The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-24
A Great March Flood--Thou-
sands of People Seeking
Homes, Are Attracted to
Missoula by Its Won
derful Resources.
a County With the Finest Agri-
rlcultural Valleys---The
Best Mines and the
Largest Forests in
All Montana,
4 City, the County scat and Center of This
Enormous NATURAL Wealth--A City
Destined 10 Have a Remark
able Growth.


Us Leased Mirc.
CHICAGO. March s.-A recent
numbcr O. the Arkansaw Traveller
contained the following article regarding
an importau; railroad center Of Montana:
AIissoula l. destined to become a great
railroad center. She cannot escape this
destiny. Her situation commands the
passes through the Bitter Root and
Bengerhead ranges ot mountains, and
through these passes the roads must
come. II is becoming one OF the most
important points on the Northern Pa
cilic system, and not only because OF the.
magnitude Of iis traffic hut as a basis
nf operations for the building ot new
lines. The Bitter Root Valley branch
DIVORCES here and runs up the valley iif-
teen miles 10 Grantsdale. IL will soon
be extended about forty miles further
10 the head Of the valley. The new cut
oil limo 80 the Cuur d'Alene mining
toYns also leaves the main line at Mis-
foula. Running down the valley for
about seventy. five miles, Of which TWEEN
ty-fec are completed, il strikes up the
ST. Regis lie Borga river, crosses the
Bitter Root mountains, and comes down
so Mullan, NJ the head Of the South
Fork Of The Cuur G'Alenc river, l2J
miles from Mssoula. This road, con
nected with tho line from Mullan 10
Snosane Falls. already partly finished,
viii elect u saving of sixty live mles1n
81 stance over the present route 10y way
of The Pen dOreille, and will. as a con
senuenre. become the route of the
ih ough trains To the Pacific coast. II
will be completed this year aud will at
once enable Missoula tu secure much OF
tla trade of The CUur d'Alcuo camps
and towns.
The Northern Pacific has projected Il
line through the flathend vallay TO the
iine agricultural region and the coal
fields north of Flathead lake, which
VIII be of very considerable help in the
building up ~ Mssoula. This road
viii be about $50 miles long ending close
to the British boundary. There Is no
question rs 20 It's early construction.
The Washington and Idaho line of
TIE Union Pacific already completed TO
far east as Mullan, has been located as
Missouu, rarallelng the Northern Pa
,iiic's new line. The question Of further
construction has not yet been deter
ment IL The road comes 10 Missoula it
will undoubtedly 20 on 10 n 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
pncigc coast Tho route is not Yet set.
tied. One survey, and tho enslest for
crossing the Rockies, takes the road up
the Dearborn river. through Cadotte S
Pass and down the Big Blackfoot 10
Missoua. Another runs north by way
of the Flathead lake country and the
Kootcnai valley A choice Of route will
probably not be made until spring. The
building of the road through Missoula.
opening II second trunk line east and
west, would be OF enormous advantage
Ia the place, but even ia case the north
crn route is selected the development oi
farms and mines and lumber in tho
northern part Of Mssoula county that
would follow could not fail TO be of great
benefit 10 the city. its present suprema-
~ as the distributing point OF western
Montana would not be endangered, and
the new towns that would spring up
would only add 10 the trado ~ this
natural trade center.
TN. GREAT AGRICULTURAL REsorRCFs OF
MlssorLA.
The valleys Of Missoula county are
md VIII continue to be the pride OF
Montana. Southeast from Missoula the
famous Bitter Root valley is capable OF
supporting a population Of hundreds OF
thousands from agriculture alone. Lat
eral valleys penetrate the mountain
ranges On either side. aiTording homes
for thousands besides what the valley
proper Nill support The soil is a rich
alluyiaL producing grain, grasses, yege-
tublcs, etc, with n minimum of labor
and maximum OF Weld. Al small
fruits. such ms strawberries. blackber-
berries. cuTrants. etc. as well as apples.
pcars: plunis, prunes, grapes, etc, do
well and bear abundantly. The cl mate
of the Bitter Root valley is noted for
mllduess and the seasons open some
iGonlbs earlier than further south and
cast. Farmers lind no trouble in dis
posing of all they can raise for cash, and
81 good prices. as the miners require
more than can be- supplied with the
present farming population and meth
ods The towns of Steycnsyille, Cor
Wallis, Victor. Granisyille, etc. up this
valley are fourshing, growing places.
Siil the valley is not nne fourth settled.
Patented land OF the very best quality
cau be bought for from ten TO fifteen
d llars per acre all ready for the plough.
Water Tor irrigation can be had any
whore. On each side Of the valley the
mountains are full ~ miners and pros
leetors, thus assuring good market at
eicry door
Ii has generally Teen admitted that
Tho pust yenr was tho dryest ever
Known, but this did not prevent The
farmers oi Bitter root valley from rails
ing -2jo00 poluda OF small fruiis, which
found a ready sale. Oats there yielded
from seventy 10 eighty bushels per
acre; wheat, twenty-five TO forty bushels
md the hay fields yielded mn average @
Two and q half tons per nero. 1hes
rercals find a ready sale and hny il now
bringing S20 por ton.
For further particulars write or call
rpon
AtpCONNELL4 COOK 4 CO.,
Missoula, Montana