The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-06
AT HELENA.
Arrival at the Capital of the State OF
Montana.

Arrival at the Capital of the State OF
Montana.
The train moves slowly: we are nearing
what appears to US a city built on the
mountain-side with great wall of noun
tains all about it.
Next station. Helena" shouts the brake
man. and we start, gather our belongings
together, and make ready to alight as soon
as the train stops.
The depot surroundings give but a poor
suggestion of what awaits US when We shall
reach the city proper. An enterprising
hackman seiZes our valises, and, rather
than stand and argue with him. we submit
and follow him to his carriage. He drives
us to Il most elegantly equipped hotel.
A' room. WITH u.0'' sigh S''ss of rs relief
we throw ourselves into easy chairs,
and VOW that nothing can tempt
US to leave the four walls of that room ex-
cept to get dinner, but as evening draws on
and we have recovered somewhat from the
fatigue of our journey we venture forth.
Of course it was with fear and trembling
we went upon the Streets for we had always
heard how desperate and uncivilized were
the inhabitants OF western towns. We ex-
pected to have pistol pointed at US at
everv turn, or to see y cowboy or an Indian
was our relief and little our disappointment
at not having our money demanded of us
or not having seen man shot down. We
returned to the hotel after a half hours
stroll feeling that our eastern friends knew
little what they were talking of when they
told us the yarns of what We would enooun-
ter in the west. We met with nothing bat
perfect courtesy on every hand.
What Il glorious view we had from our
window. of the valley to the mott and tho
high rocky walls all about us. The next
morning Mt the breakfast table, hearing
gentleman at our right speak in suoh glow
ing terms of Il hotel about three miles out
of town and of the natatorium we had
heard 90 much about along the entire route.
we determined that should be our rendez-
vous during our stay in Montana, and from
there we would start to visit the places Of
interest in the state, The boulevard is
ilanked on either side the entire distance by
beautiful ana commodious sres licences, tho
electric cars and the steam motors went
spinning by. and to our eyes all things
metropolitan. Aswe neared the hotel what
met our gaze seemed as mirage. The
beautiful grounds, the fountains, thriving
their feathery spray into the air, the i'm
mense twin-towered building of Moorish
architecture, 100x3tD feet in size and 100
feet to the roof, with its hundreds of
stained glass windows and balconies. and
the elegant hotel seemed but an elysian
dream. With cry Of ecstasy we alighted
from the carriage and We're conducted to u
most elegant suite OF rooms which we were
to call our own as long as we chose to stay
i'll Montana. Our trunks were unpacked
and the contents thereof deposited in clos
cts and drawers and we prepared to feel al
home.
Three wears ago where this hotel and
natatorium now stand was a little place
called Hot Springs. An old-fashioned
house stood there. and was but a roadside
resort. Col. G. A. Broadwater, one of Mon
tau's pioneers. conceived the idea of trans
forming this spot into such place ms would
be Il delight and pride to all Montana, and
! u place of resort to the outside world. He
went to work. cleared and leveled tho
ground, piped the water down from the hot
springs, built a hotel. an aquatic theater,
miles OF macadamizvd roads, and made an
artificial lake, never resting until he had
outvied nature by the handiwork Of man.
The hotel il beautiful structure. three
stories in height. built on tho cottage plan
with broad verandas, lighted by electricity
and supplied with hot and cold water from
the springs. 1t has attached to II somo OF
the finest bath houses to be found in the
world, fitted out with solid porcelain tubs
upon marble stands. There are, besides.
shower, vapor and spray baths. In front OF
the hotel 10 tho natatorium or aquatic the
ater. IL 10 the largest and finest structure
of the kind in tho world. IhS
building Ia supported on circular
trusses with no interior supports. Az all
times an imposing structure. at night u
seems veritable enchanted palace. Tho