Connecticut western news., 1891-09-10
OUR MONTANA LETTER.
EDITOR NEWS {:

EDITOR NEWS:
 This week Great Falls presents even a hvelier appearance than usual, as the race meeting of the North Montana Fail Association is being held here. The last meeting was held few days ago al Butte, and about hundred trottine and running horses are now quartered in the commodious stables at the Fail Grounds. This is the first year these grounds have been open, and the mile track stretches out as level and smooth as anyone could wish. Notwithstand- ing its newness, it is said to be one of the best and fastest tracks in the North west.
 One of the pleasantest features of the meeting is the presence here of the Boston and Montana Band, from Butte, composed of employees of those inn mense works which own mines and smelters at Butte are erecting their own plant here, and best of all. pay large dividends. The dividends for the half year ending July 1st were about $1S9OO0 The band is pre sminently the finest in the state-indeed, in the Northwest-and. their concerts, in the evenings after the races. on Broadwater Bay, with accompanying fireworks, make pleasant recreation for lovers of fine music.
 Saying that Great Falls is "livelier than usual," means good deal. For though the whole country has been suf- fering from the close money market and dull times. have noticed, myself, and heard many travelling men say, that Great Falls was the livsliest town they had seen this year. When one sees the building going on here he begins to wonder. and all that is doing is of 2 permanent character and is to supply an immediate want. The First Nation al Bank Building, costing S15O, 900 tho Tod Building, costing $10O,00O ; the new Opera House, designed by the fla nous opera house architect, Cobb, cost ing between $50. 900 and s75, 900, which, according to the plans, all of which l have personally examined, is to far sur pass any Opera House in Hartford, Springfield, New Haven or any of those towns around, which are from five to ten times as big as Great Falls-these show the permanent style of improve ments, all being built of stone, with all modern conveniences. These are only a few of the actual new buildings. Among others costing upward of $5O.- 900 may be mentioned the Cory Block, the Wilcox Block and the new School House., i've already hsve one which cot fully $50 900. j. Lk<
 These buildings, which are far enough toward completion to warrant it, have their stores and offices engaged in ad- vance, and it. sis a difficult matter to find asrS8dncs t6 rent in town Compare with Helena, about twice our size, with over six hundred vacant houses, and one laughs at the people who say Hele- na even has 8 fighting show to keep ahead of ..The Falls."
 Turning from the huildings te the streets one sees strings of trail-wagons, from two to six in s string, each drawn by from four-to twelve horses, and load ed with wool coming in to hes sh1pped east. Last year there were shipped from this one point over three million pounds of wool. This years clip has not all come in but it Is unusually hne Anaelsan. s These teams go beck to the lanchss loade,l with supplies of ell kinds, -four, groceries, .bafbed vire and hardware.
 On the bench lands near here I have seen crops of wheat yielding from 40 to 60 bushels per- acre, and oats over 100 bushels. This year no irrigation was needed on account of the unusual rain- fAH. but canslsare in process of cor- struction for this purpose in all direc- tions, and then no matter if there is no rain, good crops will come j; for with ir- rigation farmer is better off with Eo rain at all Re can water hls crops when they need it, and give them as much as they need. Then if he has no rain he barvests without mildew and rust and with no fesr of his crops being ruined just when he thinks everything is just right Unquestie nably if were to go in for farming would choose an irrigating country. sGE4 azi5
 Ihope before long to take ride out through the coal district at Sand Con- lee, twelve miles from here on through the Belt Mountain gold, silver, lead and copper mines, to the famous Judith Ba- sin, where, among other prosperous farmers and ranchmen, the Bower Bros have their large sheep ranch. They are relatives of Mir. Bower, of Salisbury. who can tell of their success in that line. When I have seen that section I shall try and give you some idea of that, too. 9. Very Truly Yours,
 s. B. ROBBINS.
 Great Falls, Mont, Aug IS, 1891.
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