The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-08-28
PERHIANENON.

Time was, when Montana life, was to
a greater extent than any other. consid-
cred a 1eeting show. transition state
which was to find those who adopted it
in poverty and return them 20 the States
in affiuence within a few years. No one
thought of the morrow, or at least not
of the next week save as IL brought to
him visions OF the home 10 which be
soon expected To return. At first brush
shanties, and afterwards log cabins
were thought to be sufficiently good
abiding places. since all considered their
residence in the mountains as only tenn
porary, and looked upon privations and
Inconvenience as natural consequences
of their stay. But the temporary char
acter of Montana enterprise is now lost.
and in its place we find those indications
of permanency which must be highly
gratifying TO all our citizens. Trails and
cart paths have grown into stage roads
and streets" "waiki-ups' and cabins have
made way for frame and stone buildings,
the place of rockers has been occupied
/ by extensive steam and hydraulic works
and quartz mills dot the country. Now
our citizens talk of NIontana's future
more, and much less OF the land which
they left and which they often forget To
call home. BY the interest which they
manifest in the affairs of the Territory
il is plainly to be seen that they have
linked their fortunes permanently with
the mountains, and that they propose to
let civilization and comforts of the States
come 20 them, rather than return to the
older and overcrowdcd portions Of Amer
lea for the purpose of obtaining them.
And this is as il should he. All the
States of the Union were once new.
once withou: all the conveniences and
institutions which now belong TO them.
We do not believe one of them was
possessed of the gifts with which nature
has endowed Montana, and yet they are
empires within themselves. And the
prosperity which has attended the older
portions Of the country awaits Montana
ally decreasing price of the neces-
saries OF life will, for years to come
be source ot profit To our peo-
pie, and long before they are ex.
hausted the stream of gold which has
NOW commenced 10 flow froIn our quartz
mills will have Increased To river o
wealth such "a will. by its irrigating
influence, insure plenteous harvest oI
prosperity to our Territory Our agri
cultural lands are capable of supporting
a population a thousand times as large
as that by which they are now culti-
waited, and. were there no mines in the
country. Montana might still be proud
of her resources. We have only TO turn
TO Utah to see what may b,. done in 8
country less favored than oar own--tC
See a population tour-fold l,rger than
ours supported by the farms and OF.
chards that faith has planted and in
dustry watered IN the desert If sucl
work can I've accomplished in the sage
brush of blOrnOndom. surely much
greater one is in store for Montana. Th,
belief in the perwanency ut oar Terri
torys prosperity has been gaining
ground rapidly tor some time. aud ha,
now become universal. In noportion o.
Montana is n more striking proof o
what We say to be obtained than in Hell
ena. improvements in streets and build
ings. the laying of sidewalks and erec
tion of stone ediGices, are all evidences
of the faith which is in our citizens
Our best advice 10 all is to continue anC
increase the exercise of this faith. What
ever you do, let it DE done not alone 70
days but for years. and let il be wei
Gone. The cry of croakers that TIA,
country is going down, is false. as am
one can be satisfied by FIVE minutes re.
Election upon the extent and variety o
our resources. We can find much Il
emulate in the industry aud energy dis
played by the 5Iormons in our neighbo
Territory. Let us follow the exampl,
set by their enterprise. aud with the full
faith that MOntana's prosperity is a
permanent as the mountains that sur
round her. lay systematically and firml,
: the foundations of the future state.
The Walla Walla StotesB,an oil TIA,
:i1st ult. saws that the gentlemcn hav.
4 Il - -