Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-27
HELENA,s TROUBLES.

NF-@E-T LI@G .
About a year ago Helena was shaker
from center to circumierence-we belisv,
those are about the proper words to use
over the manner in which the county cour
house wal being built. The commissioners
OF the county were hauled over the Goals
roasted by the Helena press and the PEG
pie, and indirectly, if not directly, charged
with heing the aiders and abettors of those
who were attempting to swindle the coun'
ty. Petitions an circumstances were cir.
culated in which charges of extravaganza
and incompetency and corruption were
made or insinuated until finally the atten.
ton OF the whole Territory was directed
toward the capital. In the meantime
those having the building of the court
house in hand pursued the even tenor o,
their way, and public irritation over the
matter died out.
During the hot, dry months OF last SUM
mer the water supply OF the city was les.
sened in volume and complaints OF the
scarcity OF the article were heard on all
sides. 1t was even charged by some OF the
newspaper correspondents that the little
water they had wal full of worms, little
cells, tadpoles and other living, w~iggling ami
mails and the visitor within the gates of
the city held his lose at the sight OF a glass
OF water, passed it by and-took beer.
Then came q proposition from Mr.. Geo.
F. Woolston to furnish the city with q full
supply Of pure water for domestic, fire and
purposes at q cost to residents
which at this distance seems very reason.
able indeed. But upon this question there
seems to be as little unanimity of senti-
ment among the people as there was in the
building of the Court House. The daily
papers OF the place have taken sides and
fought for or against the PROPOSE
tion-one contending for competitive bid
ling for the franchise, the other supporting
Mr.. WooIston in his offer. The C.tyCoun-
ii finally awarded the franchise to Mr..
Voolston for a period OF twenty years.
Nothing, however, is contained in it which
prohibits other parties from receiving the
anne rights and privileges to lay water
Mains within the city limits.
And now ONE certain complainants,
lmoDg whom are some of the leading
md wealthiest business men of the city,
'raying for an Injunction restraining the
ity from proceeding further in the matter
nth Mr.. Woolston. What the upshot of
business will be remains to be devel.
ped.
OF course the people outside OF Helena
re in no way interested in the question
'ow dividing and an~tagonizing it's citizens,
than may be manifested in a natu-
al desire to see justice done in the prem
yes. But we may be permitted to say, and
re say it in all kindness to the snterprising
good citizens of our sister city, that
hey are injuring themselves to a greater
xtent than they may imagine in the very
discussions which the building of
heir Court Houss and the furnishing of a
alter supply have provoked. Some very
rave charges of collision with contractors
nd the bribing OF officials, have been
roadly limited at, il not squarely made,
nd the people on the outside are BEGINNING
0 inquire: What manner of men are con.
ucting the affairs of the city of Helena,
nd the County Of Lewis and Clarke
Would we be justified in sending our repre-
to O city to make laws for us.
here corruption seems to stalk unrebuked.
re its officials swindIers and thieves. or
re it's press and people liars? Which horn
I the dilemma must we take? In either
ase we want none OF it,
Now, we submit it, if these are not oues-
Ions which people will naturally ask, in
lew OF the wraneling and fighting, and
1arges and counter charges of corruption
nd bribing going on, made or insinuated
= the press and citizens OF the capital? /