The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-05
An Answer to the Men Who Want to
Delay Developments
a Year.
How the Artesian Well Project Is
Regarded by Other Cities
in the State.
Real Estate Dealers Report an Increase In
Business and Less Trouble in Placing
Loans in the East.

ssThere is q great inclination on tine part
of many people, said IN observant Helena
man the other day, "to POSTPONE many de-
airable improvements, both public and pri-
vate, for another year. In support OF TINS
view, they say that it will be more to the
citv's advantage in many ways to have a
great many mon employed here next year
than this. In my opinion, those VINO argue
this way look on but one side of the sub
ieot, Business has been very quiet all over
the country for eight or nine months. ana
no difference how brisk it may become IN
mercantile ines it will take some time for
investors and those who make improve
ments to arrive at the point where they will
do something. There is not the slightest
question but that in Montana, at least,
there will be a large surplus of capital the
coming fall. In order % get
the ball fairly moving for next
year some of this surplus must be
expended this year. 1t is all right for the
capitalist and man of some means to lie
back and put his money out when ne sees
proper, but while he is biding his time what
ia the man who depends on his daily wages
going to exist upon? The increase of the
CITY of Helena in population is from 1,oOO
to 1000 each year. Put off all the improve
ments which are now contemplated till 1892.
and what would the result be? Hundreds
of families. unable to wait until the 'grass
prows,' will leave the city, the town will
get the reputation of being dead, II 1t
will take US till 1893 to get back where we
are TO-DAY. In other words We will lose
more in the way of population by putting
off doing things this year. than we can pos
sibly gain by a squirt next year. Then con-
slider for a moment the excellent class of
people we will lose by playing
this waiting game. Mechanics in
all branches, a majority men of fami-
lies, who own or are paying for their
homes, and whose children are growing up
enthusiastic Helena boys and girls. And
who will taxi their places in 1882! Strangers
who come here for temporary employment,
little O ahead, will leave again. We
have the money to 10 a great deal this
wear, and in Justice to the men who have
made their homes in Helena all improve
ments should not be put off till 1882. Let
the street paving be started; it means the
employment of a large number of men who
need the wages they will earn. Keep the
ball moving right along, and, my word for
it, the natural increase IN twelve months
due to activity will exceed any growth in
population occasioned by the sudden re-
sumption of general improvements a year
hence"
The committee having in charge the
a~rtesian we'll project are now in communi-
cation with the Northern Pacific land Off
cials concerning a section of land on which
to the bore. It will be remem-
bored that President Cakes, IN his visit to
Helena, agreed to give the company an
option at a nominal price, on a section of
land near Helena, in which to locate the
making the selection. OF the $4,000 re-
quired for the enterprise 49, $50 has been
subscribed. 1t is designed to make the
company a popular one, and for that rea-
son it Is the idea to get as many small sub
scribers to the Juno az possible. r.. A..
in G. A. Broadwater's office. The latter
will be absent from Helena about four
weeks, and before his return it is hoped the
fund will be complete.
In a recent issue the Yellowstone journal
tells of an artesian we'll which has been
struck in the Vicinity of that city. A Mr..
Beck was prospecting for water on the sum-
NIT of the high bluffs across the Yellow
stone. He had no idea of striking an arte-
sian flow, but wanted a we'll with an mex
haustible supply of water for pumping pur-
poses. When down 12S feet a genuine
a~rtesian flow rose six feet above the sur
face. It lasted for several hours, but his
boring apparatus got caught in a cave-in.
This is now being repaired. Mr.. Beck is
positive he has an arteslan flow, as his we'll
does not go down to the level of the river.
His theory is that all along under the bluffs
there is an upheaval of the artesian strata,
corresponding to the elevation of the bluffs.
Meantime the eyes of the entire state are
upon Helena, and to a large extent her
reputation as a live and progressive city
a-a-1 on, 4Ic or~1 ~ ,-I,-I Al. Ill
enterprise is carried out. Something of the
sentiment throughout the state is shown in
the following, from the Great Falls LEADER:
The slowness with which the business
men of Helena come forward and take
stock in the artesian well proposition is bv
no means credltable to that city. The
newspapers have labored without ceasing in
aid of the enterprise. and there is not a
large property owner within the city limits
who can afford to let this scheme fall
through if there is promised half Il chance
for success in a fair trial. The whole state
is deeply Interested in the work. 1t verify
looks as though a large majority of those
interested were waiting for a few neiqhbors
to come forward and bear all the expense"
All the signs indicate that the revival of
activity i'll realty has come to stay. There
has been no sudden Jump, but for nearly
two months the close of each week has
witnessed a better business than the pre-
cedlng one. The result Is that when deal
ers are asked to coInpare the transactions
of the last six days in june with the same
time in April, a number are surprised at the
increase. Another excellent feature is the
fact that those who make q business of
placing mortgages IN the east arc not only
able to do so now. but have inquiries for
this class of securities. This is accounted
for probably by the wide publication given
in the leading papers all over the country
OF statistics showing the revenue which will
come into Helena between August and No
vember from the mines, cattle, wool, sheep
and horses. These figures were first pub
lished in The INDEPENDENT. the Associated
and United press sent them to all the daily
papers in the country. and now they are
finding space in the weekly and monthly
publications.
Few people realize how much advertising
Helena is receiving just now from the
Northern Pacific railroad. In addition to