The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-29
Inv L.eased 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 10 become great
railroad center. She cannot escape this
destiny. Her situation commands the
passes through the Bitter Root and
Beaverhead ranges of mountains, ana
through these passes the roads must
come. IL is becoming one OF the most
important points on the Northern Pa
cific system, and not only because OF the
magnitude OF its traffic. but as 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
he extended about forty miles further
TO the head Of the valley. The new cut
off line TO the Cnur d'Alene mining
towns also leaves the main line at Mis-
eoula. Running down the valley for
about seventy.iive miles, OF which TWEEN
ty-fve are completed, it strikes up the
ST. Regis de Borgla river, crosses the
| Bitter Root mountains, and comes down
10 Mullan, at the head OF the South
Fork of the Ceur d'Alene river, l25
miles from Mssoula. This road, CON
nected with the line from Mullan Ia
Spokane Falls, already partly finished
will effect a saving OF sixty-five miles IN
distance over the present route by way
OF the Pen d'Oreille, and will, as n con-
sequence, become the route OF the
tn ough trains to the Pacific coast. 1T
will be completed this year and will at
once enable Missoula TO secure much OF
the trade Of the Cuur d'Alene camps
and towns.
The Northern Pacific has projected O
line through the Flathead vallay TO the
fine agricultural region and the coal
fields north OF Flathead lake. which
win 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 nc
question as TO its early construction.
The Washington and Idaho line ol
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. IL the road comes TO Missoula il
will undoubtedly go on TO a junction
with the Unions old line, either at Gar.
rson or Anaconda.
The Manitoba Company, now called
the Great Northern, has determined &c
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 uI
-. LOT ts'u
Pass and down the Big Blackfoot tC
Mssoula. Another runs north by way
of the Flathead lake country and the
Kootenai valley. A choice OF route will
probably not he 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 10 be OF great
benefit TO the city. Its present suprema
cy as the distributing point OF western
Montana would not be endangered. and
the new towns that would spring uT
would only add TO the trade Of TIM
natural trade center.
THE GREAT AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES or
MIssoULA.
The valleys OF Mssoula 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 side affording homes
for thousands besides what the valley
proper will support. The soil s a rich
alluvial, producing grain, grasses, vege-
tables etc. with a minimum Of labor
and q maximum OF Yield All small
fruits, such Ms strawberries, blackber-
berries, currants, etc, as well ms apples,
pears: plums, prunes, grapes, etc, do
we'll 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 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 Stevensyille, Cor
wallis, Victor, Grantsyille. etc, up this
valley are flourishing, 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
dt 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,
1t 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
ipg 1000 pounds Of small fruits, which
found a ready SALE Oats there yielded
from seventy to eighty bushels per
acre; wheat, twenty-five to forty bushels
and the hay fields yielded an average O
two and half tons per acre. Thes
cereals find ready sale, and hay is now
bringing $50 per ton.
For further particulars write or call
npon
MCCONNELL, COOK & CO.,
l. a