The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-10-21

sert that Great Falls possesses the great
est water power in the world in volume
and in the facility with which it can be
handled to the advantage Of man.
The question then ARISES: What can
be done to utilize this vast power, and
of what utility is it without population
and without industries requiring bower
for their operation? AS to these ques-
tons 1t may be as confidently asserted
that population is coming plenty fast
enough, as is shown by the fact that a
city OF ten thousand ha, grown up here
IN period of about five years As to
the rest, we can easily foresee the day
when the river below the falls will be
lined on both sides by vast manufactur-
ing plants of all kinds. The products of
which will be in demand by the dense
population which will inhabit the fertile
and now untouched regions of this north
western country. Far greater than the
iron and steel industries that have made
Pittsburc world famous. will be the iron
and steel works operated in Great Falls
Untold numbers of men will be en-
Ployed here in the reduction of the pre-
cious metals and in the manufacturing
OF copper and lead into their commercial
forms. Glass of every kind will be made
mere because the materials are at hand
Tor It's fabrication in unlimited quanti
ties and of quality not excelled in the
world.
a very large part of the water power
Will IN time be devoted to the production
of electrical power for the propulsion of
all kinds of machines in minor manu-
factories, the running of street cars and
other conveyances, the lighting Of streets
and houses. and the heating of build
ings. Great Falls already appreciates
the Importance Of this in the cheapness
of the electric lighting she now enjoys.
and in the Fact that her elegant street
cars running for several miles in all direc
tions are at the disposal of her citizens
at cent fares. The possible develop
ments of these facilities are absolutely
boundlesS with this enormous water
power at our doors. and there is no i'm
aginati0n sufficiently fertile to draw an
adequate picture of the future of city
SO blessed in advantages. and surrounded
on every size by productive soil and all
the crude and precious minerals which
are necessary for her steady and pcrma-
nent growth.
While 1t is Il fact that most inland
cities which have grown to any size owe
their development to one or two things
1t is safe tn say that Great Falls will
command at least a score of the greatest
avenues leading to wealth and fame for
the metropolis. In no other place on
earth exists combination consisting of
all the natural elements in the way of
minerals, and coal for their reduction.
power for their manufacture and the
facilities and soil for raising the bread
and other food products to support the
population engaged in these industries.
ln no other place on earth is there to be
found combination of these natural
advantages in the least degree approach
ing those Of Great Falls. The iron
ore deposits Of every kind exist in end
less abundance almost at the gates of
the city. The coal deposits equally in
eXhaustible are so near that the price of
coal here is lower than in almost any
other part of the world. While gold,
silver lead and copper are brought to
her smelters for reduction. and vast
works for their refining are being erect
Ell. mills are being built for transforming
the grain OF the surrounding country
/ into bread stutfs.
Hand in hand these great industries
will progress together one aiding in
building up the other. and each doing lis
part to render the city great ard pros
porous,
Many people have been misled respect
ing the climate of this section Of the
country, and when they are told that it
is land of sunshine with more delight
fully pleasant weather within year
| than is found on any other part of the
globe. they can scarcely believe that the
| assertion is true. People who have
lived here IA few years can all bear wit
ness that this is the simple fact without
| eNaggeratiOn or without drawing upon
the imagination.
10 the east. north and south of Great
Falls will grow up the great populations
OF tins region. and this city will be the
center "f one million inhabitants 10y the
close uf the present century. by the
year 1910 the city of Great Falls itself
Will contain population of over one
hundred thousand souls, who will have
one Of the most thriving, enterprlsing
and magnificent cities IN America. The
surrounding country while containing
many small towns will be succession of
splendid farms and country homes. and
the whole country will be transformed
into IA garden of lOveiness supporting
one of the most happy, contented and
prosperous populations on the globe.
Some people may regard this as gilt
tering prediction, but the facts will more
than bear II out because the elements
for tins great growth are here. The
processes of fructiication and develop
ment are already at work. The leavrn
ing power of enterprise and progress is
already strongly felt, so that the result
cannot be otherwise than a revelation
and a surprise to all who live to see that |
day. The entire realization of all that |
the tribune prophesies will not be !
more astounding than what has already |
appeared in the history of Great Falls, !
and this prophesy is well within the
bounds of the probable.
Where then should the capital of
Montana be built: Where. indeed. eX-
cept in the city possessing such mag
niticent possibilities for the future. such
evidences of present stability and sue
cess, and such a certainty of being the
metropolis of one of the most productive