Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-27
BUTTE, MONTANA, THE WlcKEDEsr Town
IN Ri WORLD"

And then follows the subjoined delecta.
BILE screed:
y. L. Kelly, OF Butte, Montana Terri.
cory, IS at toe Grand Hotel, having left the
wickedest city in America for a week ~
two in civilization. Mr., Kelly savs NJ
changes for the better are being made in
Butte, the largest mining camp in the
world. 1t still supports the sana number
OF gamblers, horse thieves, gold brick
crooks and confidence operators oil all des-
cr'ptions. For a period in the history Of
the West, Cheyenne, Wyoming, claimed
precedence in all that was evil
but Butte soon captured the name, and
mas he'd it successfully against all Corners.
Miles Tit aspired to the honor, but it was
only a cow-puncher's town, while Butte has
cowboys and miners also. In a town like
Butte variety theaters are quite numerous.
They open al II or IL O'Clock at night and
close at dayhreak. Between acts the cow.
bo!s interest themselves shooting at some
mark IN the house with a ~, or break
@he chimneys on the lamps. This is the
chlef amusement, and a tenderfoot ia mar
alyzed with fright when he enters one Of
these entertainments. Mr.. Kelly saws
there are no prospects of any moral i'm
provement being made in the town."
We do not know this MI. J.. T. Kelly. nor
do we care to know him if the above is a
correct report of his interview with the
Times reporter. II he were ~"ioshipq' the |
Oakland scribe he displayed remarkably
bad Judgment and worse taste in choosing
his subject. II he intended it as a correct
view OF the condition Of things here, he lied
like a tramp.
While Butte is in a position to snap her
fingers or laugh at such ridiculous ISLANDERS.
it is not at all times pleasant for her citi.
zens to be recognized abroad as
residents OF "the wickedest town in
the world" in which there are no pros.
poets OF any moral Improvement being
And hence those who take q COM
mon or ordinary pride in the good name of
The city protest against the publicity given
to such an unmitigated, malicious false.
hood, and will not easily rest until it is as
contradicted.
The Times has a large circle of readers
Upon the Pacific Coast, among whom NAV
De many who have looked upon Butte as
inviting field for the investment of can
tai but who do not care to make their
ZONES in the ''wickedest city ir the world.
Ind as the Times has given publicity to
Mr.. Kelly's report w hope it will find !
'lace for the following: Ii
At the last election nearly 5000 votes
Tere cast within a radius of three miles =
rom the center Of the city of Butte. Com. +
'uting the population by the usual ratio
i five persons to every voter there are h
'ithin the same radius nearly 30. 600 Q
ouls-say $4,000. The assessment roll :
t the present year shows that within this a
rea there are over $1,000, 900 of taxable b
roperty, exclusive Of mine values. In the
ty proper which covers an area of 1S3 2
cres there are eight fine substantially built o
lurches OF as many different denomina. I,
ons, a large centrally located brick school "
lilding, a brick high school building and e
! the other educational facilities USUALLY A
und in eastern cities of the size of Butte. VI
ne churches are well attended and the "a
full and provided With az well DUAL. y,
ed teachers rs may be found in Oakland a
San Francisco. So much for the moral te
pect OF the place. tn
Again, Butte has az well equipped, watch. 10 10
and Efficient police force % can b. un