The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-04-10
COLONEL MCGOWAN DECLARES
HOME STATE is THE BEST
PLACE IN THE WORLD.
RETURNS FROM THE COAST
Well known Resident of Plains is in
Missoula After Trip to Southern
of This Country AS Compared With
That He Has Been Visiting.

Rotund and rosy from the effects of
his winters sojourn in southern Cali
fornia, Colonel MCGOWAN of Plains is
back for another busy year in Mon
for several days since his return from
the coast, but his visit in Missoula
yesterday was his first call here since
fall. He spent busy and seemingly
pleasant day with his friends in town,
and, incidentally, attended to some
business matters that required conisd-
Grafton. California has not won the af-
fections of the colonel and he comes
back a little better satisfied than ever
that Montana is the best place in the
world and that Plains is the most de-
sirable portion in this state.
There are a great many Montan-
ans down in California;" said he yes
terday afternoon, "and some Of them
are contented to stay there. But,
while it is a pleasant place for visit
of couple of months, l couldn't
stand it for the whole year. Is is just
this way: You have bunch of chill
dren and your neighbor has some, too.
You recognize the merits Of his
youngsters, but you are positive that
yours are a little better. And 1 have
ceme back to Plains we'll satisfied
that it possesses advantages that cam
not be found on the coast.
II was amazed to find how San
Francisco had changed. I was there
right after the earthquake, and have
been there twice after that, but this
time I was able to see the completion
of the great work Of reconstruction
and to fully realize that the city has
been restored. 1t is marvellous. On
Market street you see now the same
procession of handsome women and
fine-looking men, all happy and laugh
ing as of old. The frightened look has
gone and Frisco is herself again. 1t
was more in the people than in the
buildings that the restoration is
written.
Much Building.
"All along the coast there Is vast
amount of building and development
going on; the municipalities are un-
dertaking some extensive improve
ments; in the shipyards there is ac-
tivity everywhere; there are splendid
buildings being constructed. In mer-
camille circles only did I find things
dull; there is some tagging in this line
of business. But things are improv-
ing there as WELL
II didn't spend all the time on the
coast. I went east to New Orleans
thnr
I'D to New York and down to Wash
ington for the inauguration. The
weather was bad on that day. as you
know, but we didn't have time to
think of that. We were so pleasantly
received and had so much attention
shown us that we forgot all the dis
comforts of the weather in the enjoy
ment and appreciation Of what went
on about us.
From Washington we went back to
the coast and then came up home
again. It has been a very pleasant
winter; I have enjoyed it thoroughly,
every minute of it. But when tell
you that I am glad to get back to
Montana, I mean it every word. I
have seen no place that appealed to
me as does home, and I am really
glad to be back here.
'"This is going to be a great year
for Montana, and especially for west
ern Montana. Wherever I have been
I have heard this part Of the state
talked about. There has been a lot of
studying of maps. You can tell that
from the way people talk about Mis-
soula and discuss it's advantageous
position. / have been told a hundred
times of the fact that Missoula Is the
key to the railway situation, and that
there are to be more roads through
here than there are now
New Road Coming.
"Of one thing you may be certain
that there Is a new road coming here
from across the Bitter Root noun
tains that will open up the Clearwater
country to Missoula. There is a north
and south line that is certain, too.
You will find more people talking
about this region than any other, as
you travel about. Missoula and the
Bitter Root are we'll known the coun-
try over, and there is no other section
talked about as much except Spokane
and it's country. These two sections
are talked Oh all up anu uOWH tHe
coast. 1t did me good to hear it.
you people in Missoula should
keep up the publicity work that you
are doing, and you should enlarge its
scope. I don't believe that your peo-
Pile appreciate here how far-reaching
is the work that your chamber of
commerce is doing. There should be
more of it. The city is receiving great
benefit from it. The railways are
helping us in Montana this year more
than ever. They have been compelled
to recognize us at last, and we will
get square deal from them in this
matter.
Il am delighted with conditions that
find here. Plains is growing and
business there is better than it ever
was before. In Missoula / find the
same thing. and am told that the
Bitter Root is as prosperous as the
rest of u.s."