The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-06-13
ARLINGTON TO MONARCH.
Monarch, a Mountain Queen-Her Re.
sources Vast and IneXhaustibIe-
Her Development Rapid.
With UNDATED Enterprise the Build.
ing COntinues-F0unded on a Solid
Business Basis the City on the
HighrOad to Prosperity.

When one leaves Arlington one is
gong straight into the mountains. The
large engine of the Great Northern
steanls bravely out on its uphill task.
drawing its mixed train of freight and
passengers. The trains run tri-weekly
to Monarch, where the stages for Nei-
hart and Barker are met. and each train
goes out packed to its fullest capacity.
Ricevillc is the first station passed after
leaving Arlington. \ large and hand
some frame building is being erected at
this point by Rice n Wells. About four
miles from Riccville the famous sluicc-
boxes begin. 70 passengers these are Il
never failing source of curiosity and Won
der, The Belt river is always IN
usually rapid, even for a mountain
stream but when it strikes the boxes it
becomes a raging torrent. The sluice
boxes are simply high banks of rock, ex-
tending in SOM places fifty or ever a
hundred feet above the bed of the stream.
So narrow are they that the Belt, usually
from twenty to thirty feet widc,is narrow
ed down in places to six and eight feet.
The scenery is most picturesque. The
streams broadcns in places till it is a
fairly placid rivcr.and thcnt the narrowing
banks send it of oncc moro like a race
horse, its curling foam capped waves,
dashing against huge rocks or tapping
the banks long since worn smooth. These
so called sluicc boxes extend about four
miles.
Monarch has been APPLY termed the
gateway Of the mountains. 1t is the
present terminus Of the Great Northern.
Situated in a narrow valley and hcmmed
in ON either side by high mountains the
grandeur Of its scenery alone deserves
special mention. Its people are a very
cnterprising class. Though young the
camp is already on the high road TO
prosperity. Teams constantly arriving
till the streets with people, many Of them
ranchers. who make the young city Il
trading point: still others, miners, on
their way to Great Falls intent on some
gigantic deal. their brains tccming with
ideas Of copper, silver and gold.
Monarch's mining interests ale very
valuable. Both copper and silver are
found, in strong leads and paying guam
titles. About five miles from the camp
is located an iron mountain. 1t is prob
ably the most extensive and valuable
iron deposit in Montana. just now
when the great mineral resources of the
state are in comparative infancy, the
,.A1,,, - tL;, ,,,,a,,, f,nn1y Of ,nt,pn IA.
incalculablc. Situated, as 1t is, neal in
Gates for Monarch. or its immediate vicIn-
ity, IA manufacturing plant, which may
some day furnish to the Belt mountain
region its entire mining machinery. As
yet it is wholly undevelopcd, but the
future will doubtless bring with it both
capital and enterprise and then its value
shall be appreciated and known.
Great numbering u are also
disccrnible on every side. The mount
aims are covered with trees. These val
liable are already being we'll dc
vcloped by the Hotter Lumber company,
which has "A saw-mill at the lower end Of
the camp.
The building now going on in Monarch
is an encouraging indication that bust
ness men consider the city solidly
founded. A frame business block is
being erected by Charles Nelson, agent
of the townsitc company. The building
contains three rooms and when finished
will require an investment OF Sl,SOO or
$1,000. There are also several private
dwellings Of z handsome and comfort
able appearance in course Of erection.
Lamb Bros. are among the camp :
most cntcrprising merchants. They con
duet IA general store and tn al.
Appearances do an excellent business.
The hotels are the Belt Mountain house.
the Fisher a. Martin hotel and the Rail
road hotel. all comfortable resting placrs
for the weary traveller.
The journalistic interests Of the city
are well taken care Of 10y Mr.. +, ".
Krcss, who edits the Monarch. Il spark.
ling. ncwsy four-pagc sheet, which fairly
brims over with articles uu the beauties
of Monarch and other interesting mat
tiers.
III every way the young city seems to
be doing well, 1t is well founded. well
managed and well located It's past
growth has been rapid and a period Of
solid prosperity seems now to have set
in. Its resources are vast and its pros
poets are consequently excellent.