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The "booster" style text that
appears in the lower margins of the map provides an interesting
perspective:
"Great Falls, Montana is situated in Northern Montana,
on the line of the "Great Northern Railway" and on the upper Missouri at its
confluence with the Sun River. Within the limits of this city, now
numbering 6,000 people, the Missouri River makes a succession of falls over
ledges of hard rock varying in height from 15 feet to 100 feet in
perpendicular distance, aggregating in all over 500 feet of fall.
Hence the name Great Falls. It is truly named because it is the
greatest available water-power in Montana and greater than any in any of the
adjoining states. At this point in the near future is destined to be
congregated more people engaged in active business than at any other point
on the lines of railway between St. Paul and Minneapolis on the East and the
Cities of the Sound on the West. The reasons for this are Great Falls
is the child of fortune and destiny. Nature has endowed her with
peculiar riches and with man she has found favor. Around her has been
located the best agricultural district of the sate, and for sheep, cattle
and horses her plains have no superior.
300 Square Miles of Coal lay at her door, and
through her is the only gateway to the rich surrounding deposits of Gold,
Silver, Iron, Lead and Copper; and within her gates is the only practicable
place to obtain the metals from the ores. Beautiful building rock of
most excellent qualities and of many kinds and colors surround the city in
great quantity. Clay awaiting the had of the potter and sand for the
blower of glass. Vast forests of timber awaiting the ax-man, that can
reach no other point for manufacture. Railways already radiate in five
different directions. Many branches of business are already
represented by both wholesale and retail concerns; five banks, an iron
foundry, two saw-mills, one large silver smelter already in operation, and
two large copper smelters already under construction. Black Eagle
falls already improved in a most substatial manner at an outlay of
$250,000.00 and furnishing a power 25,000 horses - all in a city not yet
four years of age. Every branch of business is calling for additional
representatives. A good paper mill is wanted; a good glass factory,
large woolen mills, besides shirt, globe, brick, lime shoe and leather
factories, would find unusual openings, both because of the location of the
raw material as well as the excellent home market for their product."
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Reproduction "Perspective Map" of Great Falls,
Montana in 1891. The clear grid on the map of
the city founded in 1883 by Paris Gibson and James
J. Hill well illustrates the intention of the
planned city, created to take advantage of the
hydroelectric power of the "great falls" of the
Missouri River. Electric power was brought to
the city in 1890, upon the completion of the Black
Eagle Dam.
High resolution
historical map print on durable, matte finish stock. 36" x 25.5" |
