Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-06-12
THE CAPITAL QUESTION.
tFrom the M,ssouiian. June ltn.I

We have taken some pains, sine
the submission by the lato Legislatur
Of this question to a popular vote, t,
ascertain the sentiments. Of the peopl,
of this county from every settlement
and, in recent trip, to learn the feel
lngs Of our sister county Of the Yves
side upon the matter. Upoh two for
mer occasions, the counties Of Missoll;
and Deer Lodge acted together upoI
this question-on one occasion giving
large majority against removal tt
Helena. and on the other All allncH'
unanimous vote in favor of removal tt
Deer Lodge-and it is believed thai
they will act with the same ,'nanimity
at the next election, and at that time
in favor of removal. 7<4s : 81
The consideration that has mainly
governed onr two counties in their &C
ton hitherto has been that population
had not become sufficiently settled tc
fix upon a central point and locate the
Capital permanently. This, coupled
with a belief that the center Of popula
ton would eventually be found on the
West Side, has been the paramount
consideration. The county OF Gallatin
has been governed by pretty much the
same motive, believing that the deyel-
opment of the Yellowstone co9.ntr.,
would, i'll time, constitute Bozehian a
central point. The only two counties
whose interest aud convenience re.
quired the Capital to remain where it
now is were Madison and Beayerhead.
So that four-fifths of the population
of the Territory, who feel and have
felt the present location Of the Capital
to be inconvenient to them, have not
been able to move it because they
have not been united OIL the locality.
Deer Lodge City would probably ac-
commodate one third of the population
of the Territory better than any other
point Virginia City one. fourth; Boze-
man one.sixth, and Helena the bal
ance. Next to Deer Lodge City, ,Hele-
ma would be more convenient to the
West Side counties than any other
point, and the vote of these two cOun.
ties added to that of Lewis and Clark,
would be sufficient to turn the scale in
favor of Helena. The settled opinion
ameng west siders seems to be that
the old policy of a whole loaf or no
bread is played out. If they cannot
get Deer Lodge, they will do the next
best thing and take Helena for the
Capital. Many of our business men,
miners and farmers visit Helena once
or twice year. If any Of our people
are so unfortunate as to get into the
Supreme Court; or if they desire Ex-
ecutive authorization to public or
private documents; or if they are in
such low repute among their nei ghbors
as to be banished for term OF days
to the Legislature, they can run over
to the Capital at Helena, have good
time, attend to their public and private
business, and get home the same year.
The establishment of an assay Office
at Helena will call more West Siders
to that place than have been in the
habit of going there heretofore. The
of Montana being SO closely
identified with the n. p. railroad en-
terprise, our present interests lie in
that direction, through Helena to Car
roll, and on east. The completion Of
The railroad may revive the Capital
question; but our people generally are
willing to concede that the people of
that day will be stout enough to wres-
lie with it. IF they are not then able
10 move it, the. presumption will be
very strong that it ought net to be
moved. We have found but few of
The Mistress Toodles style of states
men, who do not know but a town may
De born somewhere on the railroad,
md that it may be named Thompson
With p, and are shaping their lDliti.
al plans for such contingency. The
majority are taking q took. at this
luestion as it appears now, and are
Wiling to let the future take care Of
tself. 8.
Our farmers especially feel that
in business makes it their
luty to support Helena. They pur-
.hase largely of her business men and
find there a market for many
# their commodities. They feel that
t is to their interest that this market
hould be enlarged by all proper means
n their power, and that they are in
uring themselves tn doing an injury
o patron.
MONTANA ABRoAD.-The Omaha
3erald in alluding to the discovery of