The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-22
a Great March Flood--Thou-
sands of People Seeking
Homes, Are Attracted to
Mlssoula by Its Won
derful Resources.
a County With the Finest Agri-
rlcuItural Valleys, -he
n
Best Mines an Q
Largest Forests u
All Montana. y


lliy Leased Nlt.l
CHIcAoo. March s.-A recent
number Of the Arkansaw Traveller
contained the following article regarding
an important railroad center OF Montana;
Missoula is destined 10 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. 1t is becoming one OF the most
important points on the Northern Pa
citic system. and not only because Of the
magnitude Of It's traffic. hut as a basis
of operations for the building uf new
lines. The Bitter Root Valley branch
diverges here and runs up the valley iif-
teen miles to Grantsdale. 1t will soon
be extended about forty miles further
10 the head Of the valley. The new cut
of line 10 the Copur d'Alene mining
towns also leaves the main line ut Mis-
soula. Running down the valley for
about seyenty-live miles, of which twcn-
ty.iive are completed, it strikes up the
St. Regis de Borga river, crosses the
Bitter Root mountains. and comes down
TO MulInn. at the head os the South
Fork az the Cour d'Alene river, l25
miles from Missoula. This road, con
nected with the line from Mullan 10
Spokane Falls. already partly finished,
will effect saving of sixty-iive miles in
distance over the present route by way
of the Pen d'Oreille, and Will. as con-
sequence, become the route Of the
III ough trains 10 the Pacific coast. IL
will be completed this year and will at
once enable Missoula TO secure much OF
the trade Of the CGur d'Alene camps
| and towns
The Northern Pacific has projected
line through the Flathead vallay TO the
fine agricultural region and the coal
7elds north Of Flathead lake, which
III lc of very considerable help in the
building up Of Missoua. This road
will be about $50 miles long ending close
to the British boundary. There is no
question as 20 its early construction.
The Washington and Idaho line OF
the Union Pacific already completed 10
far east as Mullan, has been located as
Missoula. paralleling the Northern Pa
cities new line. The question Of further
lconstructon has not yet been deter
mined by tie Union Pacific manage
ment. If the road comes TO Missoula il
will undoubtedly 20 on to junction
with the Unions old line. either at Gar
risou 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 moi yet set.
tied. One survey, and the easiest for
crossing the Rockies takes the road up
A II f4sl. to-
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 Mssoua county that
uonld follow could not fail TO be OF great
benefit TO the city. lis present suprema.
cy AS the distributing point Of western
Montana would not lie endangered, and
the new towns that would spring up
would only add to the trade of this
natural trade center.
THE oEEAr AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF
MlssoULA
The valleys of Mssoula county are
and will continue to be the pride Of
Montana. Southeast from Missoula the
famous Bitter Root Wiley is capable Of
supporting 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 rich
8lluyial. producing grain, grasses. vege
tables. etc. with a minimum of labor
and maximum OF yield. All small
fruits. such as straw berries. blackber
berries, currants. etc. as well as apples,
pears; plums. prunes, grapes, etc, do
well and bear nbnndantly. The cl mate
of the Bitter Root valley is noted for
midness and the seasons open somo
months earlier than further south and
cast. Farmers find no trouble in Ills.
posing uf all they can raise for cash, aud
nj good prices, us the miners require
more than can be supplied with the
present farming population and meth.
ods. The towns ~ Stsyensvlle, Cor
wallis. Victor. Grantsyilc. etc, up this
valley are ilourishing, growing places,
Sill 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.
Voter for irrigation can be had any
where. On each side Of the valley the
mountains are full OF miners and pros
pcctors. thus assuring a good market at
every door.
IL has generally Leen admitted that
the past year was the dryest ever
known, but this did not prevent the
farmers Of Bitter root valley from rails
ing 2250o0 pounds OF small fruits. which
found q ready sale. Oats there yielded
from seventy TO eighty bushels per
ncre; wheat, twenty-five 10 forty bushels
and the hay fields yielded an average o
two and half tons per acre. Thes
cereals find o ready sale and hay ie now
bringing s20per ton.
For further particulars write or call
npon
MCCONNELL, COOK & co.
Missoula, Montana.