The weekly tribune., 1893-05-26
AN ESSAY ON Us.
Great Falls the Theme OF Writer
in the Omitted States In
veStOr'
His Facts Are Startling, but His
Story Is True-A Beauty
Spot.

May 20 Presumably it was written by
some resident Of this city who was com
peting for the prize offered by the In
vevtor, and it appears among the prize
essays. The writer says:
Great Falls is our theme. Her beauti-
full environments her marvellous growth,
her mighty water power, her rich and
varied mineral deposits and her vast ex-
tent of tributary agricultural lands, all
unite to hasten the day when she shall
occupy the proud position of the metro
politan city of the northwest.
Situated at the confluence of the Sun
and Missouri rivers, with the towering
crests of the Highwoods on the east,
the beautiful Belt range encircling the
city like distant valation on the west;
the lofty white peaks of the distant
Rockies far up the Sun river valley, to-
gether with the Black Eagle, Rainbow
and Grea. Falls close at hand, render
this truly beautiful location.
Entranced with the wondrous beauty
VI hCi Si'S' We cSuIciy uiui NCi ut thC rap
idity of her growth. Where six years
ago, the prairie dog and the coyote dug
their holes unscared, today there stands
a city of twelve thousand people-cos-
mopolitan in haracter-radical in pro-
gress. Already five railways radate in
as many different directions, and an
other is under construction.
Over two millions of capital is en-
ployed by her banking institutions.
Thirty miles Of electric street railway
and over four thousand electric lights
are in daily use. Her sewer system and
water supply are unexcelled.
There are nine fine school structures.
and fo!ty-three teachers are employed
for the instruction of LOO pupils, at an
annual outlay of 100000 Sixteen large
and handsome church editices already
grace the city. Completeness would re-
quire a description of her mammoth
saw mills. planning and Touring mills,
ner smeters and electric works; her
railway depots, handsome office build
ings and business blocks; her newspapers
parks, hotels, opera house and public
Libraries, but space limits but mere
mention.
No one can mistake the cause of this
growth. The immensty of her
WATER POWER
is stuperdous. Within her limits the
great Missouri makes descent of nearly
300 feet in several separate and distinct
falls. At each Of these the whole force
OF the river may be utilized, returned to
the stream, and the whole again used at
the next fall. Thus, by combination
OF natural advantages, a power may be
generated, thrice as great as Niagara's--
power sufficient to drive the machinery
OF all the mills and factories in the |
United States. A dam constructed at |
Black Eagle Falls develops 30 $40 horse
power, leaving undeveloped 35,235
horse power. This is the power of but |
one fall, yet it exceeds, by 10000 horse
power, the entire developed and unde- |
veloped power Of the cities of Lowell |
and Lawrence. Rochester and Manches- |
ter, Holyoke and Minneapolis, together |
with the proposed 10000 horse power |
development at Niagara.
Water power is mighty factor in the |
growth OF city. TO its potent inuflen-
Geo the great manufacturing cities of
the east owe their stability and growth. |
Minneapolis is one of its outgrowths. |
What, then, must be the destiny of |
Great Falls, with her vastly superior
power?
Nor with water alone has she been |
favored. Cheap and abundant fuel sup
plements this power: 300 square miles
OF coal lay at her gates. Mines scarcely
two years in operation produce 100000
tons annually. Fully developed, their
output would average 6,0O0O00 tons per
year. This is bituminous coal, good
coke producer, an excellent steam gener-
ator, well adapted to domestic use, and
an uhequaled smelling fuel Already,
the vast and rich deposits of gold and
silver, copper and lead contiguous to
Great Falls necessitate the ceaseless
operation of two of the largest smelters
in America. Experts pronounce the
district surrounding this city
THE RICHEST KNOWN MINERAL REGION IN
THE WORLD.
On every hand lie millions of tons of sill
yer, copper, and lead bearing quartz.
Many rich placers abound New discov.
cries are made almost daily Old mines
once abandoned being worked
anew, to the enormous enrichment of
their owners.
The metals alone are not the only
treasures the earth yields up. Beautiful
building rock of all colors and kinds
abounds in great quantities. "Clay
awaits the hand Of the potter, and sand {
the blower of glass" Beds of e-brick
and fire-clay, deposits of iron ores, and
mineral paints exist in inexhaustible /
quantities. {
Hergreat mineral resources must, how
ever, pale in comparison with the
illimitable treasures her fertile soil must
produce. Great Falls is the center of =,
rich and fertile district, whose virgin soil
produces enormous crops of every de- a
scription. While portions require irriga- 4
tion, the greater part does not Nothing s
can prevent this section from becoming q
one OF the greatest wheat growing coun
tries on the face of the globe.
Nature has endowed us richly Blessed
with mild and healthful climate, en-
vironed by country of unsurpassed fer s
tility, possessed of the mighti,st water |
power in America, contiguous to the d