The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-11
AS TO P%AvEMENTS.
A Loading Properly Owner Presents some
WelI-Tlmad OhservntiOns

A Leading Properly Owner Presents Some
WolI-Timsd Observations.
10 The INDEPENDENT; While liable for
heavy assessments ! am decidedly In favor
Of paving, not only Main street, but Helena
avenue, dulch street, and all tho central
business districts ~ we'll. ! favor this not
only because the improvement Isl necessity
to economical traffic, but on the broad
ground that money ju%diciously expended
for needed public improvements. by giving
employment to labor and developing local
industries, adds greatly to the wealth Of
the community. q fact which il but feebly
comprehended. The practical effect Of sew
eral hundred thousand dollars disbursed
for paving will be to add \ million to tho
city's valuation. II means a lively real
estate market, . demand for n consc-
quent construction of houses. More houses
means additional mechanics, more brick
stone and lumber. The mechanics need
supplies from the stores necessitatinQ more
business and good rentals. 70 tho influence
travels In q circle Of constantly widening
prosperity, Every dollar Of primary dis
burscment AZ IL moves, gains an increment,
a share Of which il rubbed off by each one
who handles it. Thus the dollar. while it
enriches In its circuit. reaches the place of
original disbursement unimpaired in value.
The owner has gained n good pavement,
has stimulated all local industries and yet
has bis original dollar back again. With
this principle properly understood suggss-
tlons leading to public improvements would
not be regarded as schemes to rob an abut-
ting owner of a portion Of his wealth but
rather as q temptation to his cupidity.
Instead of freezing his liberality it would
iniame his desire for gain. The making
ct a city is what makes a city.
There must be in the surroundings a
demand for the creation OF a metropolis
as the germ which swells the bud, but the
effort expended IN the termination, 40 to
speak, is what makes the flower. This army
of quarrymen, brickmakers, house me-
chanics and lGborers, constitute the larger
element OF the community, who. BY their
principal support of the business houses
and professional classes. hence it would
sesm good business policy to apply capital
without stint for all useful local improve
menta of a public or private nature. In
regard to the material to be used for paw
ties, like individuals, are indisposed to profit
BY experience of others, but would rather
pay for 1t themselves, however costly the
operation. There is not a large city in the
United States that has not passed through
the. period Of experimental paving. They
have all tried in turn wood as a material,
but ] believe, without a single exception,
granite blocks have been adopted for streets
carrying a heavy traffic. All concede that
for noiselessness and smoothness wood ia
preferable, but its useful longevity is usu-
ally not prolonged beyond two or three
years. The impact of heavy wheelage ore
ates depre ssions which render its condition
about the same as a corduroy road in a
Louisiana swamp. A short experience with
this is sufficient to terminate the misery,
and granite with its noiss ia quickly substi-
tuted. What argument demands an expert
ment here which is sure to result similarly
On the contrary, there are special reasons
why granite should be used in Helena. 1t
is a local production. but its profuseness OF
supply ia wasted without encouragement
Its preparation in marketable shape
ia in effect q manufacturing
business, something ardently desired. 4
suitable plant is expensive to procure, but
once on the ground, by it's very expensive
ness commands the shipping patronage.
When Great Falls, Butte, Missoula and
other cities, need paving blocks "a they
surely will Helena will be the center OF
supply because provided with facilities
which it will not pay any other one city tc
create. ! repeat by way of emphasis that
there is not a single large city in this coun-
try which has not adopted granite blocks as
the final solution of the paving question OIL
business streets, Washington City alone OK.
cepted. Why 20 farther for wisdom?
AN EASTERN INVESTOR IN HELENA.