The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-01
A County With the Finest Agri-
rIcultural Valleys---The
Best Mines and the
Largest Forests in
All Montana.
A City. the County Seat and Center of This
Enormous Natural weaIth-A City
Destined to Have IA Remark
able Growth.
tBy Leased wire.l

CHICAGO, March s.-A recent
number OF the Arkansaw Traveller
contained the following article regarding
an important railroad center of Montana;
Missoula is destined TO become great
railroad center. She cannot escape this
destiny. Her situation commands the
passes through the Bitter Root and
Beaverhead ranges of mountains, and
through these passes the roads must
come. II is becoming one OF the most
important points on the Northern Pa
cifc 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
diyerges here and runs up the valley fif-
teen miles TO Grantsdale. 1t will soon
be extended about forty miles further
10 the head of the valley. The new cut
off line to the Ceur d'Alene mining
towns also leaves the main line at Mis-
eoula. Running down the valley for
about seyenty.iive miles, OF which twen-
ty-five are completed, it strikes up the
ST. Regis de Borgla river, crosses the
Bitter Root mountains, and comes down
TO Mullan, at the head Of the South
Fork of the Cuur d'Alene river, 10
miles from Missoula. This road, con
nected with the line from Mullan to
Spokane Falls, already partly finished,
will effect n saving OF sixty-tive miles in
distance over the present route by way
az the Pen d'Oreille, and will, as con-
sequence, become the route OF the
tn ough trains 10 the Pacific coast. III
will be completed this year and VIII at
once enable Missoula 10 secure much Of
the trade OF the Ceur d'Alene camps
and towns.
The Northern Pacific has projected a
line through the Flathead vallay TO the
fine agricultural region and the coal
fields north Of Flathead lake, which
will be Of very considerable help in the
building up Of Missoula. This road
will be about $50 miles long ending close
to the British boundary. There is no
question as TO IFS early construction.
The Washington and Idaho line OF
the Union Pacific already com pleted TO
far east as Mullan. has been located as
Missoula, paralleling the Northern Pa
cific's new line. The question OF further
construction has not yet been deter
mined by the Union Pacific manage
ment. II the road comes TO Missoula il
will undoubtedly go on TO a junction
with the Unions old line, either at Gar
rieon or Anaconda.
The Manitoba Company, now called
the Great Northern, has determined to
start from Great Falls this year Tor the
Pacigc coast. The route is not yet set
tied. One survey, and tho easiest for
Al. tal ly.as N IN,
the Dearborn river, through Cadotte s
Pass and down the Big Blackfoot TO
Mssoula. Another runs north by way
Of the Flathead lake country and the
Kootenai valley. A choice Of route will
probably not be made until spring. The
building of the road through Missoula,
opening second trunk line east and
west, would he OF enormous advantage
10 the place, 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 to be Of great
benefit 10 the city. It's present suprema-
cy as the distributing point Of western
Montana would not be endangered. and
the new towns that would spring up
would only add TO the trade Of this
natural trade center
THE GREAT AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF
NussoULA.
The valleys OF Missoula county are
and will continue 10 be the pride OF
Montana. Southeast from Mssoula the
famous Bitter Root valley is capable OF
supporting 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 soil is a rich
alluvial, producing grain, grasses, yege-
tables, etc. with a minimum ~ labor
and a maximum Of yield. All small
fruits. such Us strawberries, blackber-
berries, currants, etc, as well rs apples,
pears: plums, prunes, grapes, etc, do
well and bear abundantly The climate
of the Bitter Root valley is noted for
mildness and the seasons open some
months earlier than further south and
east Farmers lind no trouble IN dis
posing of all they can raise for cash, and
at good prices, rs the miners require
more than can be supplied with the
IltEtuA ldIullHk lollulhAlvh Nhh hAtN'
ods Tho towns Of Stevensvllle, Cor
Wallis, Victor Grantsyille, etc, up this
valley are iiourshing, growing places
Sill the valley is not one fourth settled
Patented land Of the very best quality
can be bought for from ten to fifteen
dollars 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
pectors. thus assuring good market at
every door.
Ii has generally been admitted that
the past year was the dryest ever
known. but this did not prevent the
farmers OF Bitter root valley from rails
iug 225,000 pounds Of small fruits. which
found a ready sale. Oats there yielded
from seventy TO eighty bushels per
acre; wheat, twenty-five 10 forty bushels
and the hay fields yielded an average o
two and a 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 & CO.,
Nsc-.,,lo AF~rA...