Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-11-17
The Paris of Montana Territory.

To the younger genera ion Helena is
a Parisian-like center which he hopes
in time to sec. Capitalists may make
their money at Butte or elsewhere, but
are moderately sure to spend it at
Helena; and the miner or ranchman is
never so happy as when he finds HIM
self in what, without question, is the
metropolis of the Territory. / know of
no city in the extreme middle West
that could so we'll satisfy one who had
learned to apprc late Western life as
Helena. It's climate, its surroundings,
even its society largely composed of
Eastern and collCg,-bred men and
young wives fresh flom older centcrs,
ara delightfully."- prominent features.
The city has Il population of nearly
fifteen thousand, and considering its
great wealth, it is not surprising that
it should have electric lights, q horse
car line, and excellent schools.
Thanks to the railroads, which have
had and are continuing to have so i'm
portant an effect upon tha country
overlooked by the Ro ky Mountains,
Montana's isola On is Il thing of the
past. Two raiIroal routes connect it
with the East and Pacific West, and
there i still the Missouri, naviSable
from St. Louis to the Great Falls,
within easy reach of Helena.
In 1869 the township of Helena
vas entered from the General
Government. In period of seven
years later the placer claims
near Helena yielded 10000, coo,
and although far removed from the
ousida world, tn, city, as a mining
ntcr, was Of great importance, and
may be said to have enjoyed an I'M
interrupted period Of success.
Helena, Regarded from n local stand
point, is the geographical, commercial,
monetary, political, railroad, and So
cial center OF Montana. Its trade is
larger and mere cXtenled than that of
any other city CT town il til re rritOrv,
and Therefore its commercial supremacy
Is inexperienced The Helena banks,
| rich in deposits and many in number,
may we'll entitle the city to its claim as
| the monetary center. The terminus of
the lately completed Manitoba system,
and having the Northern Pacific as an
outlet to the East, West, and South, it
has several bran ii roads to the imror-
tant mining clmps OF Wickes, Marys.
vile, AMI Iiniai, and is promised
others which arc to aid in developing
the rich di5t.ic.s scattered about the
surrounding country.
Helena, in thu trucs5 Fcnse of the
word, is cosmopolitan. Let one walk
the streets at any hour CT the day or
night, and he will be sure to notice the
popularity. Crowding tie sidewalks
arc miners pc Iue in red shirt :,
and top boots; 'oag-haired Missourilns,
waiting, like Micawber, for something
to turn up rIrchman, standing be-
5 de their heavily loaded wagons; trap
pers, tourists, men of business, China
men and Indians, Germans AMI
Hebrews, whites and blacks, the pros
perous and the needy, thu representa-
tivCs of eyery State in the Union,
Englishmen and Ir.simen, all make
Helena their home. No traditions, no
old family Influence, no past social
em;nonce hamp the restless spirit of
the busy workers. There is a long
list OF daily visitors, and the city is
never without sights ers. Inyal,ds
seek for it's climatic advantages.-Ed-
mdrdS Roberts, IN Hdrper'S MaQaztne.