The Helena independent., 1890-03-21
A Great March Flood--Thou-
sands of People Seeking
Homes, Are Attracted to
MiSsoula by Its Won
derful Resources.
A County With the Finest Agrl-
rIcultural Valleys---The
Best Mines and the
Largest Forests in
All Montana.
a. Idty. the County scat and Center of This
Enormous Natural Wealth a City
Destined 10 Have a Remark
able Growth.

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 a 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 ba-
cific system. and not only because OF the
magnitude OF its traffic. but rs basis
Of operations for the building OF new
lines. The Bitter Root Valley branch
diverges here and runs up the valley iif-
teen miles 10 Grantsdale. IL will soon
be extended about forty miles further
, to the head Of the valley. The new cut
OIL line TO the CUur d'Alene mining
towns also leaves the main line at Mis-
soula. Running down the valley for
about seventy five miles, Of which twen-
ty-tive are completed, it strikes up the
ST. Regis de Borgia river, crosses the
Bitter Root mountains, and comes down
10 Mullan. at the head OF the South
Fork of the CGur d'Alene river, ID
miles from Missoula. This road, con-
nected with the line from Mullan to
Spokane Falls already partly finished,
will effect saving Of sixty-iiye 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
tb ough trains To the Pacific coast. IL
l.. 81 nd ktlIl Mt
once enable Miseoula Ia secure much or
the trade Of the Cmur dAlene camps
and towns.
The Northern Pacific has projected
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 rs to its early construction.
The Washington and Idaho line OF
the Union Pacific already com pleted To
far east as Mullan, has been located rs
Mssoula, paralleling the Northern Pa
ciiic'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 20 on To Il 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 Blaekfoot to
Missoua. Another runs north by way
of the F'lathead lake country aud the
Kooten6i valley. 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
vest would be 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 10 be OF great
benefit to the city. It's present suprema-
cy as the distributing point Of western
Montana would not he endangered, and
the new towns that would spring up
would only add To the trade of tins
natural trade center.
JHE GREAT AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF
MIssoTLA.
The valleys of Mssoula county are
and will continue to be the pride Of
Montana. Southeast from Missoua the
famous Bitter Root valley is capable Of
supporting u population OF hundreds OF
thousands from agriculture alone. Lat
eral valleys penetrate the mountain
ranges on either side, aforling homes
for thousands besides what the valley
proper will support. The soil is a rich
alluVial. producing grain, grasses, vege-
tables, etc, with minimum Of labor
and maximum Of Yield. All small
fruits, such as Strawberries blackber- |
berries, currnnts, etc. as well as apples. |
pears; plums, prunes, grapes. etc, do
well and bear abundantly. The climate
OF the Bitter Root valley is noted for |
mildness aud the seasons open some
months earlier than further south aud |
east. Farmers find no trouble in dis |
posing OF all they can raise for cash. and |
at good prices, as the miners require |
more than can be supplied with the |
present farming population and meth.
ods. The towns Of Stevensyillc. Cor |
Wallis, Victor. Grantsyille, etc, up this
valley are iourshing, 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 |
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. |
ing 22j,OO0 pounds Of small fruits. hich |
found a ready sale. Oats there yielded |
from seventy 10 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. The
cereals find ready sale. and hay is now |
bringing $40 per ton.
For further particulars write or call
npon
pens"oCONNELL, COOK & Co,
IN. Missouls, Montana.
ASHLAND, Wis, a