Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-05-09
eek|y
THE RESULT OF 4 BOOM"

One of the over-boomed towns of the
country, apparently, is Helena, and the
bad results are already apparent. As ev
idence of this fact we don't have to take
the words of Tom, Dick Or Harry, but
submit the cool, deliberate editorial state
ment Of the Livestock Journal of that city,
edited by the veteran Colonel Daniel
Searles. He says:
The position taken by the Journal last
week concerning booming real estate is
favorably commented upon by many of
the most prominent business men of the
city. There are no conflicting opinions
among them in regard to the ultimate dis
booming of place. One of the effects
during the past WEEKS the extreme
other causes which have helped bring
pal cause is found in the fact that too
much money is locked up in unproduc-
tive realty.
Upon the representation Of professional
boomers hundreds of men of moderate
means have been tempted to invest in lots
upon the assumption that, in the very
near future, they would bring large re-
turn over the purchase price. These
profits have not materialized and the in
weston finds he has dead property upon
present account. The result is that col
lection day finds these men cramped for
money and unable to meet their bills.
TN air ,,l
quence business is crippled. This is
plain statement of facts easily verified
* 4 4 x +
What is the result? Business is cut up
and divided among the over-numerous
houses. Idle men, seeking work, are
found upon every street corner Of the
main thoroughfares, laboring men who
have employment have parted with their
last dollar to make part payment upon
a residence lot and are paying their earn
ings to save what they have already ex-
pended upon it; business men are patient
~ waiting for their overdue bills, while
the boomers are raking in the ducats from
the sale of new lots and sqeezing the dol
lars out of their debtors who still owe
balances for old ones.
After drawing this frightfully realistic
picture, the Journal truthfully adds:
No place can long stand such drain
upon its vitality. Sooner or later it is
bound to give way, and when the crash
comes those who fail to heed the warning
to "stand from UNDER" will get hurt.
This is plain language; but sincere re-
gard for the interests of the city demands
its employment.
Then as the conclusion of the whole
matter and apparently with his minds
eye fixed steadily upon Great Falls, the
natural manufacturing and commercial
center of the territory, the sage editor
adds:
These and other enterprises which |
might be found profitable in connection
with the great smelter that will be CON
structed here would furnish employment
to hundreds of men where work is now
provided for tens. For, say what may be |
said, it is the manufacturing or CONNER
cial city that not only takes but keeps the
This state of affairs is not set forth |
in Major Walkers "Packet of Pearls"
or the pamphlet of the board of trade, and |
is apparently unknown to the pilgrim ed
itor of the Independent. Perhaps the
latter might be able to run down "Nicho-
las Dysinger of Dakota" again and get
his opinion on Helena's "boom"
Unlike Helena, Great Falls is having
no boom, and has never enjoyed such
luxury? 1t is simply having a natural
and steady growth, keeping pace with
the development and business needs of
the country tributary and of the great en-
terprlses that are being built up here.