The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-03


A Macedonian cry to tho Methodism
Of the east has been made Ivy the
Rev. Oscar \. Whit, district superih-
tendent of the Kalispell district.
north Montana conference. Methodist
Episcopal church. II is an appeal for
workers In n great field" His letter
Is an interesting contribution to cur
rent religious literature, and follows:
"Twenty-eight years ago tho writer
left Kansas City for the west. During
these years he has lived and Travelled
In nearly every state and territory he
tween Kansas City and tie Pacific
coast 1t was I'm the west that he was
converted. received his eXhorter's IL
cense. local preachers license. acade-
rnlc. college and theological educ ltion,
ard united with the annual conference
&C the Methodist Episcopal church
During these years he has observed
many things. He has seen the desert
change into fields uf waving grain.
The homes of the jackrabbit, prairie
dog ard tn. coyote have been sup
planted by villages. towns and cities.
In many instances Christian civili+
zation. culture and refinement have
taken the place of lawlcssness ana in
teliectuai and moral degradation. But
nowhere. in his judgment. has he seen
opportunities opening up for the de-
vclopmcnt of the wealth Of the conn
try and Of Christian work exceeding
those found I'm the northern part of the
state of Montana.
Leading Industries.
Within the bounds of the ka'ispen
district. embracing an area of more
than 10000 square miles, there are
found five of the leading industries
that constitute important factors in
building strong and healthy COM
monwealth. namely, agriculture, stock
raising. mining. horticulture and lum-
herring. There are now more thaa 40
sawmills operating In Flathead county
alone Agriculture is fast taking the
place of stock raising. There are al
most unlimited sources of water power
in the western part of the district.
capable of providing power for vast
establishments. These
are attracting capitalists
who are considering opportunities for
Investments.
Homes in Wilderness.
Others with limited means are com /
ing To make their future homes. Ac-
ton has already been taken by the /
government for opening up three In
dian reservations for settlement in j
the mar futrra- the For, Deck. Black
feet and the Flalh, ad: the latter
opened this summer These lands for
the most part are very productive. All
will provide homes for thousands of
families.
~ large irrigating enterprise IN the
eastern part of III. district l. now he
Ing projected This, when completed.
will bring 10000 aCres of productive
Iand under water. AMI will provide
homes for 1000 families.
Five Years Growth.
This Increase in population together
with a corresponding growth in the
cities and towns will be accomplished
within five years
The construction of this artificial
waterway. together with the accom-
panying dams. will cost $4,000, 600.
ready been completed and the work
is being pushed as rapidly as possible.
The government is back of this
project with sl.5co.OeO. The agrlcultu-
raj lands in the western part of the
district are being reduced to smaller
holdings for horticultural purposes.
Christian Work New.
Tie pgadn of t'is industry sfe
ALREADY taking first rank. Christian
work in this region is just ia its
earliest lie. eluamcnt This is our seq
und year As = conference. having been
a mission for eight years previously.
New communities are now being
formed. ard with out>tretch-d hands
are crying. Come over and help us
II APPEARS that God has thrust upon
Methodism a very large share of the
responsibility OF molding this new
Along the line OF the Great North
err rtilraad from North Dakota to