The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-08-20
OPENS a NEW COUNTRY.
Something About the Country Opened by
the Great Northern Extension.

Something About the Country Opened by
the Great Northern Extension.
st. Paul Globe, Aug. 10: The depart
ure of a railway train is not always an
event Of such interest as to call fornews-
paper mention, for several hundred
trains come in and go out of st. Paul
every day. But 7:4O last night witness.
ed the Inauguration of regular daily pas
senger service on the new transconti-
mental line of the Great Northern to
Spokane, Wash, l,479 miles from st.
Paul. A few years ago the beginning of
traffic on a line of such length would
have been a matter of worldwide inter
est. To st. Paul. however, it is of su-
preme interest, because a large new ter
ritory is opened to it.
The Pacific extension proper leaves
the Great Falls, Helena and Butte line
at Havre. Mont, and uns 80 miles TO
Spokane. The Rocky mountains are
crossed through Marias pass at an ele-
walton of 500 feet, the lowest railway
crossing on the continental range. The
approach to the summit is on a grade SO
light that the average traveller is not
aware he is going up the mountains
Light grades and long tangents or curve
are common to this line, a fact which is
to have important bearing in Pacific
traffic of the future.
Careful attention has been given tc
the roadway, the cuts and fills having
width enough generally for double track
the rails are Of e,ghty-pound steel, and
the track is ballasted with rock gravel
from one end to the other, making it the
best:roadway in the west.
East of the mountains the road runs
through a range country, and bands OF
horses and sheep are seen from the cal
windows. The Sweet Grass hills are in
plain view off to the north. while the
Bear Paw mountains stand up promi
nently along the southern sky. The
first sight of the Rockies is had from
(ialata. 1O3 miles from Midvalc, at the
foot of the great range. Summit station,
instead of being on a peak, is in Il park
of several hundred acres. containing a
lake half a mile in length. whose waters
drain east and west. east down the
Marias and west down Summit creek to
Bear creek. thence to the Flathead
river. along all Of which the track has its
way in the midst Of profound scenery.
The Flathead valley. which the road
opens to settlement and development. is
the largest agricultural district in Mon.
tana. Crops are raised without irriCa-
ton, hard wheat being produced equal,
II is CLAIMED. to the Red river product
The abundance of moisture is apparent
from the large tree growth and greater
variety of vegetation. as compared with
the east side. The taniarack. which is
scarcely more than a telegraph pole IN
the Mississippi valley is a tree here SIN
TO eight feet through. and makes excel,
lent building stuff. Kalispell and Co.
lumbia Falls are the principal towns Of
the valley, the former with Loo popula-
ton, the latter with 1.00O. The valley is
well watcred with fine streams. the Flat
head river being navigable, and for many
miles above the lake is as large as t G
Mississippi at st. Paul. The Flathcad
valley is capable Of supporting a large
population, and is certain of rapid de
velopment now that it has railway facil
tiles. Coal and petroleum are among its
products, while precious metals are found
in the surrounding mountains.
West of the Flathcad valley the road
follows the valleys of several streams to
the Kootenai mining country. The HOO
tenai river is reached at Jennings,
whence steamers run to the Tobacco
Plains and Fort Steele, in British Co
lumbia. The kootcnai is a majestic
stream and is followed for sixty two
miles to Bonner's Ferry. The center OF
mining activity along the river is at Lib.
by's Creek. where bonanza mines are
said To exist. \ galena vein fifteen feet
thick has been traced thirty tive miles.
At Troy change is made from Mountain
to Pacific time. W hours slower than
Central time. Leonia, the first point in
Idaho, has "A fine mineral outlook. From
Bonner's Ferry steamers run north down
the Kootenm to Ainsworth. kasco, Mel
son and other places in a very rich min
eral district. From Bonner's Ferry. lHi
miles to Spokane, the road skirts the
Pend d'Orcille, Little Spokane and Spo,
kane rivers, entering the state of Wash
ington at Newport.
The country traversed is as vast in re-
sources as it is varied in geographical
and geological features and varieties OF
| climate, and its development means
much for st. Paul.
Mason's Fruit Jars and Stone Jars all
| sizes at the Bee Hive.