The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-10-20
4 North Montana City,.
Why Capitalists Were Attracted to
Concentrate on Great Falls.
A Point of Marvellous Resources and
Attractions.
Increase in the Sheep
Hnsbandry.
A Tribute to the Founder OF our City.

"A 1flDuIe 10 Tie rOuhNeT Ot OUT StSs
A we'll posted writer in the Journal,
who visited Montana and spent some time
investigating the possibilities and pros
poets in and around Great Falls, writes:
1t was unquestionably the vast water power
available just below the junction of the Missouri
and the Sun River that led capitalists to establish
Great Falls. The Missouri, gathering force from
many tributaries that rise in the Rocky, the Crazy
the Snow and the Belt untains, has rolled half
way across Montana to the north, where it spreads
out at Great Falls increasing in volume as it rolls
and then contracts again before plungng over
three shelves and many rapids, about 500 feet in
about five miles,
All around Great Falls is a country that must
soon contribute to the development Of the city.
The undulating prairie on both sides Of the Mis-
souri, is declared by men who have tried it to be
just the land for raising hard wheat. Paris Glib
son, who has tried it, says that 1t cannot fall to
answe. his expectations in u favorable year, for
during the season Just ended with scarcity OF
water in all the streams. he has raised excellent
| wheat-forty bushels of fifty pounds to the acre
Oh land not irrigated.
| The Northern Pacific railroad will soon con-
struct line north through this country, thus eX-
pressing its faith In the freight producing capac
ty of country which some of its friends have de-
nounced as unfit for habitation and no possible
use for Il railroad.
Beyond the agricultural lands on each side of
the river are mineral lands rich In gold, silver,
copper, lead, G, psum and COAL Coal. gold silver
and copper have been found all along the base OF
the Rocky mountains together with lead and iron.
On the east side of the Missouri In the Great Bear
and Little Bear mountains, there are gold ana sil-
yer in rich deposits. OF coal the Indications are
that the Sand Coulee coal mines, now yielding l.
500 tons day, contain an almost incalculable
supply.
Besides the treasury of coal and precious metals
there is vast area of grazing land still free to
range cattle and sheep, fed upon by many large
and small herds, the sheep in constantly increas-
ing numbers and the wool and mutton improving
steadily in quality and price.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHEEP CRAZE.
There is almost a sheep craze in Montana.
Sheep are being driven into the northern part or
the country to winter in the Sun river and Milk
river valleys OH the strength of reports made by
men who have found it easier to keep them on
the ranges Of that section during the winter
, months than they did lower down in the same
longitude. Allowing something for the liberal
. language of men who are desirOus of pushing the
pAooA A@>A~' e-
is assurance of certain belief in the assertion
that the dry air, rich grasses, and comparatively
mild and short winters are advantageous, and
. that the quality of both mutton and wool Is i'm
proved there is abundant evidence There was
2 not Il thousand sheep in Montana III 1873 In 1851
: there were 100000 There are now 300, COO head
of sheep in the country, and the wool clip, es
timated at nearly 100000 pounds, is believed tt
have given the wool growers $2,000,OO0 profit
|, which was supplemented by sales Of mutton to al
r additional amount of 100000.
,. Above the Rainbow fall, and not far from tht
Montana Smelling Company's works, Is the Clan
Il spring. Here at the edge of the river, and no
more than twenty feet above it, issues from thu
h shelving bank a stream--nOt "a spring, but rv
j.. er 1t is a vast bubblng outburst Of the cleares
and purest water as great in quantity toda
probably as it was hundred or five hundred year
$ ago.
Most of these who have led In making Grea
|, Falls what 1t is are western men. Paris Gibson
:, It's founder, is Maine man, but he had spen
u many years in Minneapolis before he ventured t
test the fitness of this section for the production
of grain and the profitable raising Of sheep an
, WOOL With him are men from the west or from
Ireland and Wales, who do not grow homesick II
{ a treeless land, as eastern men might do.
g not to be the heritage of the east The wester
men, who have learned to be at home and satls
fed in country In which the horizon is an uniT
y terrupted straight line. are much happier her
1t than he who has become accustomed to Easter
s. hills and valleys dotted with groves and forests
~ majestic oaks and chestnuts and elms.
The writer thinks that eastern peopl
" who cannot be satisfied without trees an
If green lawn ought to wait awhile an
+ come later. We think it quite as we
70 for the lovers of trees and green lawns t
come right along and help US beautif
A. our city and country. Here We have
e. perfect water system and there is notf
II ing we know of to hinder the residents c
as Great Falls from having as green lawn
" and as handsome grounds as are seen u
|y Euclid avenue, Cleveland, Ohio-exceI
40 the matter of little time.