Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-28
ENTERPRISE REBUFFED.

ENTERPRISE REBUFFED.
The il.advised utterances of a few men
in a community sometimes result as in
juriously to it as though the people had
especially delegated them to be their mouth
piece. The original intention OF the Street
Car Company in the plan it laid out when
the men who inaugurated the enterprise
looked over the field was to reach from
Walkerville to South Butte and from
Meaderville to Rocker. The travel to and
from Butte proper to South Butte, Meader-
vile and Rocker was never intended to be
the limit of their aim. It was seen that
the largest travel was to Walkerville, and
how to reach this suburb most cfectually
was the consideration with the gentlemen
composing the company, SO as to accom-
modate that line OF travel. When the
prime mover of the street railroad enter
prise was in town q few days ago. the
| VAUDEVILLE project came under discussion.
1t was conceded by that gentleman to his
| associates that the extension could only
be satisfactorily reached by a cable road.
| This is the most expensive form OF street
railroad in construction, but it is the only
effective plan to work on such steep grades
as exist between Butte and Walkerville.
Once down, such a line would last indef-
nitely. The man who can contemplate the
expenditure necessary to put down a cable
rosd between the two points named shows
his faith in the p~ermanency OF the city. 1t
would be a permanent investment from
which only the income would be derived.
The principal invested could not be real
lied again.
And vet this gentleman and his associ-
ates conceded, with the faith they have in
Butte's future, that it would be a good in
vestment-provided, the road were re-
gart,ed with favor by the people. But the
facts apparently did not show this. The
capitalist in question reminded his asso-
ciates that the Street Railroad Company
has had to fight it's way almost from the
start. 1t has met with opposition moreo r
less factious in the Council, and been
treated as though the profit was all on the
side of the company, and that the benefit
to the citizens was so small as to be out OF
sight and unworthy Of consideration. That
the favor was all on the side OF the COM
pany who should be thankful for any
favors the Council chose to grant them.
He could only infer that the feeling mani
tested by the Council was the official ex.
preston of the feeling entertained towards
the company by the majority OF the citi-
zens. Under these circumstances, he did
not think that the expenditure OF the CAPT
tai necessary for a cable road would be
warrantable. With popular feeling in
favor OF the road, the company
might anticipate reasonably a patronage
that would be a fair interest on the
investment. With popular feeling inimical
to the road. it was out Of the question
The Councils action convinced him that
there must be an ill-feeling existing against
the road and he would be opposed to the
investment until the business men and
property owners OF the city manifested
their favor to tn enterprise.
He was assured that they were, in fact,
and that it was only a small faction in the
Council who opposed the road. In proof
Of which he was shown the petition OF
business men on Park street that was
being circulated independently OF the
Street Car Company, and which received
cavalier treatment at the last meeting
OF the Council. This was before that petit
ton was presented. Meeting one OF the
shortly after, he spoke OF that
The Councillor received the iu-
with a dlsdalnful curl OF his lip
and said "Oh, They're all gamblers On that |
There isn't a decent man among
1t had been represented to the
street railroad man that the signe:s of the |
petition were respectable business men, but
here vas u membe OF the
Council who assured him that they
were all gamblers and the most vicious
and ~disreputable element Of the community
whose signature to a document is d direct
evidence Of it's valueless quality. That was
Of the City Councillor in question. The
street railroad man was thunderstruck.
were of no avail. Until the
business men Of the community |
demonstrate that they do
share the prejudices Of the few men,
bers of the Council who have shown hustil-
ity to thise enterprise it is safe to say that
the cable extension to Walkerville will re-
main unbuilt. 1t remains with the citizens
to repudiate the ill-advised utterances OF
he few member Of the Council who have
impressed the men who come
here with enterprises calculated to bring
benefit to the town that they are unwel-
come here. Meanwhile, the property-hold-
ers and business men who signed the petit
ton can now understand why it was shut
off without ceremony at the instance ofone
Of the members. In his opinion they were
q pack OF gamblers.
COMSTOCK'S CRUSADE.