The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-28
HELENA IN 1891,

The Helena city directory for 1891,
which has just come from the press Of
r. L. Polk IL Co., is larger, more accu-
rate and complete than any of it's prede-
cessors. 1t is larger than last years
directory by nearly 100 pages but, as the
publishers say in their Introductory, the
increase denotes the city's continued
growth and prosperity. Last years
directory contained the names of 1886
adult citizens; this years 1921, an in
crease Of s55. Using the multiple three
to represent the m and children
not enumerated, and the present popu-
lation of the city is found to be 24,753.
The excess of these figures over those
obtained by Superintendent Porter's
enumerators is great, but not surprising
to those who know how .i~nadequately
the federal census was taken every
where.
Much of the data collected by the
publishers is valuable and interesting.
The expenditures for buildings for the
past three years are good indexes to the
city's steady growth. In 1888 they were
1902, $3.50; in 1899, 81, 374 800; in 1890,
%s2,2O0,000. This does not include valua-
BILE buildings erected in the suburbs
outside of the city limits. Speaking of
the city's commercial Importance the
publishers say:
Its situation in the immediate vicinity of
the richest mining region in the world, and
the center of a remarkably fertile and ex-
tensive agricultural region, convenient to
immense grazing ranges and abundance of
good timber, makes it necessarily the point
from which the great bulk of the industrial
products of the state must always be
shipped. So far its manufacturers are
limited. but the list is being added to daily,
and it will not be long until smelling works,
rolling mills. stove factories, canning es-
Establishments and various other enterprises
are established here, in the vicinity of the
mines of gold, silver, copper, iron and
coal; good timber is convenient
and abundant; the land produces
grain, vegetables and fruits, and
the ranges the best of beef and mutton for
packing and canning; and besides there are
y" hCAo HASApy VA PSoRAO WIZ uoS Xix
means and enterprise to improve the oppor-
tunities at their command. 1t may be
safely concluded that Helena's destiny is to
become the industrial capital of this Rocky
mountain region, as surely as she is now
the political capital of the great state of
Montana.
The future of every city must depend
largely upon its situation and surroundings,
and when these are considered it is not diff
hcult to predict with tolerable accuracy the
degree OF development it is likely to attain.
Situated midway between the Pacific coas,
and the head of navigation upon the Mis-.
sissippi river and the great lakes and al
ready the center of a system of railways
radiating in every direction, and connect
ing it with every inhabitable part of the
continent, would of itself be enough to JUS
tify the belief that Helena must become ,
very important industrial and trade center
Surrounded by an inestimable aggregate O
wealth it cannot be otherwise than tina
Helena will attract to herself vast multi
tudes of enterprising people. Here is worl
for all, nc matter in what branch of indus
try they may desire employment, and her,
labor cannot fail to produce %abundantly
Under such circumstances the progress O.
Helena must not only be rapid, but oontin.
uous for many years to come, and it is n,
e1aggeration to expect that within half
century she will take rank among the great
est and wealthiest cities of the western
world.
This is a pleasing picture, but no
more so than that contained within tn,
$50 compact pages of the volume which
in its long list of varied industries, cor
porations, societies, charitable, religion.
and educational institutions tells tn,
story OF the young metropolis.