Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-05-09

of their respective bodies. lam builder
by trade, and l heard of this boom il
Great Falls and went there intending tt
buy land and put up some buildings. But
good gracious the land is held so high
that you can walk under it.
The place is laid off in lots where there
will be no buildings for the next thirty
years, however rapidly the town might in
crease, and for these lots there is demand,
ed price which would bring bushes tc
the cheek of a Hindoo fakir; and houses
too, little runts of shanties put up for an
apology, are renting for anywhere from
1926 to $35. There is no chance for q
working man there, it costs him as much
! as he can make at work to pay his house
rent and exist.
Dysinger may have said all this but
that does not lessen the legal or moral re-
sponsibility of the Independent for pub
fishing it. Now as to the allegations.
I. "The land is held so high that you
can walk under it," Lots in Great Falls
fetch from 5000 to $4,000, according to
location. The most expensive lots are
those owned by private individuals or
firms who ask for them high prices be-
cause buildings erected thereon pay a
liberal return on the investments. The
Townsite company offers lots, SO feet front,
as low as $2O0-one fourth cash and the
remainder on time at only seven per cent
interest. These terms would enable any
thrifty, industrious man to own his own
home in short time. The price is not
high when the growth Of the city and its
prospects are taken into account. Work
men can buy lots cheaper elsewhere, but
lots where there is no work to be had are
dear at any price. .w.'
III. "The place is laid off in lots where
there will be no building for the next
30 years, however rapidly the
town might increase" Three
years ago there was not house on the
present site of Great Falls. Now the
avenues and streets, with stores, residences
or factories on them, cover an area of
two square miles. The area of improved
would be still greater If we in
elude the extensive railroad yard and the
smelter, with it's numerous buildings. At |
his rate of increase every plated lot will
lave a building in from five to ten years.
This is the conviction of the owners of
lcre property in the suburbs, who hold it
It from 500 to $500 per acre, according
0 its proximity to places which this Da-
lota prophet says will not be built on for
nirty years. lad. w
III. "Little runts of shanties, put
Up for an apology, are renting for
nywhere from $25 to $685. The Dako-
\ builder thus contradicts himself. If
UGH rents are paid this would have been
ust the place for him to build houses.
he actual rents for three and five
oomed houses range from $15 to $50 per
lonth. Such rents pay a fair return on
he cost, but many people in town own
heir own houses and pay no rent at all.
". "There is no chance for working
IAN there. 1t costs as much as he can make
} pay his house rent and exist" If this
tatement were true it would be damag-
lg to the town, for workingmen are the
fe and backbone of all cities. Its falsi-
: is rendered apparent by the fact that ,
lere are many working men here who :
re doing we'll. Carpenters as recently ),
ated, receive from $3.50 to $3.50 per day; ,
rick and stone masons from So to So; ,
lasterers and all skilled labor in proper
on. These wages admit of good mar ,,
in after paying board and lodging. :
Dys niger is one of those persons of ,
HON Joaquin Miller said the best thing
lat could happen them would be some
ling that would compel them to stay for !;
while in any one place. They 60 about ,
cities and, unfortunately, find i,
ewspapers foolish enough to print what
ley say.