The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-05-09
THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE
SATURDAY. MAY 2. 1891.
HELENA'S ~DISCOMFITCRE.

with distinguished visitors. Not man
years ago the Marquissde Lorne, a Sol
in-law of Queen Victoria and retirin
governor general of Canada. suddenl
dropped down on the city. That wa
during the days before the iron horse c;
vortcd over the hills and dales of Nor
tana, or lightning had been harncsscd t
wires in the then territory. But tn
widc-awakc. thrifty ons of Last Chanc
were cqual.to the emergency. The oh
ST. Louis hotel was then the pride AM
glory ofiHelena. and there the marqui
and his distinguished party were invited
to enjoy a banquet spread b,
the prominent citizens of the place i
was rather AN exclusive affair. and sev
cral. among whom was Col. a. VI. Wool
folk. not being invited to the feast Of
reason and flow Of soul. afterwards
roasted thrcntcrtaincrsf for permitting the
marquis to foot the hill for the blowout
1t was rather 81 abby treatment of the
red headed sprig Of nobility and fur.
nished the theme of adverse criticism
for many a day upon the part of out
side newspapers.
But Helena!has, in'pari, redeemed her
self and was fast regainihg her old time
reputation as a hospitahle city when She
missed tire again the other day, and this
is how it happened 1t will Toe rcmem
bercd that IA week or So ago
the papers of that city an
nounccd under catching headlines
that the Burlington railroad had, through
an agent in Helena, purchased IA tract of
land in the Hoback ~ Cannon addition
for depot purposes, for which the said
railroad company paid $4,000. This
piece of news was supplemented by an
editorial %note,,in one of the said papers in
the Burlington and Montana n
were named as being among the
multiplicity Il railroads which would be
into TIE capital city within the next
two years. Following this startling an
nouncem.nt came the news that several
nigh railroad officials. including the
president of the Burlington system. were
Ihout to visit Helena. and that they
you'd possibly take a look at an
point or two in the state
before returning home.
This was Hclena's opportunity and she
roceededtoimproveit il. The visitors were
Known to be in Butte. 1t was also sup
yused they would reach Helena at a Ger
ain hour upon a certain day. The town
lcld its breath while awaiting the arrival
If the distinguished party whose pres
'nce meant so much To the place. Major
Walker. the active, widc-awakc secretary
of the Helena board Of trade. had pre-
pared glowing statistics showing the
great commercial. manufacturing and
other advantages Of the city which he
proposed 10 fire bodily at the visitors.
he mayor had sat up two or three
ights committing 70 memory an ]cluuurut
p""rhof welcome to the party. Mr.. l..
!. Walker, of the hotel Helena.
prepared Il sumptuous rcpast for the
Of the distinguished gentle
zen. at which prominent citizens Of the
wi would each speak his little piece
bout the brilliant future awaiting the
Denver OF Montana" while all would
ln in representing to the railway mag
the wealth Of shckcls they would
athcr 10y running their respective roads
no the city ou the bnnks of the classic !
Chance. ,
But alas tn" plans o. mice and men
sng oft aglce." Those of Helena, .likc
ne bas"lcss fabric Of a vision were dis. {
.pated into thin air and with them went
II MS hopes Of that railroad
hose approach along with the
N Canada" had been so in
ustrlously t%riumprted by the local press.
h" railroad party slipped in and out Of
elena unnoticed, %unhonored and nn-
ing, and came down te Great Falls, its
al objective point, where it remained a ;
III day visiting and admiring the sev- ,
a points Of interest about the city. in 4,
udlng the great dam, the smcltcr. the .
ant springs and falls, and being right ,
yally entertained by Senator Gibson ,
nj other prominent citizens of the ,
ace. Helena means we'll. but as long
Great Falls can present such induce
ents as it now does to railroad builders
ld capitalists, generally for profitable
v"stments, 1t can never hope to attract
interest outside visitors with capital.
S.iRTOR RESlRTTrS.