Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-09-07
Correspondence Of the Republican.
From Montana.
RAPID GROWTH OF A MONTANA CITY

Correspondence of the Republican.
From Montana.
RAPID GROWTH OF A MONTANA CITY.
HELENA CITY, MONTANA, Aug. 1.
This little mining camp to which |
came one year ago last January, when
there were scarcely dozen poor
cabins, has become now the most
populous and thriving city in the
territory. Its growth has been
steadily and rapidly EDWARDS. Our
main street now is crowded with
thriving business houses, including
many nice stone buildings that would
be an ornament even to Springfield.
We have no less than five banks, one
a National bank; we have two thea
tres, both of which are well sustained,
and at one of them the once celebrat-
ed Julia Dean is now playing with
success that proves that she has not
lost all her powers and charms IN
the tragic art. Cities in a mining
country have but a precarious exist
ence, and many have INDUCED in
prophesy over the sudden decline of
Helena. How soon the fall may come
none can tell, but its present pros
perity is sure, and its future the wis
est cannot foresee. One great obsta-
Gle to its growth and one great dan
ger of its existence is about to be re-
moved. A large water ditch, four
teen miles in length, is now in rapid
construction to bring in the waters
of ten-mile creek into the city, and
the numerous dry gulches hereabouts
1t will be ample to supply every
house, and will furnish the means tt
extinguish fires, to which We have
heretofore been exposed without rem
edy.
GREAT DECLINE IN MERCHANDISE.
The great rush of emigration to
this territory, and particularly tt
this city, the present season, ha
caused business to be overdone, ant
merchandise of all kinds has had /:
wonderful decline. Flour is down t.
$12 at retail, and all leading article
of groceries at about half the ruin,
} prices during the last winter. TIL
competition in freighting has reduced
rates so low that, together with thei
losses of stock during last winter
many freighters have been ruined,
MINING FACTS AND PROSPECTS.
The scarcity of water at this season
is hindering the mining operations
but the yield of the territory will,
think, reach the estimate of $4,000
900. A single bar in Confederat
gulch is estimated to yield this sea
sonSl 100000, some claims averagin
a yield of $4,000 daily. In all d
rections are to be found gulches b
! the score that are yielding the
share to swell the amount. AS We
no remarkably new or rich discove
les have been made t h i S seasol
What our territory most needs
combination of labor and capital
=. bring in water bitches to ground a
' ready discovered.
There seems to be a great stagn
ton in the discovery and develo
ment of quartz lodes. The fear
y congressional interference has almo
paralyzed this branch of operation
1t is not in the nature of man to di
cover wealth for others to seize upC
. and throw into the marailAa.. hands
capitalists. Congress can do no GOO
{ by legislation, and it may kill Il
% goose that lays the golden egg.
u the regulation of mines and Indian
fairs could only be left in the contr
~ of those who understand the natu
y of these affairs, there would De lit
~ trouble.
4" We are without a governor stl
70 Our judges are all at their posts, d
- ing their duty, and Montana is ia
% becoming loyal territory. Ma
who have come this season will ]
nc turn with doleful accounts, but 10
'e at facts, figures and results, and
ID most sceptical will be convinced til
Id Montana has a proud career openi
II before her. MONTANA.