The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-08-18
A Marvel aud A Wonder.
Great Falls as Viewed From a Scien-
titic Standpoint.
Prof. Oder, Editor Of the Leading
Mining Journal of Mary
land
Makes u Personal Examination Of our
Resources and Attractions.

Resources and Attractions.
Many of our citizens will remember
Prof Oder who visited Great Falls the
past summer and who personally inves-
tigated the surroundings and natural ell
dowments of our city and contiguous
country. He was gratified to the high
est degree with what he saw and surpris-
ed beyond measure at the extent and
richness Of the mining regions of the
poets, our manufacturing facilities, our
horse, sheep and cattle interests, our
wonderful succession of falls, the Giant
spring and last, though not least rs
source of admiration, our charming town
site, bay for boating and the broad Mis-
souri, almost encircling us within its
sparkling embraces. When he returned
to his home in Frostburg, Md. he wrote
brief account Of his observations for
the Mining Journal, Of which he is the
editor, from the issue Of the 10th inst. of
which we make the subjoined extracts.
Coming from source of high authority
in mining and scientific matters, the let
ter will be the more acceptable to intel
ligent readers:
Saturday morning, July 9Th. there stood upon
the railway platform Of the St. p, NJ e. H., at
Helena Il handsome gentleman, Il little below the
medium hight, whose physique, carriage anu
dress betokened great vitality, courage and taste
The Journal was conducted By friend to his side
and introduced to Hon. Paris Gibson. a ceremony
supplemented on our part by handing him Il let
ter Of introduction from a prominent gentleman
III ST. Paul Mfr. Gibson stated that his duties as
a member of tho Constitutional Convention of
Montana would prevent him from showing the at
. teutio; he would like at the time fixed, Juy9
but that he would arrange with A. Il. Dickerman
his representative at Great Falls, to extend the
desired courtesies.
An interview with Mr.. Dickerman early after
reaching the city resulted in an arrangement 1of
. Il visit next morning to Sand Coulee coal mines,
u miles distant overland, but Is Via a branch Of
!. the Montana Central railroad. Mr.. Dickerman is
l. an active young man Of q years. large property
t. holder and all influential citizen. Endowed with
a handsome face and musical voice, it is Il
l., pleasure, even to of his own SEX to meet MIN
1t is not strange therefore, that he is exceedng,
popular. as we We're reliably informed, WIN INT
flirer Aaaf Of Great Falls.
= Behind two brisk horses held by Prof. Q.
1t Mortson the geooglst Of Montana, we set out al
$50 O'Clock for Sand Coulee On the 'bench'
q above town we stopped to take view OF the city
- Stretched out upon level, spacious river bottom
10 the broad streets pretty buildings and green ell
vronment furnish pretty prospect In a topo
graphical sense nothing could be finer.
Before entering the mine, however, we ha'
found In the boiler house four boilers Of $50 hors
II. power running air-compressng engines, these IL
" turn propeng the mining machines ana drills II
the mine, and the 12foot ventilating fan. IN
H. plant which is new, includes the other usua
ID buildings, The nine is well laid of and worke
with scientific regard for all the desiderata
safety, economy and cleanliness. The ayerae
thickness, of the seam is 10 fee.. feet being til
lowest at long intervals, ard u the highest ;
20 short, roof of solid black slate, feet thicl
needs little or no proppage, consequent; but IL
men have been hurt here, these ONLY slight
Above the slate there is Il stratum oi SaEtato!
extending IS feet, nearly to the surface. ~
he grade to the coulee is setdrainlnS 10 the nit
,rs for the water which is conveyed to til" co'pre'
~, or motors. The main heading is ].Na) it"t dee
" and the two side headings each l,UN Aathi'i"
as is used for underwriting and drilling, and blsti
)n- for getting down the coal. These are rapid O
,x- er;tions, and great amount OF coal c:il De aA
out in a given time. The top portion ot tie &C
Is nearly us bright Us anthracite ami, convert
into coke, makes /; fuel whose ash percentage
less than L. The latter is; fin" steam coal wi
lgs rot less than 70 per cent Of carbon. The pr
asst ence OF slate, requiring keen scrutiyat 1't ouh
r., is the worst drawback which ail;cts taiS CO..
;, Compared with Georges creek coa! II is, OF colr
IN inferior, but it Is better than some coal W
o. which ours comes into competition. The II
ght roads and sinelters are liberal consumers OF
II, Sand C0ulee coal, and the company owning |;
developing this field have good thing OF 1t. l
" area Of deposits is practically unlimited the
TO crop never having been outlined,
Ire, Wages were paid by the day as follows:
b,r | Machine miners. trackayers and black
c it. nrrars tinner men and assistant track lay
l in ers ...,...,..,,.,.,.,.....,.:
laborers and timber men assistants .......
Nc Blacksmith helpers '''' '''''''
1rst, Ia ~. foravono ,cconnt We have named {
ter ono of the Sand Co,,lee deposits There are
air. more, not including the sandstone Useful
~ building PURPOSES, viz! iron ora and s!meSt'
The trinity of materials required to make irO
A". right here under the same surface and access
Al in the following order; coal. ore, limestone"
VI. such a combination OF kindred interests thel
undoubtedly Il great future.
But we have reioned Prof. Morston for a
'' ~ Of several hours the plans to the cati;
lter- With no time to visit the Great fails II miles
Ed. low the city 100 feet high and noted for their
god grandeur. we aim to reach the Rainbow
, , several llii-, nearer town. Desic.4IiI!lig i!
'''-' stairway into deep gorge. We stand Il: the
or IL rouril.y volume o; water pouring over il
,nks OF rock 80 feet high and 1920 feet long ENcel
,+.s. Great fails this overflow Is probably the ne
magnitude to Niugar;. and like Niagara, mi
: ~ seen to be adequately appreciated. We S1''
wonder Of nature at its worst owing to tile Ii
al low water. Above there are two other
Cclter's and Black Eagle falls the latter N
.,,, after Il black eagle found tnara III 1855 by
g" ~ and Clarke :ni which disappeared pnly thi
year
5 D. One OF the most striking features Of natur;
'lcase nation in this picturesque vicinity, hoWt'
-. - the Giant spring, an underground riverroill
'' - from among great bouidera OF rock on the $
), east bank OF the Missouri Thanks to the &C
!, aratiOn Of soma one rl; nix walks Over.i,J IN