The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-15
a Great March Flood--Thou-
sands of People Seeking
Homes, Are Attracted to
Missoula by Its Won
derful Resources.
A County With the Finest Agri-
rIcultural ValleyS---The
Best Mines and the
Largest Forests in
All Montana.
A City. the County Seat and Center Of This
Enormous Natural Wealth. city
Destined Ia Have a Remark
able Growth,
NV Iensed Mirc.l

CHICAGO. March S-A recent
number OF the Arkansaw Traveller
contained the following article regarding
an important railroad center of Montana:
Mssoula is destined to become a 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. II is becoming one OF the most
important points on the Northern IA
cific system. and not only because OF the
magnitude Of its traffic. but as II basis
Of operations for the building OF new
lines. The Bitter Root Valley branch
DIVORCES here and runs up the valley iif-
teen miles 10 Grantsdale. II will soon
he extended about forty miles further
to the head of the valley. The new cut
off line to the Cour TAlene mining
towns also leaves the main line at Mis-
soula. Running down the valley for
about seventy-tive miles, of which TWEEN
ty-tive are completed, it strikes up the
st. Regis lie Borgla river, crosses the
Bitter Root mountains, and comes down
TO Nullan. at the head OF the South
Fork of toe Cuur d'A,ene river, 10
miles from Missoua. This road, con
nected with the line from Mullan TO
Spokane Falls, already partly finished,
will effect saving OF sixty-liye miles IN
distance over the present route by way
of the Pen dOreille, ana will, rs CON
sequence, become the route OF the
through trains To the Pacific coast. 1t
will be completed this year and will at
once enable Miss oula 10 secure much OF
the trade OF the Cwur d'Alene camps
and towns.
The Northern Pacific has projected a
line through the Flathead vallay to tho
fine agricultural region and the coal
fields north of Flathead lake, which
will be of very considerable help in the
l,uilding ..b Of Missoula. This Ioud
will be about $50 miles long ending close
10 the British boundary. There Is no
question us to IFS early construction.
The Washington and Idaho line OF
the Union Pacific already completed as
far east as Mullan, has been located 10
Missoula, paralleling the Northern Pa
ciiic'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 Missnula II
will undoubtedly go on 10 IA junction
with the Unions old line, either at Gar
risou or 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 moi yet sci
tied. One survey, and the easiest for
crossing the Rockies. takes the road up
the Dearborn river, through Cadotte's
Pass and down the Big Black,oot 10
Missould. 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 "A second trunk line east and
west. would be of enormous advantage
10 the place, but even in case the north
crn route is selected the development Cf
farms and mines and lumber in the
northern part of Mssoula county that
would follow could not fail 10 be OF great
benefit TO the city. Its present suprema-
cy as the distributing lont Of Western
Montana would not he endangered, and
the new towns that would spring up
would only add 20 the trade of this
natural trade center.
THF GREAT AGRICULTURAL REsorECrs OF
MIssoULA.
The valleys OF Missoula county are
and will continue 10 be the pride of
Montana. Southeast from Missoula the
famous Bitter Root valley is capable Of
supporting population Of hundreds OF
thousands from agriculture alone. Lat
..ss
ranges on either eide. airorling homes
for thousands besides what the valley
proper will support. The soil is rich
alluvial, producing grain, grasses, vege-
tables, etc. with minimum of labor
and maximum Of yield. All small
fruits, such MS straw berries, blackbcr
berries, currants, etc. rs well as apples.
pears, plums, prunes, grapes, etc, do
well 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
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 Stevensville, Cor
wallis, Victor, Grani6Illle, etc. up THIS
valley are hourishing. growing places
Sill the valley is not ono fourth settled
Patented land Of the very best quality
can be bought for from ten 10 fifteen
q liars per acre all ready for the plough
Water for irrigation can he had any
where. On each side OF the valley the
mountains are full Of miners and pros
pectors. thus assuring a good market at
every door,
1t has generally teen admitted that
the past year was the dr,est ever
known. but this did not prevent the
farmers Of Bitter root valley from rails
ing s2j0OO pounds u small fruits, which
found a ready sale Oats theie 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. Thesf
cereals find a ready sale and hay is now
bringing $40 per ton.
For further particulars write o. call
npon
MCCONNELL. COOK q co,