The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-18

Great Fails, but IL ID tho 10te0GlOn 10 NOW
in comprehensive way the features which
surround il and which are making very
rapidly what must become one of the great
Industrial points of tho northwest. Few
people in Montana are aware of the fact
that 81 miles north of Helena there is
coming into existence grand city. A city
that within the past nine months has
doubled in population and which at this
time is the busiest, hveliest and most pros
porous in the entire state. It is the scene
of activity whore hundreds of thousands of
dollars are being invested as the foundation
upon which will stand prominently, the
wealthiest and most substantial metropolis
of the great northwest, and few years
time will witness it as the most formidable
RIVAL OF MINNEAPOLIS
for industrial and commercial prominence.
It's natural resources, the extensive mining,
farming and stock raising and wool grow
ing country surrounding, backed by the
greatest water power vet known to the
world, give it that place which must be the
envy of the more pretentious and populous
cities west of the Mississippi or the Mis-
souri, rivers.
"Where and what is Great Falls" do you
i. ask?
It is a city of 1000 souls, lying on the
east bank of the Missouri river, near the
confluence of the Sun and Missouri rivers,
where the broad and beautiful Broadwater
bay is formed. From this great bend the
Missouri begins its mad and noisy course
TO the northeast, being the city boundary
zine, and creating grand expanse of cata-
racts and waterfalls that in twelve miles
make descent of more than 500 feet over
solid rock, and giving a water power suf-
ticient to move the most ponderous ma
ohinery used in the industrial pursuits.
THE FORTUNE OF GREAT FALLS
is in her water power, portion of which is
now being utilized for the operation of
what will be the most extensive copper and
silver smelling and refining works in ex-
istence in the United States, which will be
supplemented by other smelling and milling
plants and in connection with the monster
smelter already in operation at the Falls
CITY, will give to it the prominence as a
smelling and refining point that Swansea,
Wales, now enjoys in the old world.
The future Of Great Falls battles even
conjecture. Its present is sufficient to the
prudent and far seeing man to warrant the
belief that the most sangunine hopes will
be realized. Where is the city in the west
that can show doubling in population
within the short space of nine months On
population was 5000; nowit is 1900 and not
one less. Over LOO laborers and mechan-
les are working there at this writing
and 125 new buildings are
in course of construction. many of them
business blocks to cost from O,O0O to $780,
Mr.. Paris Gibson, the father of the city,
could not have picked out a more beautiful
location for city. He was first to foresee
the natural advantages surrounding Great
Falls and his enthusiasm over the place
when he first stepped upon it's soil in; May,
aQCOndAd i u
Col. G. A. Broadwater, who in 1884 rendered
substantial assistance and founded the city.
It was laid out with view to beauty and
convenience and its every street is wide and
every block. The city front is laid of with
park containing eighty acres along the
river bank and is covered with young trees
and luxuriant grass and has
beautiful driveway over two miles
in length and at this time lined
shade trees on both sides, forming the most
beautiful driveway possessed by any Mon
tana city. Within the past month the
city government has caused to be planted
on some of the residence streets 600 trees
and the work will be continued until every
residence block is thus adorned. Fully
TWENTY THOUSAND SHADE TREES
are now growing in Great Falls. To one
who has never visited Great Falls, it is full
of surprises. Unlike most new western
cities, its business is not all transacted on
one long street, which is practically the
case in Helena. There are at least four
business streets in Great Falls and many
of the blocks are worthy of city ten times
its size.
Great Falls is the youngest city in the
state and therefore its growth is marvellous.
Five years ago the first cabins were built
and it was really in 1886 that the town
could claim the name. Then there were
not over 100 people at Great Falls: G. NJ.
Paris Gibson. In October, 1857, the
Manitoba (now Great Northern) railroad
reached the city, and Great Falls was made
the terminus of that railroad. The con-
struction of the Montana Central to Helena
and Butte soon followed, and the opening
of the Sand Coulee coal mines, twelve miles
from Great Falls also began. Jan. l, 1883,
saw the population of the city increased to
1000, and early in that year the Montana
Smelling company was organized, and in
September go men were employed in the
construction of the smelter.
THE EXTENSIVE COAL MINES
of Sand Coulee began to produce coal in the
fall of 1883. The output of these mines is
now about 800 tons per day, and town of
GOO people is supported by the coal mining
industry at that point. Saw mills we're
soon established in the timbered sections
close to the city and Touring mill, pro-
PEELED by the water power of the Missouri,
was built. The advent of the railroad soon
brought Great Falls into prominence as a
shipping and outfitting point, and the farm
ers of tho Teton, Wolf Greek, Jud-
it'll, Marias and Sun River valleys
sold their produce at Great Falls and pur-
chased supplies. The mineral bearing sec
tions tributary to it were developed and a
market for their ores found at Great Falls,
and 20 rapidly did the mining industry as
sumo large proportions, as we'll a. the farm
ing and stockgrowing industries between
the Falls City and
THE MINERAL BEARING REGION
In the Little Beet range of the Rockies,
where the furnishing camps of Barker,
Neihart and Carbonate are now established,
that the Montana Central WAS built to
those points and are ut this writing within
twelve miles of each.
During the past year extensive railroad
operations were planned and some of them
put into execution, being the initial step
that will make Great Falls a very promi-
nent railroad center. The Gait railroad.
which starts from Great Falls and runs
north through fine farming and stock
growing area, and touches the rich Sweet
Grass hills mining district, Continuing its
course northward to the British possessions.
stopping at Lethbridge and GIVING Great
Falls direct Connection with the Canadian
Pacifc, y now being constructed and will