The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-14
The Council Has the Power and It
Should Order Main Street
Paved.
Criticisms on Helena's Power to
Originate and Failure to
Execute.
Progress OF the Artesian Woll 6ubscrIp-
tlons-Why w. 4. Haven Has
Gone East.

The condition of Main street yesterday
forcibly called to mind the attempts made
during the past three years to have that
thoroughfare paved. The subject is now
up again, and it has reached the stage
where it ia only necessary for the council to
decide what material shall be used, and
then order it done. One of the most public
spirited men in Helena, talking about the
matter yesterday, said: This paving
question is now in the hands of the city
council, with power to act. Some wan
one material used and some another. and
whatever is used there will be some people
dissatisfied. Iwo-thirds of the property
owners have decided that Main street shall
be paved this year, now let the work be
done. Helena is fast getting the reputa-
tion of being great in originating, but sadly
lacking in carrying out. This was most
forcibly put by President MenaRe, of the
Northwestern Guaranty Loan company, on
his recent visit to Helena, when he said:
Helena is all right, and will be a
great city if her people will but ex-
ecute one-half as we'll as they plan. On
my visit a year ago Main street was to be
paved by September; the Chamber of Com.
merce was to put up a fine building; a new
opera house, the finest in the west, was to
be built; and all the horse car lines were to
pc equipped with electricity. OF all these
'nterprises, how many have come to a fru-
zion? But one-the motive power of the
Nr lines up to the times.' Nh. Menage
Vas correct in all he said, and he might
WE added that had the Helena people in
uessted in the Steam Motor line lone as
my agreed, that line to-day would also be
/ deelectric line. The Chamber Of Com
limbo building is a thing of the past; the
1nma house question is possibly nearer
apeccEon, and the paving question is just q
IN 5Nurther advanced thar last year. Ii
e*hlltfw the paving matter to lapse now it
chnnotN help but have an ill-effect on the
town. VT has got to be done, and this year
is as good a time as any. Nothing will be
gained Ny leaving it open for another twelve
monthsl The council has the power to act,
and let that body go ahead. It cannot
the majority decide what shall be used and
get the stfeet paved.
ut is not that Helena lacks the capital to
carry out the enterprise proposed for the
good of the whole CITY," the speaker con-
are looked % rs not s', only to soa put av up on money ern m for
everything, put in addition are expected to
go from office to Office and from store to
store to persuade others just as much in
terested as they are in the enterprise. to
join. If they do not do this, things drag
along and finally die out. The advertising
fund of $4,000 was raised in a few days be-
cause this system was followed. The cracker
factory bonus was also raised in this way,
and the college fund, while in a number of
other instances\ the same is true. This
proves that Helena has the money, and all
that is needed is\a more general interest
taken in all these\thinos. Thera ia notbipu
now in the way Of Main street being paved
save the indifference of those who should
take an interest in it. Let the council
order the work done and then rush it to
completion"
The gentleman quoted above might have
included in the worthy enterprises now be-
fore the people of Helena that of boring an
artesian well in the Prickly Pear valley. 1t
will only require $4,000 to test the matter
thoroughly, and wheni it was first mentioned
there were tfty men who agreed TO coma in