The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-12-18


The lower valley on the east side
OF the river and lake, comprising the
territory tributary to Holt and Big
fork, possesses many natural advan-
tages. The soil is unexcelled by any
other in the county for orchard, field
and garden crops. Compared with
the central and northern parts of the
valley the rainfall is more abundant,
the summers cooler and the winters
and falls warmer, due to the nearness
Of Flathead lake. These favorable
climatic conditions render it possible
to grow a greater variety Of fruits
and vegetables, especially of the ten
derer sorts. The lowest temperature
reached at Woods bay last winter
was three degrees above zero, while
the mercury dropped to four degrees
below at Kalispell.
The building of the Jocko cutoff
with station at Bigfork will give
the nearest shipping point to Butte,
water power of the Big Fork river
can be utilized by various manufac-
turing industries. The village of Big
fork possesses many advantages as
summer resort and is the gateway
to Swan lake, which also offers great
attractions to the hunter and tourist.
There are limestone quarries and de-
posits Of precious metals near Swan
lake and large forests, valuable for
lumber, near the Big Fork river.
A detailed description of this re-
gion will be of interest to the intend
ing settler, investor and pleasure
seeker. Holt is located seventeen
miles southeast of Kalispell, on the
east bank of the Flathead river, one
mile north of Flathead lake. A
ferryboat transfers a heavy traffic
across the river. The steamer Klon-
dyke, carrying passengers and freight,
passes Holt Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays during the spring, sum-
mer and fall months The Holt storo
carries a large stock of general mer-
chandise, which is sold at Kalispell
prices. Holt has two carpenters, a
blacksmith shop and a boarding
house. Both Holt and Bigfork are
served with daily mail from Kalis-
pell.
Bigfork is located at the mouth Of
the Big Fork river, three miles south
east of Holt. There is a large gen.
eral store, drug store, barber shop,
restaurant. hotel, livery stable. nur-
sery and school house. The biologi-
located here, where a number of stu
dents and instructors spend several
weeks each summer in studying vari-
GUS forms of plant and animal life,
and in collecting material for future
use in the classroom. The Helena
Rod and Gun club has club house
and large tract of land adjoining
Bigfork On the south. The Bigfork
Electric Light & Power company util-
ICES a portion of the water power of
the river. The electricity thus gen.
Grated is conveyed by wire to Kalis-
pell, lighting the city and turning the
wheels of several factories. Bigfork
has Sunday school, Epworth league,
prayer meeting and weekly preach
ing services.
Two saloons at Bigfork and one at
Holt partly counteract these good in
fluences.
Two miles northeast of Holt there
is a Methodist church and parsonage,
school house and a blacksmith and
wagon shop.
Swan lake is narrow sheet of
water twelve miles long lying be-
tween the Mission and Kootenai mouA.
tains and drained by the Big Fork
river. The north end of the lake is
about seven miles east Of Bigtork.
The Swan lake country is a great
place for hunting and fishing, many
deer, bear, trout and whitefish being
taken each year. The south end of
the lake lies in the government for
est reserve. There are large mea-
dows of marsh hay at the head Of