storms, only few days of unpleasantly stron
wind and few ''too hot'' days. After spending
summer here-a summer of excessive drouth, tn
like Of which has not been for the past twent!
five years-I see no reason for changing the opi1
ion that l have already expressed through tn
Journal that this is valuable farming countr!
Paving crops were raised this dry season on benc
: lands where there can be no irrigation. Tn
Il was the case where lands were properly cultivate
and early sown. am convinced that crop raisin
will prove to be as sure business here as In Mil
nesota and I'd sooner take my chances OF gettin
a paying crop here than in Otter Tail, so far
my eight years experience is concerned ana, Wns
is quite as important to farmers, frstrrate ma
ket for all the products Of farm Is an assure
fact.
The Neihart railroad Is being built and hea'
forcs of men Is at work upon it. This road Is
- be the outlet of the great Belt mining region, I'll
y richest in Montana. These mines, for want
communication with the smelling works locate
here and the well nigh impossible transportatle
of supplies and machinery to the mines, are nc
ts practically undeveloped-only enough so to dl
cover the remarkably rich deposits OF gold sllve
ts conner. lead iron and coal. am informed Tn
"a there will be at least 10000 consuming people
that region within eighteen months, and the Dull
r. ing of that immense dam across the Missouri II
er here at Great Falls. and the construction OF u
largest copper smelling works In America al
here at Great Falls CONTRACTS for both are le
90 will IT is estimated bring an increase OF popui
oo tion of at least 5000 in the coming year-all co
W sinners. Then there are the two railroads 70
90 begun next spring, one connecting with tne VI.
ada Pacific, east OF the Rocky mountains, the ot
I" or the Pacific outlet of the great Montana ra"'
Roth these roads start from Great Fails ana are
W sure thing;" SO that for years to come lar VI
duce will find paying market here.
The church going element In Great rams
0O oom,no to the front. The Presbyterlans' Meth
M dtsts Episcopalans and last the Baptist nave
tive organizations here; the three first nave ne
~ channels and the Baptists have church edince
W and sbeatbed in. 1t will be an ornament " u
town although small; 30x5O feet with a steepl
baptstry, study, ETC. costing about m,,n
ic debt.
GREAT FALLS OcI IL
,,r There are no flies on any OF 'he loi
'm ';a oo;no observations. The progress OF Tn
e oo,,+rv during the succeedlt