The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-20
The VALLEY RAILROAD.
Graders Have Commenced Work on
the New Line Near the
Catholic Cemetery.
The Capital City q Revelation to
Members of the Pennsyl-
yania Excursion.
Sale OF City Oonds-Shall We Have = Real
Estate ExchaMge-Chats With
the Dealers.

the Dealers.
After q number of unavoidable delays
work ON the Valley railroad has COM
rnenced. Those people who lave been say
ing ever since The INDEPENDENT first re-
ported it would be built this year, that
there was nothing in it, are invited to take
the steam motor this morning. Get of at
the Chinese gardens on the east side and
there they will find Contractor Grady with
= gang of men grading. The first start was
made Monday afternoon. but nothing
much was done till yesterday morning.
Work was commenced between the Chinese
garden and the Catholic cemstary n will
be pushed toward the city limits first. than
the east end of the line will be constructed.
After that the force being put to work in
the valley. The route of the road is from
Ninth avenue along the south side of the
Catholic cemetery to the city limits.
Through the valley the road will take a
northeas,erly cou rse to the Missouri. Be-
yond this point the least expensive
route will be taken to White Sulphur
Springs and the Smith river valley. A
branch will be run to Castle and one also to
Lewistown in Fergus county, opening up to
Helena not only a rich mining country, but
also agricultural and stock-growing Sec
tions second to hone in the state. The
main line will make it's eastern connection
somewhere in Custer county, north of the
Northern Pacific line.
A large part of the ties for the road are
now at Clasoil, and the first consignment of
rails is expected in a few days. Work will
be pushed as rapidly as possible, and the
prospect is that a portion of the road will
be in operation by the early fall. The
Helena end of the Valley oad is what Gen.
Haven. tho engineer in charge, calls the
sBaby." This 'baby'' is away out in Mon
tana now, far from the parent line. but
each is moving toward the other as rapidly
as possible, and Montana will have a big
celebration when the "baby'' is taken in
out of the cold, whether the Burlington or
the Northwestern performs that duty.
The work Of demolishing the old county
Jail was commenced by Grant q Whalen,
the contractors. 1t will be hurried along
as fast as possible, II within a week work
on the foundations of the new structure
will begin. According to the plans the new
Jail will be not only a safe and commodi-
GUS prison, but an ornament to the city as
we'll.
Sixty million dollars is said to have been
represented in the party of Pennsylvania
excursionists which was in Helena yester-
day. Unfortunately, it was stormy in the
morning. but nevertheless all the members
went out to the Broadwater in carriages,
nftnryuNr6 CfrJvjpn ph0uf tina Dlfv oVJ
lunching at The Helena. None Of the
party had ever visited Helena before, and
were the expressions of surprise when
the Broadwater was reached. The business
and residence portion of the city was also a
revelation. Some who met friends here ex-
pressed the determination to visit the state
later in the summer for the purpose of
looking more carefully into the o%pportuni-
ties offered for Investment.
At moor to-day there will be an auction
sale of city funding bonds at the treasur
er's Office. The bonds are of the demomi-
nation of $500 each, bear six per cent inter
est, payable semi-annually, and the
aggregate amount to be offered is 100000.
The bonds mature June 1, 1911, and are
payable after June 1, 1901, at tho option of
the city after thirty days notice. BY the
act authorizing the issue of the bonds, a
special tax is to be levied to provide for the
payment of the interest and to create a
sinking fund for their redemption. 1t is
understood that the bidding for the bonds
will be quite lively, and there are two
gentlemen in the city who are prepared to
take them at par.
The question OF the establishment of a
real estate exchange in Helena has been
under discussion for several weeks, and the
opinion of the majority of the dealers seems
to be that the move would be in the right
direction. The National Real Estate In
vestor's Guide has something to say on the.
subject, which just at this time is Of inter
est to those moving IN the matter:
I'm many places. real estate exchanges, sim
liar to exchanges in other businesses, have
been established and proven very beneficial.
Instead of jealousies and chickering's among
the various offices in the town, which al
ways tend to destruction, all work in har-
mony, and by their combined efforts sue
coed in many attempts which one or two
could never accomplish. Some of the most
remarkable booms In southern and western
property are owing to their influence. For
instance, a town must be advertised, and
one or two offices cannot afford to do it
will not do it when others may get the
benefit, but an exchange can do it; the
chances are shared alike by all. 1t is the
same with these as with manufacturing
trusts which have made goods cheaper, and
gwen employment to thousands who other
wise must have suffered from want. They
help the struggling agent as we'll as
the prosperous. Again, they give g
hxity of value which can never
como when individual Judgment
controls valuation. A new railroad
is wanted, or a manufacturer is seeking a
new site; the exchange can give the infWm-
alton and influence wanted. Men look to
1t and respect It's decision. 1t gives stand
ing to its members, and thereby eleyates
the tone of business. Its certificate of
membership is an endorsement for char
arter. and IN many ways worth more than
a Bradstreet's report. Shysters are not ad-
mitted; hence, must work alone. Parties
who wish to invest in a town will know
with whom to correspond and trust their
business to. 1t is eqalled in value only by
a board of trade which it closely resembles
IN some respects. 1t also leads in town i'm
proyementS, and the citizens rally to carry
out its Ideas when they would remain deaf
to the calls of individuals"
National Real Estate Investors Guide''
is the title of 4 New York publication de-
voted to real estate and kindred interests.
The first number was printed May l, and
is full of good matter, of interest both to
the dealer and the investor. As the name
indicates, 1t is national in character and the
progress OF all sections of the country is
noticed. Three Montana cities, Helena,
Bozeman and Miles City, are mentioned in
this Number. The journal will be publish
ed monthly, and from the appearance of the
advertising columns will be a success.
Work on the foundation of the buildino