Great Falls tribune., 1890-01-11
THE CATARACT FIGURING MILL

II. q. Chowen Of this city, and through
his energy was carried cut. In 1888 he
interested JAS. Janison of Minneapolis
with him in the enterprise and the con
tract for the machinery wus let to Mcssrs,
Milford II Northway of Minneapolis.
This was before the days Of the Manitoba
railroad in Montana and every pound Of
machinery had to be hauled by wagon
train from Helena, over one hundred
miles, or from Fort Benton, forty miles,
50 that to erect IA first class mill in those
days was no small undertaking. How
we'll the task was performed in spite Of
the difficulties encountered is dcmonstra-
ted by the excellent quality Of ,hc flour
the mill is now turning out.
From Year to wear additions have been
made to the machinery Of the mill and
improvements made in the system Of
milling till nov the Cataract Mill com
pany will guarantee to supply their Gus
toner with flour fully equal 70 the hest
Dakota or Minnesota patents ana ii \
considerably lower figure than eastern
flour will cost laid down here. This
is the only mill III Montana that does
make such IL guarantee for the reason
that it Is superior to all its competitors
in equipment and in addition it is able to
grind wheat far superior to that obtained
by any other Montana mill
This la ra t,1t l,nu hn.,, l,,..
~ through the effort Of the Cataract mill
company in Introducing the proper var
ieties Of hard wheat aud in getting the
farmers to SOW these varieties OF seed,
In the spring of 1883 the Mill company
shipped several cars of Scotch Fife from
Dakota for seed and in the spring Of 1889
they shipped in still larger quantity.
This seed was sold TO the rarcher at cost
ana those who were not able to pay
cash for seed obtained it from the com
pany by givinga note payable after har
vest in cash or wheat as the rancher pre-
ferred. Four years ago soft wheat of !.
doubtful character was the only wheat to
he found IN Northern Montana, but this
fall not Il b,lshel of wheat was brought to
the mill that would grade less than No. /
hard.
Northern Montana appears to possess
a soil much better adapted to raising the
hard varieties of wheat than the southern
portion OF the state. This company buys
wheat from all parts OF the state but can
ind none to give rs good satisfaction us
that raised in Northern Montana.
Here providence has certainly amply
provided for the wheat grower. 1t has
endowed him with millions of acres of as
fine land as the sun ever slone upon; has
blessed him with matchless climate for
grain growing as well Us health; and in
addition has blessed him with II never
failing home market. In this last respect
perhaps the farmer here has Il greater a.l-
vantage. His wheat, all he can raise. will /
be consumed in tie shape Of flour by the
mining camps and smelling cities right in
his neighborlood. This latter fact guar
antees the lancher fnr all time IA good |
price for his wheat.
Another great advantage our farmers
enjoy is that of the high yield per ncre.
In Minnesota the average yield, taking
one year with another. is about seven
bushels to the acre. while our runcher
in a series OF years, averages twenty five
to thirty bushels to the acre, without ir-
'igation. This has been the dryest season
known to tine oldest inhabitant here as
we'll as in Dakota, but while the farmers
Of Dakota in many sections are suffering
from want, on account of drouth the past
season, our farmers have all done we'll
md are cCntented with their lot. Several
he past season, owing to late sowing,
secured but half crop or less, but in
every such case the fault can easily be
raced to their own neglect.
Wheat should be sowed early in
Northern Montana; We usually enjoy
'everal weeks of the finest weather i'm
'ginable during February, when the soil
haws to the depth of several inches and
he AIR is as balmy as in May. During
his period is the best time to SOW wheat,
nut it sown in April OF May it will do
'ery nicely and numerous instances can