The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-25

full bearing which show the finest of ap.
pies, plums, peaches and cherries, and TIC
small fruits do equally well. 1t is be-
lieved that the Flathead will soon become
one of the largest fruit-rroducing regions
IN the northwest. It has the advantage Of
lying further east than the fruit regions
much nearer the markets. At present the
Montana markets take all that the farmers
can raise both Of fruits, vegetable and
garden truck. Dairying and hog raising
have also reached considerable dimensions.
There is a large market for butter and
pork, as is the case in the vicinity Of every
mining region.
With an estimated area of 1000 square
miles of timber in the county, it is not
surprising that the lumber industry has
made rapid development. The standing
timber includes pine, fir, cedar, spruce.
larch, tamarack and birch. One writer
puts the potential lumber output Of Flat
head county at the tremendous figures Of
10000, 100000 feet. In 1901 the output OF
the mills was about 100, 900 feet. The lum-
bering activity has but just begun.
But numbering operations will not de-
nude the hills and mountains completely.
In the northeastern part of the country
there. is large area Of the Flathead for
est reservation, while in the southeast is a
part Of the Lewis and Clarke reserve.
These reserves will be maintained intact
by the United States government for the
conservation Of rainfall and the perpetu-
alton of an equable supply of moisture.
The mineral resources of Flathead coun-
ty have scarcely been touched. Some 1000
mineral location notices have been fled
but what is this in such vast territory?
Gold, silver, copper, iron and lead are
the minerals which have been located. Be-
sides these are vast supplies Of coal and
undoubtedly rich stores Of petroleum.
There is vast opening for capital in the
development of the mines of F'lathead
county.
With superb climate, adequate rains
fall. rich soil, great supply of timber,
minerals both precious and useful, Flat
head county is destined to receive and
support very large population. The peo-i
pie will find, however, that the unitarian,
side of life is not the only one which prom-
Uses, we'll. The country is most beautiful
1t abounds in lakes and rivers which teem
with fish. There is game in the woods,
Flathead lake, the largest sheet Of water,
| in Montana, lies in the southern part OF
| the county. 1t is 80 miles long and 10 wide
and is navigated by steamers. And moro
| than all the physical delights of the region.
1t is being settled by class Of people who
will insist on good government good
schools and all the necessities of life in tts
highest sense. The people are largely men
and women from the eastern states who
| have brought a little means and a great
deal of energy, enterprise and intelligence
to the work of establishing new homes In
the west.
| The principal center Of the Flathead,
country is the city Of Kalispell, which is
rapidly taking on metropolitan airs. III
Is interesting to observe how the smaller
western cities acquire all the convent
ences- OF the eastern places before thew
| nave been established more than a few
years or reached population which
| would seem to the fastener to warrant
| the OUTLAWS involved. Kalispell, with
| few thousands of inhabitants and the pio-
| neer days still WILDLY in the recollection
of every one in the town, has paved
streets, electric lights Of the best type,
complete sewer system, waterworks capa-
BILE of supplying a city of $4,000 people, a
free public library, fire department. public
schools of the best, churches, newspaper
banks, telephone system reaching every.
part OF the valley-and SO on through tina
list Of modern urban conveniences and
requisites.
The city is at the confluence of three
rivers about twelve miles from F1atheadI
lake, and is charmingly located. In 1901
200 residences were built at cost Of
1926, 200, while business buildings costing
$4,000 were also constructed. A cold
storage plant is one Of the commercial
conveniences of the city. Last year a
plant was constructed for the supply Of
electric power at a cost of s25o.ooo. Power
is obtained from the Big Fork river and
5000 horse power can be generated.
Kalispeu is a division point on the
Great Northern railroad and derives the
usual benefits from this source. The COM
pany has constructed the so-called "pick-
ling plant at Kalispell. It is proposed to
chemically treat all the ties used on the
great system with a view to their length-
ened period Of usefulness. AS millions Of
ties can be cut in Flathead county this
promises to be one Of the large industries
q Of Kalispell. s..
Among the other towns in the county
>. are Columbia Falls, where the state soI-
diers' home is located; Libby, a promising
mining camp; Troy, Sylvanite, Dayton
! and other stations along the Great North
ern. '
> Flathead county is believed by those
l familiar with it's resources and present.
e development, to have a most brilliant fu-
S ture before it. ~,