Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-08-12
How One Persons Persistence
Transformed Great Falls.
Trains Run Through Avenue of Trees
to Vine Covered Railroad Station.
Paris Gibson's Enterprise In Start
ing Its Parking System.

ina It's HErklnQ SySGem.
Great Falls, Mont, has several points
Of distinction that can be copied by
other towns and might we'll excite the
envy of the largest cities. The success
sion of cascades through which the
Missouri river flows i'll passing its site
affords the town an aggregate availa-
Bile water power greater than any 9th
er in the country. These falls, togeth-
er 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 as the ap-
pl!cation of the water to commercial
purposes extends. In educational ia
cilitieS this comparatively small town
is rich, and it contains nineteen church
es, being one to every thousand of its
population, which is proportionally
twice rs many as Chicago has and two
and IL half times the number possessed
in New York.
But the feature in which Great Falls
takes the greatest pride and that which
justitics it's claim to being the most
beautiful city Of the northwest is it's
parking system, says the Craftsman
for November. After passing through
hundreds OF miles of treeless country
the WeStbOund traveller comes with de
lighted surprise upon this orderly lit
flo fnyyD in SIC Ia1 fv cnttinp Tho rail
road station and Yards, which are usu-
ally he ugliest part of Il new settle
ment, here have been converted into Il
place of beauty. The train run
through an N of trees and depos-
its one at a vino covered building that
is in striking contrast 20 the usua!
grimy structure. The approach to the
station on the town side is rendered
attractive by we'll kept grass plots and
flower beds, through which are broad
carriageway&.
This approach is but am introduction
to t4e sylvan beauty OF Great Falls.
Extending along The river front is the
principal par&. It's natural loveliness
enhanced by We'll tended lawns and
artificial lakes. This wealth of wood
land in the desert is strongly sisnifi-
cant of the spirit of homemaiing, and
the tree lined streets, with their pretty
villas set Oh terraced grass plots, seem
to extend silent welcome to the Stran-
ger.
1t is only ill the present generation
that the idea of raising trees on dry"
land "a seriously considered and put
into practice. Great Falls was a pio-
neer in the movement. 1t has no prec-
edent to encourage OF guide it. but it
has definitely solved the problem and
proved that q 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 q
barren tract of sand. thinly covered
With buffalo grass and patches of sage
brush. For miles in every direction
the country was devoid of human habi-
tation, except perhaps the rude shelter
of q sheep herder or the solitary shanty
of a sQuatter.
1T was from the park system OF Min
neapolis that Gibson derived the in
spiration which prompted him to at
tempt tree planting in his new home.
Ee preached the subject to his fellow
settlers, but they treated his sugges-
ton with derision. Tie thing had
never beea done: therefore it could not
be. This attitude they maintained un-
til it was absolutely proved TO be er-
%roneous and several veavs elapsed be-
fore The effort If this one iHIividua!
developed into a municipal! movement.
Failing 10 find sympathy or support
for The enterprise among his fellow
townSlnen. Gibson determined 10 IN.
dertakc alone what be believed could
and should be done for the benefit OF
the infant city. Regardless Of the
gibes Of slseptics Gibson planted /
number Of young trees upon the grount
along the river, covering u tract which
is now included in Margaret and Whit
tier parks. lie bore unaided the OK
pense and care Of looking after tn
young SlOOtS. allG many Il cS UlCdl JH!'
was aimed az the eunbrous tank wae
ons that laboriously supplied Their
with scarcely sufficient dole of water.
They grew, these first paintings c
cottonwood and box elder. and Gil
son yentured to add to them youn
elms and ash. No such trees had eve
been seen in that part Of the countr.
and SO the s%coffers were encourage
to predict that they would " gros
But they did. and birch and map
and oak were added to the list ar
four1shed like the rest. Before thi
however. the courageous founder
the Great Falls park system receive
the recognition that his enterprise az
persistence deserved. The city cou
eli at length responded to his appeal
and a gradually increasing number
the citizens lent their aid to the NOV
ment. The sums appropriated for II
purpose were for many years pitiful
small and wen now are zone too Il
eral, but compared with the limit
resources of one man the municip
grants were magnificent and perm
Tod n cnpcfHaroh1n n~ytpnCinn Of 4