The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-27
HOW HELENA IS GROWING
Hundreds Of New Residences and
Costly Improvements in the
Business Center.
The Building Boom as Great as in
Any Year Of the City's
History.
improvements on the East and West Side
Growth to the North-As to
Rapid Transit.

Piles Of brick and lumber on the business
and residence streets of a city may take
away somewhat from its neatness, but at
the same time no one objects to them, es
pecially where they are intended to be used
in the construction of handsome business
blocks and comfortable residences.
In the early part of the season the streets
Of Helena were comparatively clear of
building material, and the opinion pre-
vailed that there would be less money ex-
pended this year than last in that direction.
This is very easily explained from the fact
that we had no early rains and it WAS ques-
ton whether the summer of 1890 would not
be repetition of that of 1889. Fortunately
the rain did come, and except
in a few sections it has
been sufficient to insure good crops and a
large yield of hay. just as soon as this
was assured business began to get better in
every branch and those who had unim-
proved lots in ne1vna began to let contracts
to builders. At the same time improve
ments in the business center which had
been spoken of in the early spring assumed
tangible form and now there is as much
building going on in Helena and the addi-
tons as there was q year ago. IN MAN
AOAASO~ASAAAAt
virtually rebuilding the Montana National
bank. The improvements will run away up
in the thousands and when completed no
bankjin tho northwest will have handsomer
or more commodious quarters. The Gran
ito block, owned by Kleinschmidt Bros, and
winter. is fast approaching completion. 1t
10 beinQ remodeled inside, handsome stone
front is being put in, and when completed
it will not only rank among the handsomest
buildings IN Helena, but for offices will not
BE- surpassed. These improvements, also,
will cost good many thousands.
On Grand street the foundations for the
new block to be erected by A. p. Curtin are
nearly completed, and before snow flies
another will be added to the costly business
blocks of the, Queen city. 1t is the design
TO make this Building the most perfect Of
stock of furniture can be carried and still
plenty Of room to display goods.
It is understood to be the plan of the new
Helena national bank to put up an eight
story building on the Curtis d Booker
property .c on MAN MAN street, where ; the he
deslgned especially for banking and Office
use, and contain all of the latest and best
improvements contained in the fine bust
ness blocks in Chicago and New York. As
now planned it will be the tallest building
in the city and probably the most e1pen-
sive.
The new chamber of commerce building
and the work to be done by Messrs. Ames
& Bradford on the adjoining property are
surety enough that the improvements in the
business section this year will equal if they
do not excel those OF any previous year.
dence portion. Last year there was yerita-
BILE boom in the matter of new buildings
east of Rodney street, and it was thought
the demand was supplied for couple of
years, but that this was mistake is clearly
proven by the extent Of the building opera
direction you will, the sound of the car
penter's hammer and the cry of the brick
LAYER oreets you. The building is not con-
fined to any particular section, but extends
from Rodnay street away out to the open
country and from the First ward boundary
are but few cheap houses in the number,
and they run in price from $3.50 to
$4,000.
10 not, probably as much building this year
ont toward the Broadwater hotel as there
closer in, and the section between Harrison
avenue and the foot hills. and from Shaws
addition to the Muth place, on which the
houses were comparatively scattering year
ago, 10 this year filling up rapidly. I'm
provements in the way of sidewalks and
what was considered year or two ago away
ont. 10 now easy of access from the business
section, even in the worst weather. The
GLASS OF buildings in this portion is of the
best, many of them costing over $4,000
and none less than $4,000. Among the
hsndsome nesT houses on this side are those
of w. e. Cox, nearly completed and that OF
iHervey Barbour, which he has been occupy.
ing several weeks.
Down in the Broadwater addition the
number of new buildings for 1890 will equal
those in 1889. They are all good houses
is solidly built up.
If any one is doubtful about Helena's
growth, or the amount of building now 60
ing ON, let him take little walk to any OF
the elevations overlooking the city and see
for himself,
If a city's prosperity is illustrated by the
building operations, certainly Helena has
no cause to feel alarmed over the future.
Despite the hot weather there has beer
considerable activity in the real estate
market the past week. A small army OF
graders, masons and carpenters have been
at work in Lenox and numerous tine resi-
dences are going up as by magic. North Of
the city also the interest is on the increase
For som, months New York, st. Paul,
Kansas City and Denver capitalists have
been pui chasing acreage In the valley, es-
pecially along Montana avenue, until now
the city have either been sold or bonded.
Prices on these ranches have steadily ad-
vanced until they can no longer be thought
OF as farming propositions. The question
is, what shall be their future use?
The building of the Montana university
the VALLEY first attracted attention to
these outlying acres On the strength of
the belief that this institution was to prove
a success and that q small village would
grow up around 1t. the adjoining lands in
creased in value. Later a company was
formed and several hundred acres of land
purchased west of the college site and sur
veys We're made preparatory to sinking q
well $3.50 feet deep to obtain natural gas
The parties in interest maintained that the
prospects of success in this scheme were
most promising, but for some reason tn,
work does not commence. The project o.
damming the Missouri river and bringin,
cheap power into Helena has also caused at
tention to rest on the intermediate lands.
Helena is situated SO that growth toward
the south and the southwest is blocked b
the mountains. It has extended towar
the east and the west but already the e1
tiemeties are becoming distant from tn
center of business. The business growt
Of Helena at the present time is nortl
Already it is creeping out North Main sire,
and many predict that it will before mar
wears cross the railroad tracks. Ches
acreage Ou tho CAST or the west side is b
coming scarce and this fact more ths
anything else is turning attention towar,
the north. In that direction is spread O
thousands of acres of rich, level, W.
vatered land, with good broad avenu