The farmers' union., 1894-02-15
A RIVAL OF NIAGARA.
MIGHTY WATERS HARNESSED
FOR HUMAN USES.
Wonder nj Resources Of . New Region
Vast Industries Springing Up How the
Mlssouri's Swift Current 10 Utilized
Young and Promising City.
Marvels of Montana.


Great Falls, Mont, correspondence:
II was not until the return of Lewis
and Clarke from their remarkable
journey. covering two and Il half years,
to the Pacific coast. in the first years
of the century, tt at any definite knowl-
edge was obtained of the Falls of The
Missouri. The intrepid explorers spent
many months rowing ard polling their
heavy ba1teauX against the swift cur
rent OF the muddy river, which became
clearer as they lett the bluff deIo,its
of the prairies and plains and neared
the falls, above which the water is as
clean and pure As its sources of supply
in mountain springs and snow. We
wish our 81 ace would permit reprinting
the long but graphic descriptions given
Ct this wonderful series OF falls, in
Americas greatest river, around watch
the exploring part ent nearly a
month, From the highe point of Land,
$50 feet above Black Eagle Fall, on
which row sta.d, a smOkestack POO feet
high, as prominent an oh. ect a. the
Washington monument. tie top as high
above the furnaces as that noble snaft.
Lewis and Clarke looked fer the first
time over the site of the present city,
but then temporarily occupied by 4
herd of butfalos, and later. in an en-
counter with a wounded ore. Lewis
was chas ed into the water opp, site the
town, where the river is 2,SOO feet
wide, and compelled to swim to the
other >hore.
\ new edition of "The History of the
Explorations of Lewis and Clarke has
just been issued under the direction Of
Prof. Elliot. Co,,cs. of the smithsonian
Institution. It is u recital of II most i'm
portant event III our history, and
brought down to date by numerous
foot notes. 1t is dedicated as follows:
gave you the country: Lewis and Clarke
showed you the way. The rest is your own
course Of empire Honor the statesman who
foresaw your West Honor the brave men who
first saw your West May the memory of their
glorious achieveme MT be your precious heri-
tage! Accept from my cart the uudying record
of the beginning of all your greatness.
According to Eastern ideas OF calcu-
lation, this is Il very young city. but
undeniably it is one OF the most prom
ising in the West. an | is bearing out
the predictions of the exilol ers. that
an important industrial city W uld
sEr NC up here. The first settler. Hon.
Paris Gibson, an honore and still &C
tive citizen of the sturdy young giant
with over l',tU0 population and as en-
thusiastic over the Iu,ure as ever. with
much now to back up his opinions and
prophecies, broke ground for the first
house about ten Years ago. Its growth
was slow until the first railway, the
Great Northern, reached there four
years later. Now railroads reach out
III vari us dil ettions.
The reader will naturally inquire
what there is in the Northwest to make
great States and cities. Is MT this
country in the American desert the
school books used to tell about? Yes.
but the desert has since been cha-ed
hither and thither, until it is nov To-
Gated in SEOtS ;mOng the lava bei, and
high ranges of the far Southwest, and
what there is of it contain, borax. sail,
and resOu: ces of value to man, and
there is no uch thing as the Great
American Desert"
What made the older States of this
Union wealthy: Pine forests, iron ore
and copper mines supplied the raw
material upon which Northern Michi-
gan. Wisconsin and Minnesota was
built. Coal. iron and Oil made Penn
sylvania great. Corn and hogs brought
riches to Iowa and Illinois. An extract
of corn and rye distin9 uishes Ken
tucky. Wheat has given prominence
to MINI sofa and the DakOtas. and SO
on through the list.
Montana is a new State, and but lit
tie known. except as q grazing region
and producer Ct precious metals.
Stock shipments last year exceeded
$50 O.OOO worth. Herds of cattle and
ficcks of sheep are brought into this
State from the country south As far as
Texas, t, fatten on the ranges for
Ea stern markets. All the conditions
here, grass, water and climate. are
conducive to the highest development
of physical life. The State produces
horses of large lung power and endur-
ance. much sought after by the War
Depar, ment for cavalry purpo es.
Budd Dohle feeds his horses on Mon
tara hay and oats. 1t was too far west.
SO stockmen said, to raise wheat, but a
roller Touring mill with 500 barrels
daily capacity. located here, is making
high grade flour from native wheat,
and this immediate locality supports
two agricultural papers.
Those who have not been West have
little idea OF the possibilities ard ell
bow room of State like Montana. a
region larger than all of New Eng land.
ana then with country enough left
over to include several of the Middle
States.
Standing by the tail smoke stack of
the ,pper smelter. We looked down
on the mighty river. with its rapids
and cataracts. and saw waters fall with
quick descent. furnishing power to
turn wheels to crush ores. to generate
electricity. to grind flour. to make h t
fires hotter. and agreed with the
builder of the marvellous wheel at the
Worlds Fair. that where there was
such enormous water power an indus
trial city must arise. The monthly
payroll now exceeds slfo.i o. for la
Dor. and is to be largely increased.
The electrical energy possible at this
point is beyond rea >onable compre'
hension. 1t is already used in multi
form ways: To refine metals. to rur
machinery and stres t cars, to cook