Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-04-04
THE METROPOLIS.

lal, tlaC inc VlSllOr IrOnl the country or tLe
quiet villages of the interior can hardly fail
to be favorably impressed. Just now, | am
told, is the dullest part of the season, still
my stay of a few days has enabled me to
ry. The antipathy which existed a few
years ago towards Helena seems to have
worn out and grown into nothing, and now
citizens of towns once enthusiastic with
Capital aspirations, appear to enjoy a peep
at the prospecting metropolis. Perhaps
many of them have a pride in seeing their
home interests and institutions improved
and advanced, but when they view the met
ropolitan city-like shape Helena has assum-
ed since winning the Capital suit, the ap-
probation for her permanency as a center
is increased. OF the many wide awake cit
liens of which our Territory can boast, Hell
ena, l think, has a goodly share. I refer to
those men whose genius and talent ena-
bles them to, comprehend the situation from
every point of the compass, and who are ca
pable of combining their influence to mas
ter it. Their united aim seems to be for the
welfare of their town, the accomplishment of
which is as the ripening of the field for their
own harvests. In building residences and
adorning the surroundings of home, they
show a spirit to excel each other, but in eff
forts for the city's %intents, they move in per-
feet harmony and concert. Besides the en-
terprise, however, / may mention that Hell
ena is the moneyed center of Montana. The
gold and silver yield of nearly all the mills
and mines of the Territory is either shipped
by or stored with her banks, who receive
and distribute more than half of the cash of
the country. Scarcely a sale of a freight
train, flock of sheep, herd of horses or cat
tie in the surrounding country, but that
these banks pay or receive the money.
Helena is the largest market for the farm
products of the country, and also the largest
depot OF supplies, wagons and agricultural
implements. The location of the Territori-
al Capital here seems to have been an impe-
tus for a second growth and progress of
the place. 1t now boasts of a large well
appointed and patronized graded school.
the =. 5. Assay office and several fine
churches and church organizations, sup
ported by generous congregations, the mill
tary district headquarters. has also been To-
Gated here, and will i'll the. future be of val
lie to Helena, since it will be the means of
the erection of a garrison. and. general sup
ply depot. And last. but not least. Helena
has and supports two daily papers, the Her.
aid and Independent. The high prices at
which these papers come will not admit of
their circulation in the country. but to the
business men of Helena they are valuable.
For without the telegraphic dispatches and
news furnished morning and evening by
these enterprising journals, lite in, the me-
tropolis would be indeed m%onotonous. A
stroll through the business part of the town
revealed a better showing than usual.
Stocks are we'll run down and nobody
gfumbling about hardtimes, the sequel to
which is when the farmers prosper, all 9TH
er branches OF business prosper. The farm
ers having got off fair crops last year, the
open winter has given them a chance to
market the farm products and lay in sup
plies. The outlook tor the future is there
fore encouraging.
To-day has been one of unusual excite
ment n stir, or account of the supposed
sale of the Sow Drift, Penobscot or Vestel
bonanza mine. 70 seems that Mr.. Vestel
having forfeited, $4,000 rather than part
with his ps;ine forthe sum of. 100000, has