The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-08-01
BUSTED BOOMS."

Everywhere we look IN the great West
our eye catches sight vi Il town that has
had rushing real-estate boom, and has
flattened out, collapsed, and left upon its
shores the wrecks OF many fortunes.
Fortunately, Bozeman cannot be classed
with this category. ITO build up the
city, first build up the country" has
been its watch. word, and it has steered
clear of the real-estate breakers to
which the death of many towns is alone
attributable. Usually, with the advent
of a railroad or other large enterprises
to new town, comes the real estate
boomer, whose enthusiasm and unscrup-
ulous methods create an artificial price
for property. Enterprises on paper are
inaugurated, and people led into invest
ments that are ruinous to themselves
and to the town. The sole capital of the
real-estate boomer is invariably an
abundance OF wind and plausibility of
speech, acquired by extensive training.
He is the man whom the citizens of a
substantial town should shun; for he
will expand the town to undue proper
tions, creute q premature boom, and i
collapse will surely follow. We feel sat
istied that Bozeman is pursuing the
proper course in first using every en-
deayor to increase the population of the
valley, lending its aid 10 the improve.
ment of its peerless agricultural ie-
rources and mining enterprises. When
this attains the proportions to warrant n
larg, town, which it will very shortly,
then will 1t be time for town property to
boom and real-estate investments to he
a daily occurrence, Even then, every
effort should be made to avoid an ex-
citement that would lead to fictitious
values. We feel moro than gratified at
the history Of Boz man in this respect
Our growth, it lie true, has not been phe-
nomeual, as many of the Western towns
delight to say of theirs, hut it has been
substantial and steady While slowly
the work of building up the city has
been going forward, that OF increasing
the population of the country and en-
riching IL hy the requirement OF capital
which came to it through natural chan
nels, has been in progress, ard the city
has not reached II point ileyond tht
the needs of the surrounding country
There are few towns 80 fortunately stu
atet, and the record is uhe that should
be a matter of constant pride 10 the well
wislier I'd permanent resident of tn
city of Buzeman. True, there IL DANCE
of moving too slow. In this age c
active competition new towns are liabl
to take advantage OF the falings Of til
older town, and establish itself upon re
sources that should be the sole prorert'
of the less enterprising. All warranted
public enterprises should be abettet
public spirit justified and encouraged
but by no means urge the initiation c
values. or cause fictitious enterprises t
be encouraged which have for their sol
purpose the. capture of those who ar
seeking lucrative lhNeetWeht' ouei
scheme is worthy of the confidence man
who very often is only one step removed
from the real estate boomer, and VIII
has proved himself to lie one of tn
worst curses OF the Western town. N
town like Bozeman. with the signs G
prosperity around it on every hand, vii
lie unnoticed. Capital of the East
ever, where seeking investment. 1t ha
learned the lesson frequently convene
by" busted booms," and the very bes
inducement that Bozeman now offers
the investor is the fact that it never ha
a boom.