The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-16
A Great March Flood--Thou-
sands of People Seeking
Homes, Are Attracted to
Missouia by Its Won
derful Resources.
A County With the Finest Agri-
rlcultural ValleyS---The
Best Mines and the
Largest Forests in
All Montana.
A CITY, the County seat and Center Of This
Enormous Natural Wealth = CTS
Destined TO Have 4 Remark
able Growth.
lBy Loascl Wire.1

lBy Loascd Wire.l
CHICAGO. March S.-A recent
number Of the Arkansaw Traveller
contained the following article regarding
an important railroad center Of Montana'
NissouIa is destined 10 become a great
railroad center. She cannot escape ths
destiny. lier situation commands the
passes through the Bitter Root and
Beaverhead ranges of mountains, and
through thess passes the roads must
come. II is becoming one ol the most
important points on the Northern Pa.
ciHc system. and not only because Of the
magnitude of It's traffic. but as basis
of operations for the building of new
lines. The Bitter Root Valley branch
diyerges hero and runs up the yulley iii
teen miles 10 GrHntsdale. 1t Will soon
lie extended about forty miles further
10 the head Of the valley. The new cut
of line to the Cpur dAlene mining
iuEns also leaves the main line at Mis-
FonlA. Running down the valley for
about seventy five miles, ol which TWEEN
tyfve are completed, it strikes up the
ST. Regis de Borga river, crosses the
Bitter Root mountains, and comes down
TO Mullau. at the head of the South
Fork at the Cuur dAlene river, i2j
miles ftom Missoula. This road, con-
nected with the Inc from Mullan ia
Spokane Falls. already partly finished
will effect saving of sixty iivo 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
through trains to tho Pacific coast. Ii
will I've completed this year and will al
once enable Miaoula TO secure much Of
the trade " the Cnur d'Aleno camps
and towns.
The Northern pucilic has projected a
line through the flathead vallay Ca the
fne agricultural region and the coal
feds north Of Flatbead 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
quest ion as 10 its early construction.
Tho Washington and Idaho line OF
the Union Pacific already completed as
far east rs Mullan. has been located 10
Missoulu. paralleliug the Northern Pa.
ci0c'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 10 a junction
with the Unions old line. either at Gar
rlson ur Anaconda.
The Manitoba Company. now called
the Great Northern. has determined 10
start from Great Falls this year for the
Pacigc coast The route is not yet set.
tod. One survey, aud the easiest for
crossing the Rockies. takes the road up
the Dearborn river. through Cldottc' 5
Pass and down the Big Blackfo)t 10
Missoula. Another runs north by way
uf the Flathead lake country and the
Kootcnai Wiley A choice ~ route will
probably not be made until spring. The
building OF the road through Missoula.
opening second trunk line east and
eest. would lie Of cLormous advantage
10 the place. but even I'm case the north
ern route is selected the development cf
farms and mines and lumber in the
northern part OF Missoula county that
would follow could not fail 10 bo Of great
benefit to the city. lis prese nj 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.
TgIE GREAT AGRICULTURAL REsorRCFs OF
MIssotLA
The valleys Of Missoula county are
and will continue 10 be the pride Of
Montana. Southeast from Mssoula the
famous Bitter Root valley is capable Of
supporting population of hundreds OF
thousands from agriculture alone. Lat
eral valleys penetrate the mountain
ranges on either eide. arordng homes
for thousands besides what the valley
proper will support. The soil is rich
alluvial, producing grain, grasses, vege-
tables. etc. with minimum or labor
aud maximum Of yiold. All small
fruits, such ns straw berries. blackber
berries. currants, etc. as well as apples.
pears; plums, prunes, grapes. etc. do
well and bear abundantly. The climate
or the Bitter Root valley is noted for
mildness and the seasons open some
months earlier than further south and
cast. Farmers find no trouble IN ds-
posing of all they can raise for cash. and
nj good prices. as the miners require
more than can he supplied with the
present farming population and meth
ods. The towns II Steycnsyillc Cor
wallis. Victor. Grantsgille. etc, up this
valley are tourishing. growing places.
Still 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 Tor irrigation can be had any
where. On each side uf the valley the
mountains are full of miners and pros.
pectors. thus assuring a good market AZ
every door.
ii has generally leen admitted that
the past year WIS the dBest ever
known. but this dil not prevent he
farmers Of Bitter rool valley from rails
ing -25o0 pounds NJ small fruits. which
found ready sale. Oats there yielded
from seventy 10 eighty bushels per
acre; wheat, twenty-five to forty bushels
and the hay fields Welded an average o,
two and half tons per acre. Ihes
cereals find a ready sale, and hay is now
bringing s20 per ton.
For further particulars write nr call
npon
MCCONNELL. COOK & co.
Miseou1a Mortana