The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-25
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-
rIcuItural NalleyS---The
Best Mines and the
Largest Forests in
All Montana.
A City, the County Seat and Center of This
Enormous Natural Wealth-A city
Destined to Have n Remark
able Growth.
[By Leased Wire. ]

lpy Leased Wire.
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. IL is becoming one OF the most
important points on the Northern Pa
cifie system, and not only because of the
magnitude OF its traffic but as n basis
of operations for the building OF new
lines. The Bitter Root Valley branch
DIVORCES here and runs up the valley iif-
teen miles 10 Grantsdale. IL will soon
he extended about forty miles further
10 the head Of the valley. The new cut
off line 10 the CWur dAlene mining
towns also leaves the main line at Mis-
Roua. Running down the valley for
about seventy-five miles, Of which twen-
ty-iive are completed. il strikes up the
ST Regis de Borgla river. crosses the
Bitter Root mountains, and comes down
10 Mallan. at the head Of the South
Fork of the Coeur d'Alene river, l25
miles fiom Missoulu. This road, con
nected with the line from Mullan TO
Spokane Falls. already partly finished,
will effect saving of sixty-liye 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
tn ough trains to the Pacific coast. IL
will be completed this year and will at
once enable Missoula 10 secure much OF
the trade of the Cpur d'Alene camps
and towns.
The Northern Pacific has projected a
line through the Flathead vallay to the
fine agricultural region a. the coal
fields north of Flathead lake. which
will be of very considerable help in the
building up If Missoula. This road
will be about $50 miles long ending close
10 the British boundary. There is no
question rs 10 its early construction.
The Washington and Idaho line Of
the Union Pacific already completed 10
far east us Mullan. bas been located as
Mssoua. parHlleling the Northern Pa
cifc's new line. The question Of further
construction has not yet been deter
mined by the Union Pacific manage
ment. If the road comes 10 Missoula il
will undoubtedly 90 on 10 a junction
with the Unions old line, either at Car
rison or Anaconda.
The Manitoba Company. now called
the Grent Northern, has determined 10
start from Great Falls this year for the
Facigc 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 Cadottes
Pass and down the Big Blackfoot to
Missoula. 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 a second trunk line east and
west, 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 to be Of great
benefit Ia 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 10 the trade Of this
natural trade center
THE GREAT AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES or
MIssoULA.
The valleys of Missoula county are
and will 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 eide, affording homes
for thousands besides what the valley
proper will support. The soil is a rich
nliuviaL producing grain, grasses vege-
tables, etc, with a minimum Of labor
and maximum Of yield. All small
fruits. such as strawberries, blackber-
berries currants, etc. as well as apples,
pears; plums. prunes, grapes etc. do
well and bear abundantly. The cl mate
Of the Bitter Root valley is noted for
mldness and the seasons open some
months earlier than further south and
east. Farmers find no trouble in dis
posing 0f 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
DDS. The towns az Stevensylle. Cor
wallis Victor. Grantsvile. etc. up this
valley are flourishing. growing places
Siill the valley is not one fourth settled.
Patented land of the very best quality
can be bought for from ten 10 fifteen
d liars 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 125 600 pounds of small fruits, which
found ready sale, Oats there Yielded
from seventy 10 eighty bushels Der
acre; wheat, twenty-five TO forty bushels
and the hay fields yielded an average o
two and half tons per ncre. Thes
cereals find ready sale, and hay Is now
bringing $50 per ton.
For further particulars write or call
npon
MCCONNELL, COOK & Co,
MI.