The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-01-11
Westward Bound.


Chicago. Then Thought we had a country
Of great distances; with two days and three
nights additional travelling have con-
cluded that this is q country Of magnificent
distances.
From Chicago nothing of special obser-
vance was noticeable until ST. Paul was
reached, except probably the CrosSingO
the "Father of Waters" which this far
north is like unto the Lehigh river at
Lehighton. 81. Paul and Minneapolis are
bustling, pushing cl,ies. II was my good
fortune and great pleasure at the latter
place to meet two Lehighton boys-Fred
Helm, who is prospering in commission
house, and Allen DollenmaYer, who has
and is making his mark as a good citizen,
enterprising and prosperous, and has at
tanned in his chosen occupation, that of a
newspaper writer, position that does
credit TO first class ability. He Is an in
cisive. able writer on the staff of the Min
neapolis Tribune Star. His reputation
and success is such that his future before
him is beyond peradventure. am graft.
fed as an old school companion TO bear
this observation and testimony as ! ac-
quired IL from people who know him In his
sphere. Mrs. Dollenmayer too is well and
as matronly as Of years gone by.
From Minneapolis came to this place,
via the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba
Railroad, soon to be known as the Great
Northwestern. This road is finely equipped
in all the aDpurtenances that pertain to
comfortable travelling. fhe managers are
courteous and friendly in ministering to
the wants of passengers. II is good line
and worthy the consideration of those who
desire to see magnificent section Of our
common country, and for such, who in the
spirit of emigration propose to wend theil
way westward to seek homes.
Soon after leaving the eastern terminus
Of this road-St. Paul the train ycm.
menees to pass through the faA 7fs
and lake region of Minnesota. A.'e-
crossing the ate border the train passes
through the far famed wheat belt of the
world-the Red River valley OF Dakota
This belt is a storehouse of wealth. es-
pecially in seasons when there is sufficient
moisture to raise full crop of the staff OF
life. In such seasons the farmers raise
from forty TO sixty bushels of A No.
hard wheat to the acre. Crops are raised
here on a scale that would make the east
ern tiller of the soil cape with surprise,
envy and astonishment. During the past
season very dry spell has interfered with
the crops and as result the garnering was
short of usual results, This, for the pres
ent, as Is natural, has somewhat affected
the usual forces OF trade and prosperity of
the Dakotas. From Dakota the state Of
Montana is entered, no;ed for its excellent
grazing purposes and for its rich mineral
deposits richer than any other similar sec
tion of country in the world in such as
gold, silver, copper, lead, etc. What Is
known as the Milk River country of Mon
tana is a Yerv fine rolling prairie, naturally
adapted to grazing, and sooner or later will
become as noted for agricultural results as
the Red River valley. Settlers ale con.
stantly going into this country and later on
its resources will become as popularlS
known as those further east. Then for the
rush. Along the entire line OF the Man.
itoba road small towns are springng up,
and from casual observance are thriving
and prosperous.
For distance of hundreds OF miles.
from the car windows cattle, sheep and
horses can be seen grazing (they call it
ranching) on these plains, 1t is no unusual
sight to see herds Of $50 and upwards in
charge of the cowboys, pursuing their
wonted way seeking sustenance in the rich
and fattening prairie grasses, 1t 10 good
business, and a paying business too. Many
of those who started in the business upon
small capital are now men Of competence
and fortune. The necessary expenditure
comparatively speaking, is small and the
returns large. Passing on we came to
Fort Assumption, the largest military post
of the government west Of the Mississippi
The next stopping place is Fort Benton, an
ola Hudson Bay trading post and the head
OF navigation on the Missouri River. Be-
fore railroads in this country Benton was
live frontier town, doing the transfer
business for the country to the west and
south. Il is said th?t during the sixties
and early seventies maAv millions Of gold
were transported over the plains, on
wagons. from placer camps, to this station
and there on boat down the Missouri to
81 81 t.,
vile Stuart, an old timer, and posse
boarded the train, with some 100000 Of
gold bullion, one months product Of the
Spotted Horse mine, on his way TO Helena.
This mine was sold last summer bv a Mr..
Meadow for 100000. Two years pre-
Yious, we were told, ths, he would gladly
have sold the same for 1900. but could
end no purchasers. Sue IL fortune.
Forty-three miles TO he southwest of
Benton is Great Falls, IN LaL. --e
plain, located on the Missouri Rive.
place Of destiny, destined at no great future
20 be a commercial and industrial centre.
II has all the natural attributes TO make il
such and II there Is such thing as nat
ural location for a great inland city, then
this town Of six years standing possesses
1t in an ample degree; coal, untold water
power, mineral wealth and future agrlcul-
tural development tributary.
The father of Great Fails, Hon. Paris
Gibson, an elegant gentleman, perceiYing
the great future possibilities Of the place,
like Peter founding his church upon the
rock, gave direction TO that which in the
future will be a monument TO his sagacitY
and foresight--a place that will hum with
industrial enterprises and bring wealth to
the man of courage, for it offers almost
phenomenal inducements 10 the manufac-