The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-04
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1891,
AFTER THE FROIh Frs.

Yesterdays independent publishes
an interesting interview with Col. Broad
water, who takes advantage of the oppor-
tunity to express his opinion of "croak-
ers" and the class of moTtals who do
nothing to aid in upbuilding the com
munity in which they live, and, in many
cases, prosper through the enterprise and
public spirit of others. Referring to this
they are obstructionists to the growth of
the city and contribute absolutely moth
ing to her prosperity. Let me diverge
for a moment and illustrate my meaning.
When | was a boy some fifty years ago
St. Louis was a big city of 100000 people
1t was the great centre of the west and
was without u rival for Chicago had not
then been heard of. Since Their as you
know the relative position of the two
cities has changed. Chicago sprang up,
forged ahead aud soon grew into a great
center of population and today is three
times AS large as st Louis. st. Louis was
distanced, why? Because she was in.
ficted with a class of land owners who
refused to help her growth. A great
part of the city was owned by sew
eral big estates. They refused to
sell property or improve it and as a con
sequence people went elsewhere. Real
estate in Chicago was owned in small lots
and was kept constantly IN the market.
Many people We're interested and i'm
provements had to come. We may ac.
count for Chicago's growth by booming
blowing, or whatever you call it, but there
stands the great city rs ii result. | be
lieve 'blowing" is a pretty good thing
for a town when it builds 1t up. Now,
then, in this city we have a condition of
affairs similar TO that of St. Louis at the
time | speak of. There are men here
owning great and valuable pieces OF
real estate located on business streets and
in other favorable parts of the city
They refuse to either sell or improve
When men come here to buy propert,
they are unable to secure the locations
they wish because these selfish croakers
regardless of the prosperity of the city
are determined to hang on.''
In regard to the right spirit to be
shown by the city government he adds
ut seems to me that our city government
must certainly be more liberal If street
improvements are TO come. A degree OF
liberality in granting franchises and char
tiers means more and better improve
ments for our city. These will come
sooner if people who wish to invest
money are treated right"
Concluding his caustic remarks the
colonel says: II am heartily sick and
tired of the everlasting croaking of men
who have made every dollar they have
through the efforts of others. | hear
some of them say that there is nothing to
bring people here. We heard the same
thing about Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane,
and other cities, and yet they have grown
out of sight. The people will come II
the obstructionists will give them d
chance. FACTORIES ana various industries
will follow as a natural result If We all
join in the building up of the city. Five
years ago Spokane was not known. To
day 1t is a tine city, 80 per cent larger
than Helena. 1t was built by pushing
and driving, and advertising. That is
the way to make a city and this Is the
eririt ,,a ,anJ ia JI,1nn
1t is a matter of satisfaction and cor
graduation that Great Falls has but very
few of these chronic croakers and that an
entirely different spirit is evinced here
We are not doing much blowing, bu'
there is confidence on every hand that
this city is destined to take the lead in
the northwest and nearly all are willing
to lend aid to that end.