The Daily Missoulian., 1911-12-17

walton to settlement and development
the work Of reclamation and improve
ment has been truly marvellous. With
in an Incredible short period miles Of
wild land have been converted into
beautiful homes sustaining thousands
OF happy, prosperous people, supplied
with all the modern conveniences and
appliances for work and pleasure.
Towns and villages have been built up
where the residents enjoy all the Inn
portant equipments of city life. Pub
lie buildings, such as schOolhOuses and
halls, highways and bridges. mark the
public spirited community while prl-
vate enterprises are pushed with re-
sstless vigor. The government Of the
county and various municipal divisions
are clean, intelligent and economical,
while social and intellectual advantages
are Of the highest order
IN all this wonderful progress there
has been no artificial stimulus. It re-
suits from continuous, legitimate en-
terprise and increases with each sue
ceeding year, the ono now approaching
it's close showing results far in advance
GRAFTON OF Sanders last years work
would be impossible. but It will not be
| amiss to mention some Of the Inn
portant improvements that have been
| made. $t4a Ffes N tE@
Longest Wagon Bridge ia State.
Among >the many big things that
Sanders county has done in the past
year. the wagon bridge at Plains -
perhaps most conspicuous, certainly
none are of greater utility or con-
venience to the whole people. The
people having voted bonds for the erec-
ton Of three steel bridges across the
Clarls Fork of the Columbia. the
board of county commissioners pushed
the work so industriouslv that the
Plains bridge. costing 100000, and
noted as the longest in the state, was
begun last fall, opened for traffic In
Nav and dedicated by monster cele-
bration July of this year. The Sec
ond one has been recently finished at
Thompson and the third one rs In
course of construction at Trout Creek.
One of the most resourceful sections
of the county lies south of Plains, be-
tween the river and the Occur d'Alenc
mountains but the danger and bother
of crossing the river kept this region
practically undeveloped until last sum-
mer when new impetus was given to
settlement and to mining, farming and
timber Industries. Canals, fumes,
highways and bridges have been built
and hundreds OF orchard farms have
been improved and sold to permanent
residents who are building homes on
them.
County Fair Grounds.
TO the big bridge also must be given
the exclusive credit for the organiza-
ton of the Sanders County Fair asso-
citation, for 1t brought within reach one
of natures beauty spots-an ideal fair
grounds, almost perfectly appointed by
the hand of nature, hence the associa-
ton and most successful exhibition
last October. The association, which IS
capitalized for 100000, constructed an
oval racetrack, buildings and made
many other improvements on the Is
acres purchased at the south end Of
the bridge.
Educational Advancement.
Along educational lines. Plains has
been making rapid strides also. Only
a short time ago the school occupied
an old wooden building without any
modern conveniences whatever; now
they have beautiful commodious
brick structure. architecturally perfect,
and wholly up-t to-date In all respects.
1t is supplied with city water and
sanitary drinking fountains, electric