The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-14
Marvellous Growth OF a Pace
Which Was Only Started
Last May,
Railroad Trains Are Expected to lie Run
ming There by Chrlstmns--Some
Notes of Interest.
Correspondence Of Tnn INDEPENDENT

u sNsAN ~ 49, - NNE"E
Gus streams are skirted with choicest tim.
Der and the mountains surrounding th,
valley are teeming with mineral wealth
The Flathead valley is one OF the few sec
tions of the great northwest whore irriga,
ton is wholly unnecessary. The rainfall
here ia equal to that Of any of the eastern
states. but the showers are not accompanied
by violent wind storms. 30 destructive te
crops as to overcome the beneficial effects
Of the moisture. Everywhere that grain
has been sown the yield has been abund.
antly large. To see the Flathead valley j.
to be impressed with it's wonderful posi-.
bilities. The fact that 30 many people are
seeking homes here is ample evidence tl
sustain the foregoing statement.
Every locality must look to one center.
There must of necessity be one receiving
and distributing point, and it ia a we'll,
known fact that such points are chosen BY
tho railroad companies upon which a COM
mnnity is dependent for transportation.
Kalispell has been chosen by the Great
Northern as the division point where all
interests of the railroad for this section OF
the country will be conferred. Repair
shops, round-houaes and extensive switch
yards will be put IN. This place affords a
natural yard, which need only be surfaced
to be available. A space one hundred feet
wide and nine blocks long has been pre-.
pared here for immediate use. The right
of-way through own is 600 feet wide. The
townsite of Kalispell was selected to suit
the demands of q railroad division point,
and not rs a speculative proposition. The
Great Northern is constructing its line
about three miles south of a direct course
across the valley to avail itself of a level
spot where no grade is encountered by ar
irving or departing trains.
The growth Of K%alispell has been mar
velous to say the least. The first building
was not erected until last May, and now
over 400 structures loom up. A census just
taken, as n of the preliminary step to-
ward incorporation, shows a population of
800, and by the first OF January this will
be swelled to over 1000. Many people who
have acquired interest here. and who have
selected this as q future home, are awaiting
the completion of the road to this point be-
fore settling permanently, SO it will be seen
that the census does not show the entire
population. The reason that but little is
known Of Kalispell throughout the country
is due to the fact that the railroad company
decided not to advertise until it gets in
shape to handle the tratfic-passenger and
freight-that an influx of people would
create. The Northern Pacific has reaped a
harvest from the opening of the Flathead
country.
Every line of business is represented here,
and the merchants are enjoying a good,
healthy trade. Three banks are doing bust
ness-First National, Globe National Of Kali
ispell and Conrad Bros bank-with an ag-
gregate capital stock of $4,000 Lumber
mills. shingle and lath mills. planning mills.
brick yards and various other industries
are in successful operation. The principal
logging streams of this section converge at
the very edge of the townsite, where booms
tamarack, cedar and ether species of trees
abound along the streams. To the west
are the Kootenai mountains, where valu-
able prospects a been located, which
with the railroad will develop into rich pro-
ducers. These ores must of necessity be
treated here, because. it is absurd to think
that it would pay to haul several carloads
of ore up hill to treat one car of ore. and
then haul the product of the smeltsrs down
hill again, when the ore can be SEN down
grade to the fuel with q great saving of
time and expense. A bright future lies be-
fore the Flathead valley, n as Kalispell is
the geographical center as we'll as the rail
road center she will be the metropolis Of
the valley.
A free ferry is now in operation across
the Flathead just east of town, where lies
the richest g ain fields of the valley, thus
!lacing the p oducts ut our very door and
affording tho farmers a railroad market.
The track been brought down to the Flat
head river, just inside of BID Rock canyon,
about twenty miles distant from here. A
slight, but not a serious, delay was ccca-
stoned by an accident which CARRIED away
one span of the bridge, but a temporary
truss is being put in and a construction
train will cross within d few days SO that
the track may be pushed to this place,
,uInrn ,r,,,1 rriJ1 - nr,~-a-lo1 g. 49, .-.--
ter. There is but little doubt that the iron
horse will come snorting into h%alispell by
Christmas. All reports to the effect that
operations would be suspended east of here
are absolutely false.
Kalispell has a board Of trade composed
Of its best citizens, with the following Off
GERS: President, James +. Vogt; treasurer,
George M. Huffaker; secretary, FL. j.
Mock.
At the election held Saturday the school
trustees of this district were empowered to
emove the school house from Ashley to
k%alispell.
A concern backed by the Thompsou-
Houston company has made overtures to
the townsite company TOWARD securing the
electric light and power franchise. They
mean business, and il ia within the range
Of possibilities that work on a plant may
be commenced by the first of the year.
Sidewalks have been laid in the principal
streets.
One by one the business houses of De-
mersyille are being moved to Kalispell,
The Flathead bank was moved up Monday,
and is now doing business under the style
of the Globe National bank.
A meeting of the board OF trade will be
held to-night to take the initial steps to-
ward ON sort OF Il celebration when the
first train comes rumbling into town.
There is very little indication of winter
as yet. Only a slight snowfall has oc-
CURED. The mercury has not dropped suf-
t~ciently to interfere with excayatinp or
bricklaying.
Special Agent Leach, of the general land
Office, made a tour OF the valley to ascer-
tain the views of the people with regard TO
appropriating a portion Of the valley to the
use of the American Forestry association,
Too many reservations have already been
MADE and it would be Il serious matter to
set aside any more to the exclusion OF set
tiers. When Agent Leach left for Helena
he had Il pocketfull of protests. The for
esta of this section will prove important
factors il the development Of the country,
1t would be just as absurd for a western
society to ask the government to set aside q
few states like Khode Island and Connect.
cut for experimental purposes. The special
agent entertalns the proper view of tht
matter and his report will be adverse.
~ ~.
1t Thawed Out and Exploded.
DENVER, Dec. IA land slide yesterda,
covered a portion of the Rio Grange tract
with hundreds of tons of rock and earth
Workmen in clearing the debris resorted t.
the use of giant powder. In attempting IL
l r. yv ~-A p-.n,~ 80 H. - -a----- r II