Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-11-21

PROSPERITY vs.. RAsLRO.A DS.

The large incro.,so in nilr uorllatiOn
during the past two Or three years, as in
dicated by the returns Of the general cleo
ton recently held in the Territory is one
OF the most cheering evidences Of prog
ress that the election has de, eloped. Gal
latin county nearly doubles her vote of
two years ago, and the newly organized
county of Custer. with. perhaps, over 600
voters. is IA matter Of surprise and aston
ishment to the most sanguine advocates of
the Coming Empire Within the past
two years nearly every industry and enter
prise in the Territory has taken favora-
Die turn and everything betokens a healthy
growth and prosperous future. provided,
no mistakes or serious blun,lers shall be
made by the Territorial officials. the Leg
islature, or the people themselves.
1t is worthy Of remark that our increase
of population. of flocks and hertls, OF
farms and stock ranches. and above all.
the wonderful progress made within the
past two years in the development Of our
gold and silver mines. especially in Lewis
and Clark and Deer Lodge counties. is
contrary to. and wholly at variance with
the theories and predictions of railroad
subsidy advocates. According to their pre-
diclions. the Territory should be nearly
bankrupt. almost depopulated. and ready
to be abandoned to the Indians and cayo-
ties to-day. But experience teaches. as it
has taught us in this instance. that it is
not always safe to trust speculative the
cries or enthusiastic predictions. That
railroads. even, good and desirable as they
may be. are not the only dcsidcrata OF a
somewhat isolated community. True, the
earnest advocacy of a subsidy measure
and its fortunate failure. may have had
considerable to do with directing attention
to the important. but somewhat neglected.
natural thOroughfares Of Montana - the
Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. and max
ing them to Il greater extent available and
profitable ae the free and legitimate chan
nels of commerce.: and it can but be re-
garded as fortunate thing for Montana
that matters have taken this turn. for it is
evidently through the enterprise Of mer-
chants and steamboat men. and the per-
sistent advocates of river navigation that
SO much additional transportation has been
furnished. the rates materially reduced and
a wonderful impetus given to immigration.
mercantile pursuits and all the productive
industries of the Territory.
Now. as we appear TO be getting along
so well. perhaps it will be admitted that
we can exist faw years more with
ont railroads. or until such time rs our
local business will appear to justify East
ern capitalists to build one or more into
our Territory rs regular business enter
prise.
In our opinion. the less fuss and anxiety
we manifest in regard to the matter and
the better will be our chances and pros
poets for securing railroad at an early
day. No company will he likely TO build
railroad into our Territory without Il
subsidy or some other special advantage
or exclusive privilege. so long as the idea
of subsidy or other bonus is entertained
AS possibility. The idea of u direct sub
sidy having been generally ignored by the
people. we now notice. with regret, that
some OF our Territorial exchanges are. IN
advance OF the meeting OF the next Iegis-
latnre. more than limiting ut proposition
to exempt the Itch Northern. when built
into the Territory. from the payment Of
taxes tor term of years. We trust that
no such proposition viii he advanced or
advocated. but If 1t shall be. ~e hope. Tor
the best interests Of the Territory and It's
future welfare. that the Territorial Legis-
lature will. meet It fairly and sgiarply IN
the :ace, nip It In the bud" and allow no
such questionable or dangerous precedent
to be, established in Montana.