The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-13
Judieious System of Advertising
Deemed the Necessity of
the Hour.
NearlyOne Hundred Thousand Dol
lars Worth of Property Changes
Hands this Week.
Brief Interviews with Real Estate Men
Building Permits-Real Estate
Transfers, Etc, Etc.


for which there is no use in that section of
the country. A correspondent for west
ern paper states that in each of the towns of
Williamsport, Harrisburg, Wilkesbarre,
Altoona, Erie, Lancaster, Reading, Scran-
ton, Oil City, Bradford, Kane, Chambers
burg and Lebanon, in Pennsylvania, are
from s., 100000 to $3,OOO,OOO lying idle in
local banks. It is further stated that there
are in all the banks of Pennsylvania fully
$4,000. 600 lying idle, and that upwards of
$4O,OOOOOO will be withdrawn for invest
ments in the west this year, and great
portion of this will find proper field in
Montana if an effort is made to secure it.
But Helena will not feel the result of the
tide of emigration and capital unless she
bestirs herself and advertises the town.
Some of the Puget Sound towns have
adopted splendid and effective way of ad-
one-half to one whole page of
the local papers in different states
of the east and advertised their city. Why
couldn't our progressive citizens take hold
of this matter and spend few Thousand
dollars in this manner! 1t would result
in large influx of the best class of Yeo-
pie and investors that ever came into the
west.
Another system of advertising that has
proven very effective in Colorado, Texas
las, Texas. which was town of 10000 in
habitants four years ago has population
of nearly 100, 900 at the present time. This
was accomplished by. getting up free ex-
cursions for capitalists. They were in
yited to the town, entertained in hearty
and royal manner and the result has been
wonderful. Tney invested millions of dol
lars in real estate and improvements of all
kinds, established manufactures and now
Dallas is one of the most fourishing cities
in the Union, although the town possessed
no superior advantages. Pueblo, Colorado,
was built up in the same way. as we'll as
Birmingham, Alabama and Knoxville, Ten
nessee. Helena is infinitely superior to
these in resources and position. She ought to
be the commercial and mining center
to-day. But she cannot retain this position
by sitting idly with folded hands, waiting,
Micawber-like, for something to turn up.
1t requires live. progressive and earnest
effort to accomplish anything in any bust
ness. united effort effort must be made
greatest opportunity of her existence.
The feeling among real estate men was
very good during the past week, and all re-
port business fair, but nothing like it
ought to be if the town was properly adver-
tised.
Wallace & Thornburgh sold about $12 600
worth of unimproved lots during the past
week and one dwelling house in Flower
Garden addition for 1000. In addition to
this the firm began the erection of twelve
dwelling houses valued from $4,000 down.
The outlook is regarded by the firm as very
bright, but the city needs advertising.
Eastern capitalists who know our city and
it's resources are too few. They want us to
show that we are alive, and then we can get
all the money that is needed to build up a
great city.
With Steele & Co. the real estate market
has been fairly good during the past week,
and they report number of sales in the
Broadwater addition; also twenty-five feet
on Helena avenue: also negotiations pend
ing on one or two transactions of consider
able Importance. In regard to the pro-
posed advertising fund, Mr.. Little suggest
ed that there were other and better means
of advertising than by the means of print
er's ink, which, of course has it's place, and
thought it would be mistake, in the long
run, to boom Helena until we can show
eastern investors a welt-ordered, finely
appointed city. The impression is unfortu-
nate if capitalists come hste and find the
''wealthiest city of its size in the world"
with ill-kept, unpaved streets, muddy in
springtime, dusty in dry weather-at all
seasons disgrace. If our sidewalks are so
poor as to be in some localities dangerous
except to those of cool head and steady
nerves, if we have no public library worthy
of the name and no public buildings at all,
would it not be mistake to expend $780,
600 in newspaper advertisements until we
have made our city more inviting. Men
come here to make money to be sure, but
good streets and sidewalks, abundant
water, fine public buildings libraries and
churches do surely advertise city in a
most satisfactory manner. Let US boom
Helena by all means. but let the boom, like
charity. begin at home, In an awakening of
public spirit.
Porter, Muth & Cox report business fair
with good prospects for future business, A
few substantial capitalists are coming, and
nearly all are eager to invest AS soon as
they look over the situation. The trouble
is that Helena is not known; it needs ad-
vertising. Nearly all new corners state
this as a positive fact.
Matheson Il Co. made several sales of
outlying property, and report business
very good for the week. The little adver-
tising that has been done has been of great
benefit, but we want more of it,
Witherbee d Wheeler made two sales of
Helena avenue property, one for $4,000
and another for $4,000, and a number of
lots in Broadwater, Hotel Park and North
ern Pacific additions, and have several
deals on hand with eastern people not yet
closed up. But We must advertise. We
must let the people in the east know that
we have a city and state with boundless re-
sources. To show what can be made in
real estate, case was stated where clear
profit of $50 per foot was made inside of
seven months. We need good sidewalks
and streets.
DeLacy, Loeb & Co. report few sales
and business very active. They believe the
first thing to be done in order to build
great and thriving city is to provide en-
ployment for laboring men.
w. IL. Motter sold 10 or u unimproved
lots this week. and reports business good.
The town needs advertising. The people
of Helena ought to follow the example of
Pueblo. Col.-invite capitalists to visit US
and furnish them free transportation. Let
us build a city first, and manufactures of
all kinds will be established as needed.
4. 5. French Il Co. made several good
sales, and are very much encouraged at the
outlook for the future.
j. X. Steele d Co. report good deals dur
ing the week and more inquiry than ever
before. They regard the advertising scheme
a good one, and if the balance of Montana
is taken care of Helena can take care of
herself.
Carl Kleinschmidt sold $500 worth of
outside property to strangers during the
week, and reports business fair.
Armitage Piatt have done good bust
ness during the week and made sales
amounting to $4,000 to $4,000. and have
big prospects for the future. They regard
the advertising scheme for the city a big
thing and just what is needed. Business
for the week good.
w. S. Cummins finds real estate improy-
ing and looks forward to great trade dur
ing the summer.
John S. NJ. Neil is still absent in the east