Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-04-29
NO. "a

lands until the world was convinced of his as
sertions. Colorado, now State. has entered
upon an era of prosperity. the end of which
is not within the province of any of US to
foretell.
Tracing the path of civilization as it surges
from the East and West, and planting his
standard upon the summit of the Rocky
mountains the pioneer uncovered to the world
country, which in the richness and extent
of it's production of gold by its placers ranks
next to California. refer 10 the country in
which we now have our homes-MontaDa-
the real gem of the mountains. With her
resources we are all personally conversant.
Her rivers, with water abundantly sufficient
to irrigate every acre of land required for til
lage, with capacity for unlimited mill power,
her hills covered with rich and nutritious
grasses capable of maintaining thousands of
herds of cattle, sheep and horses, her timber
and fuel inexhausti tible, her mines of gold,'
silver, copper, lead and coal second to none
in the world, without peer, and unrivaled,
she stands to-day the proudest monument of
the bravery, energy and indomitable perse-
verance of the pioneer. All she requires is
the purse of the capitalist and the plow of
the yeoman TO fit her for her crown in the
galaxy of States which constitutes our COM
mon country. Why is it then that capital
should stand idle while the riches Montana
possesses await but the touch of. her hand to
flow out and fill the Golfers of the world.
think Montana's future is close at hand. The
railroad, that forerunner of capital, confidence
and enterprise, will, before another year rolls
by, be completed far into the bosom of the
Territory, and Montana will enter upon an
era of prosperity unexampled and without
parallel in her history. Seeing Montana as
have seen other countries, with half her re-
sources, am astonished at the slow progress
that has been made in the development of
her mines All that is wanted to do it is cap
ital, and that will come as necessary conse-
ouence when the attention of the world has
been brought to her extraordinary richness.
The work of pioneering in Nevada and
Idaho it is not necessary for me to refer to in
this paper. They are the offshoots and tos-
ter children of California. The footprint of
the pioneer can be found in their valleys and
ravines, hills and gulches, and he has left his
indellible mark on the future of those coun-
tries.
Those coming to Montana during the last
few years can but family imagine the hard
ship, toll and suffering undergone by the
early settlers. They find in this Territory
culture, refinement and luxury that will
favorably compare with the, older States.
The pioneer was invariably laborer. No
work, if honorable, was considered disgrace
full for him to engage in. Whether prospect
ing the mountains with his pick and shovel,
or settling down upon ranch, he was the
same indefatigable worker, stunning no labor
however hard or tiresome. For by labor the
world has been subdued and man redeemed
from barbarism. Not single step in civili-
zation has been made without it. 1t is the
most essential factor in progress. Shallow
indeed is he, who, in the individuality of his
self-conceited self-importance, imagines that
the world owes him living without using.
the necessary exertion to obtain it, or he who
looks contemptuously.upo those who are not
afraid to soil their hands or harden their
muscle in the effort to obtain it.
From the dawn of civilization in tSe'east
to its halt before the setting sun, labor has
been the harbinger of progress in mechanics,
the arts and the sciences, and to it We owe
all the blessings, all the liberties, alb the lux
uries, all the rights that we now enjoy.
Thus it is ordained that the Pioneer should
lead the van in the march of progress, and
while the earth in it's eternalrevolution around
the sun; while year succeeds year, century
succeeds century, the Pioneer, true to his
trust, accomplished his mission, fulfils his
destiny until time shall be no more.
]. ED. Fox.