The weekly tribune., 1894-05-04
A MONTANA WATER POWER,
Great Falls Possesses the Greatest
Attractions for Manufacturing
Enterprises.
An Interesting Letter Written by
E.W. King Of Great Falls to the
Paper Trade Journal.

From the New York Paper Trade
Journal, April7:
Westward the course of empire takes
it's way" Only little while ago, 30
recently that it seems to be scarcely
more than few months, in all the vast
territory stretching beyond the Missis-
slppi river to the Rockies" barely a
suspicion Of paper manufacture could be
had. The American spirit which has
penetrated the wastes and wilds once
possessed Of savage life only, has gone
through and permeated that broad ex-
panse of country; the school house and
the newspaper have been part Of it's
progress, and culture signalizes the re-
suit by its consumption of paper. 1t is
therefore natural that we hear OF big
paper making enterprises in the western
country, and that these have become
successes 80 marked as to excite desire
for more.
1t is really only short time ago that
all of that portion of the United States
lying between the Mississippi river and
the Rocky mountains was known as the
"Great American DESERT" but since the
advent of the railway during the past
few years the various wonderful re-
sources of this section of country have
been gradually coming to light. The
gold, silver, copper, lead, iron and other
mines, the vast deposits of limestone,
building stone Gncluding granite, marble
and all kinds of sandstone), fire clay,
gypsum, asbestos and other products Of
the earth, which are being brought TO
light by the untiring search Of man,
have shown to the world that this hith-
erto unproductive region OF country is
capable OF sustaining a vcr." l-ge popu-
lation.
The rapid falling off Of buliding oper-
atoms Of all kinds in the large eastern
cities during the last few years, and the
low price of all manufactured products
has caused large amount Of money to
be withdrawn from enterprises OF this
kind, and it is gradually seeking invest
ment in the west.
This part OF the country is fast recov-
ering from the effects of recent hard
times, and the different lines of trade are
assuming their normal condition, and
while few of the more reckless specu.
lators who worked on borrowed capital
have been forced to the wall, about all
of the conservative business men and
firms are doing ss large or larger busi
ness than ever; they find collections
good, and are paying their bills promptly.
Montana is great stock raising state
and the stockmen in the past have done
a great deal to cry down agriculture,
knowing that every farmer who located
there cut off just 30 much Of their stock
range; the large crops which have been
grown on the bench lands Of that state
during the last five or six years have
thoroughly demonstrated that the coun-
try is we'll adapted to the raising of all
kinds or grains and cereals.
The large number of men employed in
the various mining camps and in the
large copper, silver, and lead smelters
makes big demand for farm products,
far in excess OF the quantity raised there,
30 that butter, eggs, potatoes, and all
kinds OF vegetables are shipped there
from the east.
Manufacturing enterprises have begun
needed, and will follow with the influx
of population. The question is imme-
diately suggested: What opportunities
exist for the development OF manufact-
ures other then the normal require.
ments Of population? This question is
easily answered. 1t is only necessary to
turn to Great Falls, Mont, for the reply.
This city is located on the Missouri
river. One Of it's greatest attractions
for manufacturing enterprises is an i'm
mense water power where, in distance
of eight miles, the Missouri rives has
fall of over 500 feet in series OF falls,
any one Of which can be developed very
cheaply. At present only one Of these
falls hae been developed, dam costing
over Sl15,800 having been thrown across
the river at what is known as Black
Eagle falls. Over 10000 horse power
daily is now utilized from this power in
running electric lights and street cars for
the city and the large copper smelter
and refining plant of the Boston and
Montana Smelling company. There is
no paper mill located at this point, but
the people of Great Falls feel that at no
distant: date such mill will be profit
able institution. The mountains near
Jr0AI T Hli6 are COV6Tou with d noaVy
growth Of spruce, which can be easily
fioated down the Missouri and Sun
rivers, and with the cheap water power
paper can be manufactured there as
cheaply as in any city in the country.
There is not paper mill in the states
of Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota,
South Dakota or Montana, and the rapid
growth of this large section Of country,
in spite Of the hard times, and the still
more rapid growth which is sure to fol-
low the development Of this vast terri
tory promise to assure the success Of a
paper mill located in central position
for supplying it.
As Great Falls is geographically in the
center Of this territory and has all Of the
advantages Of cheap water power, mex,
haustible supply Of spruce and fir and
good railway shipping facilities 1t will
naturally when ths time come Gf 1t hai
not already Gomez be large paper man
ufacturing center.
Although Montana is very largely .
prairie country there will never be lscl
Of fuel for there are thousands Of acre.
of coal lands in various parts OF th,
state. one mine within twelyee OF Grea