Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-07-24

10 Ill cxltdOr. DO tie eeOx1 aphicHl position
II Helena, or the Influences calculated 10
develop the s~so.'' cfs ri tho country. point
to that place AZ the prrl'er one tor even the
temporary location Oi the Capital.-Asdi-
sonian.
We answer, without hesitation or
mental reservation, that they do
Helena is by far more nearly the geo.
graphical centre Of the Territory than
Virginia, and is unquestionably the
centre Of our present population and
that which will be added thereto for
years TO come. "The influences cal
culated to develop the resources OF
the country point to Helena, with q
significance that cannot be un0bservetl
or denied even by the superficial edi
tor Of the Madisonian, as possessing
the greatest local influences we have,
which are almost four fifths OF the
capital in the Territory, and cores
pOnding amount of its business.
We are surprised that the Madi.
sonian should bring forward the ques-
ton Of geographical position, when it
is well known fact that Virginia is
located upon the confines Of the Ter
ritory, which was Topped off of Idaho
since its settlement, whilst Helena is
almost centrally situated; and what
has Virginia done IN the past to de-
velOp the resources of our country, as
compared with Helena! What is she
able to do in the future! Capital,
energy and public spirit are the ele-
mcnts necessary to that end. DO the
inhabitants of Virginia possess either
of these elements No! If they did
would they use them for that object
Let the history Of the past ten years
answer that question. Its answer is
contained in, and irresistibly and fore
IDLY gi Ell by, rapidly decaying
town, the natural decline of which
cannor be stayed by the ingenious
Misrepresentation of its newspapers.
Have the capitalists and business men
Of Virginia City ever exhibited any
enterprise even to keep their own
town from going to the dogs; millions
Of dollars in gold have been taken
from the rich deposits Of Alder gulch,
the major portion Of which went into
the Golfers of the bankers and bust
ness men Of that place. Was it used
to develop the magnificent resources
at their very doors, which would have
perpetuatetl and made great tier
town. The vacant and dilapi1ated
buildings, constituting one-half Of the
once brilliant gem Of the mountains,
the "SWial City" Of Montana, give
more potent negative than any We
could use. Ii has been their rrinci-
pie to get ali they could and hold it,
AM! as soon as the town commenced
to " weaken" as the inevitable result
Of that system. these cOrmOrants gath
cred together their effects aud follow.
ed the money they had made from, the
permant settlers, which they had al
ready invested in the East. 4 few Of
her old citizens, who have made their
.-.a.,o.- il, tho ,.laAo- hax-o- stood nohlx
by Virginia and prolonged her cxis-
tence q few years ut Lease.
On the other hand let us take a
look at Helena. Her business men
have not only kept their money III the
Territory, but drawn considerable |
capital from the East, which has been !
freely used TO- develop our resources !
and in building up permanent and
flOurisling metropolis. Three times |
the fire fiend has la ID her in ashes, but |
the enterprise of her citizens was equal
to every emergency, and each time she
has risen from smOuldering ruins more
beautiful and substantial than ever.
The influence Of her capital extends
to every mining camp and agricultur-
al hamlet in the Territory, where 1t
is used for the development of our
country. Her capital has been used
BY millions i1r that purpose, and it
has not been confined to her inll,,c;a:::
ate vicinity, but has sought invest
ment in every section Of Montana
In the mining camps surrounding
Helena may be seen vast and expen-
sive machinery used for mining pur-
poses; the clatter Of her machine
shops, reduction works and quartz
mills may be heard, and five more
quartz mills will be erected this sum-
mer near that place to work the ricl,
ores from the mines on Ten Mile.
In all candOr, We can assure the cl-
itor of the Madisonian that we, in
common with majority Of the voters
Of Gallatin county, consider the geo.
graphical position Of Helena and her
ability and disposition 70 develop orr
country, pre-cminently pointing to
:tbst place as the Capital of Montans
until more desirable place shall he
found.
THE Madison County Democracy
present themselves in very humili-
ating aspect in the present race for
Congress. Holding primary meet
ing and appointing delegates to the
Democratic Territorial Convention,
not single delegate attended and
took q part. True, all the proxies
were at Helena on the 8th Of July to
he voted, hut as their chosen man had
no show, Their agent, at the instance
Of the aspirant who wason the ground,
A.,