Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-06-11
The Capital Question.

From the Miasouan of June 4th.
We have taken some pains, since the sub
mission by the late Legislature of this ques-
ton to a popular vote, to ascertain the senti-
ments Of the people of this county from every
settlement, and, in recent trip, to learn tho
feelings of our sister county of the West Side
upon The matter. Upon two former occasions,
the counties of Mssoula and Deer Lodge ac-
ted together upon this questiOn-on one oc-
casion giving a large majority against remo-
val 10 Helena, and on the other an almost
unanimous vote in favor of removal to Deer
Lcdge-and i, is believed that they will act
with the same unanimity ut the next election,
and at that time in favor of removal.
The consideration that has mainly governed
our two counties in their action hitherto has
been that population had not become sufh-
cicnty settled to fix upon central point and
locate the Capital permanently. This, coup
led with belief that the centre of population
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 de-
yclopmcnt Of the Yellowstone country would,
i'm time, constitute BOZeman central point.
The only two counties whose interest and
convenience required the Capital to remain
where it now il were Madison and Beaver
Of the Territory. who feel and have felt the
present location of the Capital to be incOn-
yencnt to them, have not been able to move
il because they have not been united on the
locality. Deer Lodge City would probably &C.
commodatc one third of the population of the
Territory better than any other point; Nir-
ginia CITY ne-fOurth; Bozeman One-sixth,
and Helena the balance. Next to Deer Lodge
City. Helena would he more convenient to
the West Side counties than any other point,
and the vote of these two counties added to
that Of Lewis and Clarke, would be sufficient
To turn the scale in favor of Helena. The set
,ledopinion among west siders seems to be that
the old policy Of whole loaf or no bread is
about played out. il 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 a year. II any of our people arc SO un-
fortunate As to get into the Supreme Court ;
or if they desire Executive authorization to
public or private doCumentss or if they arc
in such low rcpute among their neighbors as
to be banished for term of days to the Leg
islature. they can run over to the Capital at
Helena. have q good time, attend to their pub
lie and private business, and get home the
same year.
The establishment of an assay Office at Hell
cna will call more West Siders to that place
than have been in the habit Of going there
heretofore The interest of Montana being
SO closely identified with the n. z. railroad
enterprise, our present interests lie in that d.
rcction. through Helena to CARROLL. and on
east. The completion Of the railroad may
again revive the Capital question; but our
people generally are willing to concede that
the people Of that day will be stout enough to
wrestlc with It ,fshey cre not then able TO
move it, the ?-e6umpt'or will lie very sasoD~
thai 1 ousl' lot ~ be- movei. We have found
tut few Of 'he NJ stress r,odles style VI states.
men. who do no; tnow bu, town may 5e
born some rhnre oa the railroad and that il
VA. he ns.lred Thompson with D. and ere