The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-26
A City, tho County Seat and Center Of This
Enormous Natural Weallh-A City
Destined 20 Have a Remark
able Growth.
lpy Leased Wirc.l

lbs Leased Nire.l
CHICAGO, March s.-A recent
humber 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 thess passes the roads must
come. 1t is becoming one oil the most
important points on the Northern ia
cific system, and not only because OF the
magnitude of it's traffic. hut 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. IL will soor
he extended about forty miles further
10 the head OF the valley. The new cut
off line TO the CUur d'Alene mining
towns also leaves the main line at Mis-
soula. Running down the valley fol
about seventy-fiye miles, Of which TWEEN
ty-fye are completed. it strikes up the
st. Regis de Borgla river. crosses the
Bitter Root mountains, and comes dowr
10 Mullan. at the head OF the South
Fork Of the Cuur d'Alene river, l2'
miles from Missoua. This road, con
necied with the line from Mullan tt
Spokane Falls, already partly finished
will effect n saving Of sixty-iive miles II
distance over the present route by way
Of the Pen d'Oreille, and will. as con-
sequence, become the route of the
tn ough trains to the Pacific coast. II
will be completed this year and will al
once enable Missoula 10 secure much OF
the trade Of the Ceur d'Alene camps
and towns.
The Northern Pacific has projected {
line through the Flathead vallay 10 tn,
fine agricultural region and the Goa
fields north OF Fiathead lake. whici
viii be of very considerable help in tbs
building up Of Missoula. This roac
will he about 100 miles long ending clost
To the British boundary. There Is M
question as 10 it's early construction.
The Washington and Idaho line o.
The Union Pacific already com pleted tC
far east ms MullaD. has been located a
MissouIa, paralleling the Northern Pa
cities new line. The question Of furtheI
construction has not yet been deter
mined by the Union Pacific manage
ment. II the road comes 10 Missoula il
will undoubtedly go on TO junction
with the Unions old line, either at Gar
rison or Anaconda.
The Manitoba Company, now called
tie Great Northern, has determined tC
start from Great Falls this year for thC
Pacigc coast. The route is not yet set
tied. One survey. and the easiest foi
crossing the Rockies, takes the road uI
the Dearborn river, through Cadotte'
Pass and down the Big Blackfoot tc
Nissoula. Another runs north by way
pf the Flatbead lake country and lhe
kooienai valley a choice OF route vii
probably not he made until spring. The
building Of the road through Missoula
opening a second trunk line east and
west. would be Of enormous advantage
to the place, but even in case the north
err route is selected the development oi
fafrls 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. ant
the new towns that would spring NJ
would only add to the trade If TIM
natural trade center
TzF GREAT AGRICULTURAL RssorRcEs or
MIssoULA.
The valleys OF Missoula county are
and will continue TO be the pride al
Montana. Southeast from MissOula the
ftst,arte p.Ns1r =. 4. -
supporting a population Of hundreds oi
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 is a rich
slluyal, producing grain, grasses, vege-
tables, etc, with a minimum ol labor
and maximum Of yield. All small
| fruits. such as strawberries, blacRber-
berries, currants, etc, as well us apples,
pears; plums, prunes, grapes. etc. do
we'll and bear abundantly. The cl mate
Of 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 dis
4 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 SteyenByille, Cor
wallis, Victor. Granis lie. etc. up this
valley are tiourishing, growing places.
Sull the valley is not one fourth settled.
Patented land of the very best quality
can be bought for from ten 10 fifteen
4 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.
IL has generally Teen admitted that
The past year was the dryest ever
known, but this did not prevent the
farmers Of Bitter root valley from rails
nc 225.OO0 pounds Of small fruits. which
ound a ready sale. Oats there yielded
lrom seventy TO eighty bushels per
acre; wheat, twenty-five TO forty bushels
aud the hay fields yielded an average 0
Two aud half tons per acre. Thes
cereals find ready sale, and hay is now
bringing so per ton.
For further particulars write or call
cpou
MCCONNELL. COOK & co,
M;--.,t1. Mazt.-.