The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-24
THE ADVANCE IN REALTY
Some Instances Of the Way in Which
Prices in Helena Have Gone
in q Year.
Suggestions as to tho Disposition
to Be Made of the COL
Iege Fund. IA
The Paving of Main Street-News Of an Ex.
Mayor-Prominent Visitors During
the Wesk-Notes.

the Wesk-Notes.
There is no better way to prove the conA-
dence Helena " 'ple have in the value OF
real estate in the capital city. and their
belief that it will increase in value, than
to endesvor to get n piece OF ground, either
improved or unimprovsd, ut prices ruling
one or two years ago. II prices placed
upon Helena property " years ago were
fictitious, and not justified, there would
certainly have been a drop the past winter.
Instead Of dropping in price, there has been
an increase in almost every section of the
city, and where it has not increased, it has
remained the same. An illustration of the
rise is given in the Easterly addition.
Fourteen months ago a Denver syndicate
was offered a book of twenty-five lots there
at an average price of $3.50 a lot. The offer
was not taken, and since they have been
sold at an average of 5000 a lot. The Syndi-
cate and Broadwater additions show a like
history. Some few people, who purchased
moro unimproved property on time payments
than they could carry during the dull times,
have disposed of a portion of their hold
ings at prices below those ruling in the
same vicinity, and thus tided themselves
over a crisis, but the large majority of
property holders have held on through the
quiet times, fully believing that in doing
80 they will realize handsome returns
later on.
The failure of the committee of congrc-
gationalists to agree upon q location for the
proposed college to be under the control of
that church, has during ths past two days
been the theme of conversation among all
GLASSES of people. The fact that the matter
will not come up again until next Septem-
Der has given rise to the question: what
shall be done with the endowment raised by
Helena?" Many different answers are
given to the question. some say bold the
fund together and give it to the Episco-
palians. They have a school
here already, and a church with
such wealthy eastern connections ought
endowment as the Congregationalists.
Others say give it to the M%ethodists, and
let them go ahead and build on to their
university. Others again favor the putting
of a substantial and convenient building
on the ground dopated with the $25,b00 in
hand, and then offer it to the Congrega-
tionalists when the committee meets in
September. On one point, however, all are
agreed; that, is to keep the fund together,
and let it be devoted to the object for
which it was collected-the endowment Of
a college.
The way in which the Main street prop
erty owners are signing the petition for the
paving of Main street indicates a change of
sentiment on the part of many who form
erly opposed it. There seems to be a feel
q inc that tba nayinu ana1l CnDtipua down fO
Helena avenue. the argument used being
that strangers first enter the business
portion of the city at that end of town,
and that by carrying it down that
far it could make a better impression, The
question as to what material should be
used is a vexed one, some favoring wood,
others granite, while still others say the
Stag from the shelters would be the least
expensive and would be equal to the best
asphaitum. When two-thirds of those own
paved have signed, the matter will be
brought before the city council.
In connection with the paving question,
the views of Ex-Msyr M. F. Rohrer. of
Council Bluffs, Iowa, are interesting. MIR.
Rohrer is interested in Montana mines and
is now in Helena, a guest of the Cosmo-
politan. He was mayor Of Council Bluffs
for a full term and also served part of a
term, retiring from office last year. Speak
ing of the paving question yesterday, he
said: 1--WE have been all through this in
Council Bluffs. having tried granite, and
cedar blocks, and are now experimenting
with brick. The granite is the most last
ing. the greatest objection to it being the
noise. Cedar blocks are not a success, be-
cause while all right when new, that sort of
Il pavement is expensive to keep in repair.
The brick proposition is a new one with US.
Firat u had of aan5 10 mt down. on this tim
brick are laid fiat, then on them again an
other row of bricks standing on their side.
This makes a good pavement, not noisy,
nearly HIS easy as the cedar blocks, and by
using very hard brick a most durable one.
Then it is not expensive to keep in repair"
L. Willer James, who WAS at the Broad
water the first of the week, is one of the
big men of New York who has great faith
in the future of the northwest. He left
New York some time ago in his private car,
ACCOMPANIED by his family, and has been
n XII Z a tour OF the northwest. He
ern stock and is we'll acquainted with
the country through which that road
.u9s. He believes that Montana is just en-
to ing upon her career of wealth and pros
perity, and th,a with her national resources,
she is .sureto be one of the greatest states
in the union. AS Mr.. James has great in
fuence among those who have money to
place in the west, his good opinion of the
state is worth much to it and to Helena.
Another prominent visitor during the
week was Jas B. Pearson, vice president of
the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance COM
pany, of Newark, N. j. Mr.. Pearson has
shown his confidence in Helena, often visit
ing other sections of the state, by investing
100000 here. Beside this his company has
put 800, 900 in the city. Mr.. Pearson was
i'll Helena some thee years ago, and he was
greatly impressed on his last visit by tho
growth since then. This struck him par
ticularly in the residence portions.
Taking tho progress made in the last
three years by Helena as a crites-
ion, do not like to ven
ture a prediction as TO what tho
city will be in five years. The hub of one
of The greatest states in the union, If your
citizens properly appreciate their oppor-
t%unities, and push things 10 Denver and
Omaha people do, there Is no limit to Hel-
ena's growth. Certainly no community
ever had more encouragement to build a
freat city. This college contest" he con-
tinued, sis a good thing for Helena. As |
understand 1t, next year there will be n
capitol contest in Montana, and the way
tho smaller towns in the state have fought
for the location Of the Congregational COL
laua oroyes ybnt If Halnun ,uapts tho Cnpi-