West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-12-31
BEAUTY IN A DESERT,
How One Persons Persistence
Transformed Great Falls.
M0NTANA'S FINE PARK CITY.

Trains Run Through Avenue Of Trees
to Vine Covered Railroad Station.
Paris Gibson's Enterprise In start.
ing Its Parking System
Great Falls, Mont, has several points
Of distinction that can bo copied by
other towns and might well excite the
envy of the largest cities. The success.
sion Of cascades through which the
Missouri river flows I'm passing It's site
affords the town an aggregate availa.
Die water power greater than any 9th.
er In the country. These falls, togeth-
or With the Giant springs, comprise one
OF the wonders Of the west, but their
beauty, like that OF Niagara, is des.
tined TO gradual destruction ms the an.
plication of the water TO commercial
purposes extends. In educational IN.
cillties this comparatively small town
Is rich, and II contains nineteen church
es, being one 60 every thousand OF It's
population, which is proportionally
twice as many ms Chicago has and two
and half times the number possessed
I'm New York
But the feature I'm which Great Falls
takes the greatest pride and that which
justiles It's claim to being the most
beautiful city OF the northwest IS Its
parking system, says the Craftsman
for November. After passing through
hundreds Of miles OF trcelcss country
the wcstbound traveller comes with de
lighted surprise upon this orderly III.
tie town I'm It's leafy setting. The rail.
road station and yards, which are usu-
ally the ugllcst part OF new settle
mcnt, here have been converted into n
place OF beauty The train runs
through an avenue OF trees and depos.
Its one at vine covered building that
Is In striking contrast to the usual
grimy structure. The approach to the
station on the town side Is rendered
attractive by well kept grass plots and
flower beds, through which are broad
carrlagcways.
This APPROACH Is but an introduction
TO the sylvan beauty OF Great Falls
Extending along the river front IL the
principal park, It's natural loyellhess
enhanced by well tended lawns and
artificial lakes This wealth OF wood.
land I'm the desert IS strongly signIf.
cant Of the spirit Of hOmemaking. aud
the tree lined streets. with their pretty
Villas set on tcrraced grass plots, seem
TO extend silent welcome 10 the strnn.
ger
II Is only In the present generation
that the idea Of raising trees on dry"
land was seriously considered and put
Into practice. Great Falls was plo-
ucer in the movement. II has no prec-
edent 10 encourage or guide Il, but II
has definitely solved the problem and
proved that a desert city may be made |
as beautiful and comfortable as any
situated in the humid states.
twenty-five years ago. when Paris
Gibson and his family migrated from
Minneapolis to Montana, the land upon
which Great Falls now stands was
barren tract OF sand. thlnly covered
with buffalo grass aud patches OF sage
brush For miles iu every direction
the country was devoid OF human habi-
tation, except perhaps the rude shelter
OF sheep herdcr on the solitary shanty
OF a squatter.
II was from the park system Of MIN.
neapolis that Gibson derived the In
spiration which prompted him 10 at
tempt tree planting I'm bis new home.
He brOached the subject 10 his fellow
settlers but they treated his sugges.
tion with dcrision. Tho thing had
nevcr. been done; therefore II could not
be. This attitude they maintained un-
ill 10 was absolutely proved TO he err
roncous, and several years elapsed be.
fore the effort Of this one individual
developed into municipal movement
Failing 10 find sympathy or support
for the enterprise among his fellow
iowusmcn. Gibson determined 20 I'm. |
derfakc alone what he believed could |
and should Doc done for the benefit OF |
The infant city. REGARDLESS OF the |
gibcs Of skeptics Gibson planted n |
number Of young trees upon the ground |
along the river. covering tract which
Is now included I'm Margaret and Whit.
Tier parks Hc bore unaldcd the ex-
pensc and care OF looking after the
young shoots, and many cynical Jest !
was aimed at the cumbrous tank wag-
ons that laboriously supplied them /