The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-11

To Connect the business Center With
Northern Suburbs Via Main Street.
A meeting of parties interested in the
building of an electric line OF railway to
extend north on Main street from the juno
ton of Helena avenue to and through the
Grand avenue and Richmond Hill addi-
tions and thence north to the city limits
will be held tomorrow morning at 10 at the
Office of Armitage & Piatt, in the Thomp-
son block. The committee who nave charge
Of the matter are N. w. Mcdonnell, f. p.
Tower, G. ID. Hard and Jesse Armitage.
They have issued q circular in which they
say: "The projectors of this road are Den
yer capitalists, (who have purchased con-
siderable land north of the Northern Pacific
railroad) and other large owners of prop
erty in the same locality. The cost of build
ing a good and well-equipped line is very
great-at least $25, 600 per mile, and the
cost of operating would be at least $4,000
per annum for every car, besides interest
on the investment n depreciation by wear
and tear, (the last item estimated to be
about 20 per cent per annum.) The entire
cost of building the electric line to ceme-
$4,000. and the net loss in
operating, for the first five years,
is estimated at not less thar $4,000
per annum. This would leave a shortage
in five years of $l50,OOO. The railroad pro-
%jectors, although they do not over one
this proposed line, are willing to contribute
one-half of the entire shortage; and this
evidences their confidence in the advance
of property on account of this line. You
can readily see that the income derived
from a service through SO s%parsely settled a
rorinu woT110 ba for the frat fau vapru Az
exceedingly slight proportion of the cost of
operating as enumerated above. The bene-
fits derived would be enjoyed equally by
every land owner according to the proper
lion of his property. 1t is right and proper
then that this cost of operating should be
borne pro rata by the various owners of
property benefited. Experience in the
cities where similar lines nave been built
has proved that the consequent advance of
property has been from 100 per cent. to
1000 per cent. within one year from the
completion of the line. and there is every
good reason for believing that the results
of this railroad. if built, would be equally
favorable.
"For some years lots on lower Main
street have been dead property, advancing
less in proportion than any other in our
city. Something must be done in the shape
of improvements, or the tide of trade and
consequent enhancement of values will
continue its course down Helena avenue.
No owner of north Main street can afford
to miss this opportunity. Main street is
the natural t~horoughfare north of the city |
the only one that can cross the railroad
tracks OH bridges, and if the projected
electric line ia built, Grand avenue and
Richmond Hill additions will be brought
within eight minutes of the center of trade.
For this reason these additions will soon be
covered with dwellings and store buildings
will be erected on north Main street to
supply the demands of a large and growing
population north of the Northern Pacific
railroad.
1.-THE projectors of the electric railway
own considerable property in the Grand
avenue addition and in the unplatted por-
ton of the Richmond Hill addition. and
acres beyond which they could plat, and
they will do all in their power to stimulate
growth in that direction. Experience has
proved that cities grow where enegetic men
work. Other owners of property have
pledged about $4,000 more in cash and
acres. There still remains a shortage of
$3.50 0 to be pledged. In order that this
necessary amount be raised every lot owner,
as we'll as larger owners, will have to con-
tribute something.
"The following items show about the
proportionate sum that should be contribu-
ted by lot owners. As there are some who
refuse to take their share of bur-
dens, it will be necessary that others of
more liberal and progressive natures give
more than their proportionate share.
Lots facing on Main street between Hele-
ma avenue and Northern Pacific railroad:
Corner lots, 800; inside lots, 1915.
Lots on jackson street between Helena
avenue and Lyndale avenue: Corner lots,
$40; inside lots, $50.
Grand avenue addition, lots in blocks II,
Is, %, 26, 81, %, 30, 36, 81. 80, 40, 4G: Corner
lots, $50; inside lots, $3.50.
Lots i'll other blocks OF the addition:
Corner lots, $50; inside lots, $40.
Richmond Hill addition, lots in blocks 4,
8, G, Z, IA, 10: Corner lots, $50; inside lots,
$50.
Lots in other blocks of the addition:
Corner lots, $40; inside lots, $15.
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