The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-27
A Citv, the County seat and Center Of This
Enormous Natural Wealtli-A city
Destined 10 Have a Remark
able Growth.
lBy Leased wirc.l

lbs Leased Wire.
CHICAGO. March S.-A recent
number OF the Arkansaw Traveller
contained the following article regarding
an important railroad center of Montana:
Missoula is destined 10 become great
railroad center She cannot escape this
destiny. Her situation commands the
passes through the Bitter Root and
Beaverhead ranges of mountains, ana
through these passes the roads must
come. II is becoming one OF the most
important points on the Northern IA
ciiic system, and not only because OF The
magnitude OF its traffic. but as a basis
of operations for the building OF new
lines. The Bitter Root Valley branch
diverges here and runs up the valley lii
teen miles TO Grantsdale. IL Will soon
be extended about forty miles further
10 the head Of the valley. The new cut
of line to the Cuur dAlene mining
towns also leaves the main line at Mis-
soula. Running down the valley Tor
about seyenty-iive miles, of which TWEEN
ty-five are completed, il strikes mp the
st. Regis de BorgIa river, crosses the
Bitter Root mountains, and comes down
to Mullan. at the head OF the South
Fork Of the Cnur d'Alene river, 10
miles from Missoula. This road, con
nected with the line from Mullan to
Spokane Falls. already partly finished,
viii effect saving Of sixty-ilve miles in
distance over the present route by way
Of the Pen d'Oreille, and will, as a con-
sequence, become the route OF the
ia ouch trains to the Pacific coast. 1t
will he completed this year and will at
once enable Missoula TO secure much OF
the trade OF the Cnur dAlene camps
and towns.
The Northern Pacific las projected Il
line through the Elathead yolay to the
line agricultural region and the coal
fields north of Flathea1 laGr. which
will be of very considerable help in the
building mp Of Missoula. This road
will be about $50 miles long ending close
TO the British boundary. There IL no
question us 10 It's early construction.
The Washington and Idaho line of
the Union Pacific already com pleted TO
far east ms Mulan. has been located as
Missonla, paralleling the Northern Pa
cific's new line. The question Of further
construction has not yet been deter
mined by tho Union Pacific manage
ment. II the road comes 10 Missoula il
viii undoubtedly 20 ON 10 a junction
with the Unions old line either at Gar
rison or Anaconda.
The Manitoba Company, now called
the Great Northern. has determined TO
start from Great Falls this year for the
Pacigc coast. The route is not yet set
tied. One survey, and the easiest for
crossing the Rockies. takes the road up
the Dearborn river, through Cadotte's
Pass and down the Big Blackfoot 10
Missoula. Another runs north by way
of the Flathead lake country and the
Kootenai wiley A choice Of route will
probably not be made until spring. The
building of the road through Missoula.
opening "A second trunk line east and
west, would be of enormous advantage
10 the pluce. but even in case the north
ern route is selected the development OF
farms and mines and lumber in the
northern part Of Missoula county that
would follow could not fail 10 be OF great
benefit to the city. lis present suprema-
cy as the distributing point of western
Montana would not be endangered and
the new towns that would spring mp
would only add 60 the trade Of this
natural trade center
THE CREAr AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF
MIssouLA.
The valleys Of Missoula county are
and will continue 10 be the pride Of
Montana. Southeast from Missoula the
famous Bitter Root valley is capable OF
supporting q population OF hundreds of
thousands from agriculture alone Lat
eral valleys penetrate the mountain
ranges on either side. affording homes
for thousands besides what the valley
proper will support. The coil is rich
alluyial. producing grain, grasses vege-
tables, etc. with minimum Of labor
and maximum of yield. All small
fruits, such as strawberries blacSber-
berries. currants. etc, us well as apples
pears: plums, prunea, grapes. etc. do
we'll and bear abundanily. The climate
~ the Bitter Root valley is noted for
mildness and the seasons open some
months earlier than further south and
cast Farmers find 20 trouble in dis
posing Of al they can raise for cash. and
Ht good prices, as the miners require
more than can be supplied with the
present fnrming population aud meth
obs The towns OF Stevensyille, Cor
wallis, Victor, Grantsyille, etc. up this
valley are fiourishing, growing places
still the valley is not one fourth settled
Patented land OF the very best quality
can be bought for from ten TO fifteen
d liars per acre all ready for the plough
Water for irrigation can be had any
where. On each side Of the valley the
mountains are full Of miners and pros
peetors, thus assuring a good market Mt
every door.
1T has generally been admitted that
the past year was the dryest ever
known, but this did not prevent the
farmers of Bittor root valley from rais-
ing 225000 pounds OF small fruits, which
found ready salo. Oats there yielded
from seventy to eighty bushels per
acre; wheat. twenty-five TO forty bushels
and the hay fields yielded an average o
two and half tons per acre. Thes
cereals find a ready sale, and hay is now
bringing $40 per ton.
For further particulars write or call
npon
MCCONNELL, COOK d CO.,
Missoula, Montana.