The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-09
What the Good Crops and Fins BUSH
ness Over the Country Will
Soon Result in.
Oscar Bradford Predicts q Great
Amount Of Railroad Building
In the West.
Helena And Montana m = Whole VIII
Profit to u Large Extent In the
Turn of tho Tide.

VlS1tOt6 III f1elenas having urrlV6O D Gay q
two e In addition to being one of tn
leading business men of Chicago, he /
largely interested in Helena, and in CON
%nection with other gentlemen his holding
here represent 4 good many thousand dol
lars. He has done a great deal to intsres
outside capital not only in Helena, but il
the state ~ we'll. The Dearborn canal i
one Of the enterprises which owes its in
ception to him, while he takes an ACTIVE
part IN all those things which 70 to make
a prosperous city. Talking yesterday of The
business and financial situation in the east
he said: MATTERS are simply moving along
in accordance with the law of pause and
affect. There il but little life except in
stock grain speculation and moving
crops. Those who had loaded themselves
up during the previous season of real estate
and wildcat stock initiation are drawing in
their resources with a view of liquidation,
which process is rapidly going on. Every
man who was nipped by the frost of panic
last year is at work in the effort to reduce
his holdings to money, and while doing 80
VOWS with much emphasis that he will
never be caught again. Such sums
as may be left after payment
of debts, will be accumulated in bankers
hands, creating a large surplus OF idle funds
which, whom the fear Of further trouble is
over, will be preoipitated on to the market
for profitable investment. In wholesome
dread of the fire which burnt their fingers
before, a strict discrimination will DO exer-
cised in favor of irst-class railroad and
other bonds which can be quickly cashed.
In consequences of the demand, the advance
in the value of Junior securities will attract
notice, and soon anything that 10 embel-
ished with a pretty picture will 90. A big
bond market is the opportunity Of the rail-
road builders, and the next thing on the
boards, especially if the next crop be a good |
one, will be a wild furore for railroad extern
sion, the theater of which will be the west
ern states and territories. Montana will
get the Burlington and Northwestern, with
the Milwaukee d st. Paul a close third.
Many branches will be constructed Tor
local feeders. Such new roads az Helena
needs should be now incorporated and sur
veyed, SO as to ride on the flowing tide OF
MI
"A widespread speculation in real estate
is not an evidence that general business is
good, but rather the reverse. Az a love of
art and luxury indicate the decadenoe Of q
people, so does such speculative fevers
mean that profitable opportunities in
legitimate business are few, and that a
break up is near at hand. The exceptions
to this rule are cities which will be- bene-
by the advent of new railroads. of
which Helena is a notable example. The
cycle of dry weather, bad crops and. dimin-
ished volume of immigration to tho west il
past, we may look for a season of ample
and abundant crops, which means
the resumption of the march of population
toward the mountains and the setting sun.
While at present there seems q stringency
and little hope for future activity, this
very condition will bring about, IS before
stated, and by natural causes, a reverse
of affairs, which will particularly af-
feet Montana and Helena. Hence the time
is opportune for starting railroads and 60
ing through the preliminary steps prepara-
tory to the employment of the printing
presses: The next three years will see wild
in Helena and a period of improve
ment not now dreamed of. While it now
seems impossible to float a railroad to
in a short time bonds can be sold to
send trains to the moon"