The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-10-09
KALI s p ELL
The Metropolis of North
ern Montana.
MANUFACTURING AND COMMERCIAL
Center Of the Famous Fhead Valey-The Land of Golden
Opportunities. Historical Sketches and
Mercantile Review

There are not many people who have
not heard favorably of Kalispell. But
the number of those who have studied
the causes of the remarkable growth and
development witnessed here are few as
yet. Kalispell, though practically a
young city, has long since ceased to be an
experiment, and today is recognized as
the model inland town of the north
west. The pillars upon which it's ulti-
mate prosperity is founded are Of a
most substantial character, offering the
staunchest guarantee for the city's ulti-
mate brilliant future. Strange to say
the historian has used but little ink
either examining into or describing the
history of the state of Montana or the
city of Kalispell. Why, cannot be con-
iectured. Not surely on account Of
dearth Of material for the early history
of this state abounds in legends and TO-
mances that outrival the tales and myths
of classic times. 1t is a history replete
with chivalry; of sturdy adventures;
of the Indian and his depredations and
opposition to the tread of advancing
civilization; a story of privation, starva-
tion and ultimate success; tale of men
with hearts of oak and nerves of steel,
who knew no fear, and who were the
pioneers that made the roads, dug the
trenches and made possible the glorious
future that is even now unfolding it's
wings of gold and makes this both a
haven and home for all who seek the
shelter of it's large and hospitable area;
and it is this city, so replete with every
thing that cons titutes the nucleus of
great and thriving metropolis, that we
will endeavor to pc rtray to our readers,
that they may have an idea of it's trades,
manufactures and industries, of our
prosperity and of the possibilities of the
future. In doing SO the writer will make
no pretentions to a howery flow of Ian
guage, no exaggerated assertions, but
contine himself as nearly as possible to
facts, giving statistics as they have been
gathered from the best authorities from
time to time, and in writing of these, SO
closely are we connected with the sur
rounding country that some description
must be given of that also. Therefore,
we will commence with
FLATHEAD COUNTY.
Flathead county was formerly por-
ton of Missoula county, and was formed
by an act of the legislature in the spring
of 1893, and takes its name from the
famous Flathead valley, which comprises
the agricultural portion of the county
north of the great Flathead lake. This
county is the extreme northwestern
county of the celebrated state of Mon
tana, being bounded on the north by
the Dominion of Canada, on the west by
the state of Idaho, on the east by Teton
county, and on the south by Missoula
county, and contains about 1000 square
miles of land, or, to be exact, 4,415, ATS
acres of land, and 1900 square miles of
water, making total area of $500 square
miles, of which about two-thirds are
composed of heavy forests, and about
100000 acres are under cultivation. It
has population of 10000 to I2,OC0,
people. Is per cent. of whom are within
a radius of 25 miles of Kalispell. Flat !
head valley proper (that portion above
the lake, of which this city is the COM
mercial center, is some 40 miles long by
~ miles wide, and has long been recog-
nized as not only the most beautiful but |
the most productive valley in the entire
west, and containing more natural re-
sources, offering better inducements for
investments, with better opportunities
for large and safe returns, than any
other portion of the North American
continent at this ii me, her possibilities
OF production being acknowledged to
surpass many entire states. Her indus
tries are SO diversified and the raw ma
terial for such a large number of the ar
ticles of merchandise are produced and
grown in this county that it is hard to
say which of her many productions take
the lead. However, the
PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS
OF this county are lumber wheat, oats
barley, cultivated and wild grasses, veg
etables, fruit, silver, gold. lead and cop
per, petroleum and natural gas, as well
as undeveloped coal mines. enough to
supply the state for centuries to come.
1t would be impossible to understand
from any pen picture of this greatly
portion of the state the magni-
tude of its unsurpassed possibilities,