Great Falls tribune., 1890-01-11
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.
An Interesting Review by the Father of Great
Falls
fRy PARIS (iIBsoS,)

NJ" tHe O"hsNe oI 'EeAt rails. ! APP
preached it from the east, and when |
reached the summit about two and II half
miles from the mouth Of Sun river, the
view presented impressed me more than
any other have ever seen. The beaut
full sun river valley, with the Rocky
mountains in the distance, the plain
which gradually descended to the waters
edge, the Missouri, widening into broud
eNpanse at the head of the falls and re-
sembling a lake rather than II river, form
ed picture never to be forgotten. The
scene impressed me. perhaps more strong
~ from the fact that, save solitary
sheep herder, not human being was
visih,e il any direction. | rode forward
70 Prospect hill, opposite the mouth of
sun river, and then followed down the
river bank TO Black Eagle falls. the Giant
spring and Rainbow falls. ! then r.
turned to point just below the railroad
bridge and cnmped for the night. Except
Lucas C"nnanz, who occupied a cabin on
tIe west side Of the river, there was
NOT \ SETTLER wITmn7 10 OR l2 MILES
If the Missouri falls: and this spot was
the same in all respects as Lewis and
Clarke found il eightythree years before,
except that the buffalo herds had left it
forever. | may be parlohcd for stating
that what | SAW nn the first day Of my
visit to this place satisfied me beyond IA
doubt it was destined to become at no
distant day ""."
\ GREAT IND'STRIAL METROPOLIS,
knew that there were near this spot
fields Of bitumlnOus coal stretching for
miles to the east ami to the west, and
looked with wonder upon an available
water power tar greater than any ha,
ever before seen. Having travelled over
the surrounding country for three years
previous, ! knew something Of the min
ing resources and Of the fertility of the
country tributary. From that day de-
cided to devote myself unremittingly to
founding II town on this favored spot.
JAMES !. IiIII. INTERESTED.
If was fortunate in coming to Great
Falls then. was more fortunate In
finding man to cooperate with me,
who had the means ut his command ana
views of the great west sufficiently broad
minded to permit me to acquire this i'm
men>e wnter power and lands adjacent
sufficient tor II great city. This country
Il 81,
road being vt least five hundred miles
distant; and yet James ]. Hill, the man to
whom owe my support, in my judg
ment, from his office in st. Paul. saw
more clearly than any ether living man
at that time, the advantages possessed by
this place and the possible development
Of this great western empire. 10 him
owe lasting gratitude for constant and |
liberal financial support in carrying nut
plans for two years before lie set foot up
On this place.
=A=@ PROGRESS MADE.
Let us pass over the intervening period |
of seven years, which have been devoted |
mainly to the preliminary work Of estab-
fishing town, and, looking ut Great !
Falls as we now find it. ask the question
If any other town. east or west, has made
more rapid and substantial progress dur
this short time. 1t is today the western
terminus of the Manitoba or Great North
ern railway and the eastern terminus of
the Montana Central railway. An inn
portant branch of the Montana Central
connects Great Falls with the Sand Coulee
coal fields: and another branch, known as
the Great Falls and Belt Mountain rail
road, with two terminl in the mountains
IS being rapidly pushed to completion.
The close of the year 1890 will witness
the extension of the Great Northern rail
way from Great Falls to tide water on !
the Pacific, and the coming year will
hardly close before two other railway
lines will be completed to this town.
UNEQUALLED ADVANTAGES FOR TREAT
The nnequalled advantages possessed
by Great Falls for the treatment of ores
have been fully recognized by mining and
Snna0tfnn man On6 tho 1r<, have,