Gen. Grant Slips Through Spokane Falls

When the excursion party passed through Spokane Falls on Sunday night, it was the universal expression among those on board that they regretted exceedingly their inability to look upon the rising city by daylight. They meant it, too, and Frederick Billings, one of the directors and largest stockholders in the road, W. H. Evans, and Gen. Grant arranged their return trip so as to reach here in the middle of the day.

About 11 o'clock yesterday morning a special train containing the above-named gentlemen and several others, homeward bound, reached Spokane Falls. Shortly before, Prof. J. M. Tiernan received a dispatch from Mr. Billings, and upon the arrival of the train the professor was waiting with a carriage. He drove Gen. Grant, Mr. Billings, Mr. Evans, and Mr. Billings, Jr., and his wife about the city. Few knew of the arrival, and therefore only twenty-five or thirty persons were at the depot.

On the trip Gen. Grant and Mr. Evans expressed unbounded surprise at the progress of the city, and the entire party were lavish in praise of the beauty of the city and valley. Gen. Grant said the city bore the appearance of being twenty-five years older than it was, and they all remarked on the solidity and elegance of the business houses being erected. At the residence of Prof. Tiernan the party was shown specimens of minerals from the Northwest. Taking up a fine piece of quartz, Mr. Billings said to the professor: 'I am familiar with minerals, having lived on the Pacific coast at the time of the rich developments on the Comstock and elsewhere, and for variety and richness your specimens, both here and in New York, make the best showing I have ever seen.' The professor presented each member of the party with rich specimens of native silver from mines he was then working.

After viewing the city and surroundings the party was conducted to the train. Upon bidding good-bye to Prof. Tiernan and the few present, Mr. Billings said: 'I am more disappointed with this town than with any town on the line of the railroad west of St. Paul—agreeably disappointed, I mean. There is more improvement going on here than in any town I have seen. You have the finest water power and town site I ever saw. It is beautiful. There is a great future for your city. I will lend all the aid in my power to make a city here.' These encouraging words from one who had the power, if the inclination, to do much for Spokane Falls were received with applause by the few listeners. Had the coming of the party been known beforehand, they would have been received at the depot by a crowd little short in number of the one that welcomed them Sunday night.