The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-05-11
Garden OF the Northwest.

Garuen OF the ~~OrthWcsu
Kalispell. Mont, correspondence:
In only two localities in the United
States can the Rocky Mountains be
seen from a steamboat, and both OF
these are in Montana; first on the Ills
souri, River at Fort Benton, east of tie
range, and then on the Flathead river
and lake, west of it. Surprises await
the tourist who descends into the noun
tain7girted valley of the Flathead,
where he finds everything of magni-
tude in keeping with the general feat
ures of Western Montana, where Ma
ture has created rivers, lakes, forests,
prairies, and valleys upon large scale.
The Flathead, instead OF being a shall
low rivulet da,hing down the mountain
sides, is majestic stream larger than
the Mississippi at st. Paul. flathead
Lake is the largest body of fresh water
west of the great lakes. and is but one OF
number OF pretty bodies of water scat
tered over the valley. Situated upon
the Pacific iie OF the continent, the
climate gives mild winters and fine
summers, much in contrast with the
seasons in the same parallel on the At
lantic coast. There are no billiards
nurtured forests OF pine and other trees,
not only on the mountain sides, but in
the valley itself, the timber being
interlac I'd with prairie5 which give
the country park-like appe arance re-
sembling the oak openings OF Michigan,
Ohio, AMI New York. Unlike the soil
where pine grows in other localities,
hero 1t Is rich loan and makes the best
kind of agricultural land when cleared.
Seeing is tel ewing" IS an q iaye as
old rs 1t Is true, and there are those SO
incredulous that only with reluctance
will they accept any but this kind OF
! proof. TO all such a visit to this val
ley is source of delight, and the COM
mon admission is that the half has
never been told" What change, too,
after the magnificent trip through the
Rockies, over which the railway has
con luered Iath, solid and safe, to
pass down among peaceful and attrac~
tive prairies with guilty ated fields and
gardens, and see busy towns with hun
oreds of people engaged in the pur-
suits of peace and home-seeking, where
only short time ago few indians
roamed in search of game and fish. A
few years and thousands more whites
will be here sharing the plenty indus
| try is certain to give all willing TO WOO
the earth with its tn assures OF field,
mine, forest and water.
Flathead County, formed by the last
Legislature, has an area OF I, 100 square
miles, ter. itory larger than the
| States of Connecticut and Rhode Island
| combined. The Great Northern Rail-
| way from its first station in the county
on the east to its last on the west runs
q distance of 1913 miles The Flathead
River and tributaries, with logging
waters aggregating Coz miles in length,
converge at Kalispell, and the manu-
| facture of lumber and shingles Is be-
coming an important industry. The
| principal forest trees are the cedar,
| fir, birch, pine, and tamarack, the lat
ter often attaining diameter of six
feet, instead Of being mere telegraph
| pole as In the east. 1t makes fine fur
| niture, samples Of which were seen in
| the Montana Building at the Worlds
| Fair.
There IS much that is attractive from
health giving, scenic and sporting
standpoint in this region. Snow peaks
are in view all the year round, and the
winters are seldom cold enough to close
the streams TO navigation. Lake Nc
Donald, near by, is becoming a noted
resort. Among the visitors last I'M
mer were Bishop Whipple, of Mime
sofa and Vice Pres ident Webb, of the
New York Central Railroad axes
and streams abound with trout and the
hunter has chances to look along his
gun barrel at deer and grouse. Farm
ers dis tant from town are said to build
high fences around their gardens to
keep the deer out. Skins to be seen at
stores show that bear are still to be-
found.
The mountains in al directions con-
tain precious and base metals, and in
the northern part of the county large
beds of coal and petroleum springs ex-
list. Railway surveyors have be en- over
route to this sect and also on a
line south to Anaconda and Butte.
New sources OF wealth making are Ee-
ing constantly brought to>light as set
Element progresses from the common
centers along the railway, which gives
connections between st. Paul, Mime
apol,s and Puget Sound. Much of the
country is still Government lanl, and
valuable tracts of timber and IA ming
land can be taken up under the home
stead law Two years ago the site OF
kallspeu was vacant spot on tho
prairie; now It has over 100 Ieople,
! several banks, three newspapers,
schools, churches, electric lights,
waterworks, largo Touring mill, saw
mills, business houses and excellent
hotels.
The other towns along the Greas
Northern Railway in this country are
Columbia Fails, Pleasant Valley, Jen-
nings, Troy and Libby Creek, the lat
ter being a prominent pint in the
Kootenai mining district. Jennings is
q steamer point for the Fort Steele
gold district in British Columbia.
Kalispell is county seat and division
point of the Great Northern Railway,
with two-story brick passenger depos
and Office building. The writer is UNI
der obligations t. G. +. Conrad, Presi-
dent of the Conrad National Bank,
Kalispell, Mont, for printed matter
aud other information. All applicants
and inquirers will get prompt atten-
iion from the same gentleman.