Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-11-14
MONTANA HERDS, FLoCKs, FARMS AND
MINES.
Helena, her Impr cvements and Business Out
look-The Upper River Navigation
Ccmpany-The Fair Asso-
citation and its future
Prospects.

citation and its future
Prospects.
There is not that rush of improvements
in Helena that is to be seen in some other
Montana towns, still work goes steadily on,
and the close of the present year will doubt
less show a greater and more permanent adj
vance than was anticipated. The vacant
business houses and dwellings of a few
years ago are all occupied, and about the
outskirts, as we'll as along the principal
streets. new houses are being built, giving
the place a continuous growth in popula-
ton and real estate value. The stock of
goods shipped this year were much larger
than last, and in every line of business there
is evidence of Improvement. There is no
'grumbling at hard times, but on the con-
trary the business fraternity appear cheer
full and contented with the good results and
the outlook. With the hotels, however,
there seems to be a sort Of dearth compar-
ed with the custom of Fair week, but there
is always q great coming and going of peo-
PIE to Helena. so the hotels are never idle,
and now as the time for the converting of
the Legislature is not far distant they can
doubtless look forward to it with bright ex-
pectations. There appears to be no dispo-
sition towards subsidizing the Utah North
railroad era for Montana is not far Distant.
Many of them have concluded that they
don't need the railroad half as bad as they
had thought a year ago, and now have their
minds directed towards the Navigation of
the Upper Missouri. The two con pafics
have consolidated and capital subscribed
to the amount of $4,000. Already the
wide awake ones have claimed toWnste and
portage lands along the river, and are put
ting the interest on their corner lots. 4. G.
Powers, one of Benton's most %entelprising
capitalists, has taken 5000 stock, and it is
stated that there will be no difficulty i'll In
creasing the subscription to $1,000 O0. There
is Il probability that at least one boat will
be landed above the falls next summer,
with a good prospect Of success.
The recent balancing up of the books of
the Fair association, l am told, shows Il net
earning above the expenses of the seaion OF
only S. 1000, a somewhat small divided to
be divided among the stockholders, when it
is taken into consideration that the lirec-I
tors were required to do all the labor d at
tending and managing the Fair wi bout
per diem pay. But it is suggested Iy a
friend that they got their pay in the l|sson
learned on the closing day, and Pm ilclin-
ed to agree in this, for truly think that
that day, though it bore an unpleasant and
q somewhat disastrous look, will prote a
benefit to those interested. Some o the
visitors of the llst day lett the grounds dis
satisfied, thinking they were Wronged be-
cause the association failed in having the
races to come of, but from what | lave
been informed, had the races been run hey
would doubtless have resulted in quite as
much dissatisfaction. While | do nota
prove fully of the action Of the Fair ;so-
citation. | am far from censuring it for the
plumbers that seem to tend SO much to-
ward a good. There is scarcely one per on
who witnessed the dolngs of that day, tut
who, even though much displeased, w en-
he quietly considers the matter at his hone
will feel that the greatest good to the grht-
est number will come from the action la
ken. Many Of the sporting men, sole
members of the associ alton and 4 regimnt
of IIelena's citizens have become convined
that horse racing should not be the clef
object OF an agricultural fair associatid.
Many of the citizens who have heretofoe