The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-21

Tor lef views. On the other hand in dis
cussing the eastern notion of Helenaite'.
diurnal existence We must contend with
hordes of active and Inscriptions liars
They are found mostly on the stats of met
ropolitan newspapers. They sit pencil in
hand like hawks looking for prey and indits
humorous efforts about Montana because
they know 1900 miles lie, between them
selves and the people who would devon,
them. Their companions, the vultures, are
the wrecks whose ideals of art reach the
portrayal of bad man with gun labeled
''The man from Montana" When winter
comes they bury him to his ears in snow
| bank and call the picture, IA mild
winter day in the mountains or "a
street scene in Helena or something of the
sort. The big Four" engaged in a poker
game where the checks are worth ahundred
| dollars each finishes the stock in trade Of
| the lying artist and the unartistic liar. The
result of these scattering shots is prevail
ing idea that Montana and Helena are very
bad and uncomfortable places for residence
purposes. When the eastern man visits The
Queen city his eyes are opened in way
that surprises him. He finds life 80 entlur-
able that he is quite likely to be found here
with his family in the following year. He
learns that ''all the comforts of home'' can
be quite as we'll stayed and quite as easy
of access as in the metropolis from whence
he comes.
Some day The SUNDAY INDEPENDENT will
print symposium of eastern pictures of
Montana life to illustrate phase of dense
and unknown ignorance. This morning we
will take birdseye view of the city from
our grim and untiring sentinel, Mount
Helena, and see how the Queen city s people
live.
Over the mountain side in the beautiful
valley beneath are two well-tracked and
well-ballasted railroads. They run side by
side for some distance and then turn into
the mountains, one running onward to the
coast and the other to the greatest mining
camp on earth. A few hours vigil in the
bright sunshine and crisp atmosphere will
bring to view two long trains of vestibuled
Pullman cars. They whirl t.efore the de-
pots and stop for half hour, for Helena is
an important railway point, and then steam
of to their destinations. The eastern ten
derfoot alights from the sleeper and looks
about in surprise. He has enjoyed pleas
ant and interesting journey of two days,
and it has been a comfortable journey.
He has found all of the luxuries
of railway travel to be found OH the
New York Central or Pennsylvania roads,
with the exception of Pullman car barber
shop. The menu of the dining cars is even
better. The game from the mountains is
OF the best IN the world and the trout found
SO plentlfully in the mountain streams
would bring a smile of satisfaction to the
daintest Partisan epicure. The butter and
eggs Il ON tho ranches along the way are
quite us good rs can be found in the
Mohawk valley. The train service is in every
way asgood and with I'LL of these comforts
of modern conveyance what more can be
asked for and found. The traveller has
now reached Helena. which town the guide
books say is the capital and principal city
of Montana, the richest town of its size in
the world. and the social and political
center of the Mountain state. "There NAV
be good deal of western brag about this,'
muses. the traveller rs he steps out
in the platform prepared to SILVER him
self to pieces. Where is the town
and how will he get to it?
II at the Northern Pacific he sees a CITY
scattered over some distance and centering
between two mountains. If at the Great
Northern he finds himself surrounded by
the relics of the great placer wealth of
Last Chance gulch. There are two WAYS of
reaching the ''best hotel'' Here are two
lines of cabs. They are as elegantly and
comfortably furnished as can be found in
eastern cities This will not be wondered
at when it is learned later that $4,000 is
invested in the cab business in this city.
This is partly controlled by two companies,
though many of the hackmen own their
conveyances. The drivers rs class are re-
liable and intelligent fellows, and should
be fairly prosperous, as they make from $50
%<,G nol, =
card of rates, informing the visitor that
eastern prices prevail. It will cost but
half dollar to be carried to his hotel or any
distance within mile. Around the depots
are electric cars to carry the
traveller tl to almost II every street
is in use and the service is said to COM
pare favorably with that in the great cities. |
The fare is five cents to any corner of the
town. Tho cars run on double tracks on
the main lines and move 80 frequently that
there is no delay in waiting for transporta-
ton. By either conveyance the traveller |
moves to the heart of the city. His baggage
is already taken care of by an agent OF the |
transfer company. who boarded the train
down the road. In few minutes he has |
turned the corner and is at the beginning
of what tho old timer will never tire telling
is Last Chance gnlch. The term gulch |
which our friend has heard in the east |
means, in a mining sense, strip of placer
ground. Possibly he was prepared to see
a similar place when a stranger who got |
on the train at Great Falls or Livingston !
told him that Helena lay in a |
gulch. What revelation will meet
his eyes if this is his expecta-
ton. At the end of the gulch |
he will find great mass of stone towering |
in the air known as the Power building, It |
cost $4,000 and would be a credit to |
Broadway or State street. Then follow in
succession the finest and costliest array of
business blocks in the northwest. All are |
solid brick and stone from the corner of |
Sixth avenue to the latest addition, that |
stately and dignified structure the Montana
National Bank. These features attract at
tention for the first time as the cab threads |
its way through the crowded thoroughfare.
The first favorable impression of q town |
usually comes through the medium of a |
hotel. Man is good deal of an animal |
after all. II he is we'll clothed and we'll fed |
he is usually in a comfortable frame of |
mind. Something out of the ordinary line
is necessary to disturb his equanimity.
Some of you have visited a little mining
camp for instance. like POW, with
the expectation of putting up with
discomforts. To your pleasant
surprise you find yourself at little hotel
by Mrs. Irwin, who takes pride in
running the best rural hosiery in Montana.
Then again you will visit large city where
hotels should be run on Q high stan
dard. Thsre you will be served with badly