The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-27
COLLEGE TOWNS.

Vigorously Defended by education, !" and
Instances Given.
Noting the article of "Citizen and Tax
payer in Mondays INDEPENDENT on ''Col-
lsRes and Manufacturer" l should like te
enlighten him on a point on which he sseml
to be woefully ignorant, or is wilfully mis-
representing, If you will kindly allow me
spnos. From this writer's article one would
judge what is evidently true, that he wal
born and raised in Montana, and that he il
. specimen of that class of people who ara
utterly unable or unwilling to appreciate
book larnin." He certainly has never
visited the numerous thriving eastern cities
that are the detachable college towns" that
are . credit to OUT nation, and he exhibits
his ignorance by stating that these college
towns" never amount to anything.' liz
again says this idea of ''bidding for
church colleges is all nonsense" What
ow-mindedness he displays. He
q% md never visited the city Of
population of 22,0O had no colleges, now has
. population Of 10000. four Church col
legesf' and several others, all secured by
this donation plan, and that in q prohibit
ton city, too. And if You we're to ask one
Of the citizens Of that city what is causing
Y " A0 WOAlA 00y WxVA luSb UTlA0s
"Onr colleges" Hundreds Of the best
families in this country are settling there
every year because of its superior educa-
tional advantages. Drake university, under
the control of the Christian church and
with 1000 students last year, already at
tute Of learning, has already built up a
beautiful suburb, had it annexed to the
city, thereby adding = population of over
5000 70 Des Moines. Highland Park COL
legs has done almost as much, and the
others are not far in the rear. All this
aside from the many patrons who have 10
Gated in the city proper on account of these
schools.
The numerous college towns are not 90
much heard Of in the east for the simple
reason that cities of from 1900 to 40, 900
are go many, while in this country q place
of 1900 to 10000 is regarded as a large
city. How many manufacturing towns do
you hear of of that size?
What kind Of a~factory would Taxpayer
bring here on the bonus offered? The day
has not yet arrived when manufacturing
will pay in Helena or Montana. because
labor, fuel and other materials are SO high,
as are the freight rates on raw materials,
that it couldn't be made to pay. The time
of course will come in the near future when
it will, bat it is not SO now. and in the
meantime we should secure all the colleges
and other public institutions possible, and
when these articles grow cheaper then the
factories will come and will be all the more
being IN educational center of the great
state of Montana. A tow is generally
judged by her schools and banks. Helena
stands among the first in banking business,
and fairly high on the school question, but
there is abundant room for hsr, and no
less il is because of the many ignorant
lnossbacks who can't see tho advantage of
colleges.
The gentleman sis surprised that the city
WAS hoodwinked" He seems to be very
easily surprised, and I suppose it would
on the list of donors to this college. He is
very willing to dispose of that subscription,
but it is dollars to doughnuts his name
isn't down on that list, nor would it be for
a factory subscription.
This money has been subscribed for a
college. The donors undoubtedly knew
what they were doing when they subscribed
it. Let US use the money in that way. for
1t will benefit tho town more than in any
other way imaginable. If the Congrega-
people do not care to accept it. giveit
to some of our other church people. But
use it for college purposes at any rate.
IT this does not convince this gentleman
that college towns'' do amount to some
thing occasionally, | can give him 81 list of
own larger han Helena that have been
built by their colleges. are still growing
rapidly and will continue to do 90, with
facts aaa figures to Prove same. They are,
like Helena, unsuitable as yet for manu-
featuring purposes, and are going ahead, |
making all the improvements possible in
the right way, and when the factories are
ready to locate, they will locate at these
live college towns'' of from Is, 600 to !
10000 people from the fact Of their being |
intelligent communities. and also from the |
fact that college towns'' as a rule are pop
ulated by tho best class of people to be
found.
BY all means give us colleges and schools
first, and if Helena ia suitable for q manu- |
featuring city, the factories will GENE later |
on when we shall be better prepared to 40
cept and secure them. A good live college
will do more for Helena thar q dozen weak. |
struggling factories could do, and that 10
the only kind we could hope for for years
to come.
1t is very bad for a town to have men
come out and oppose what evory Intelligent
man knows has been the thing above all
others that has made our country what it is.
many splendid colleges, and II Helena
ever expects to attain any position in tho
world, commercially or otherwise. she must
take a stand that will encourage any educa-
tional enterprise in locating in the "Quesn
Clty OF the Rockies EDUCATION.
EXCURSION TO MARYLAND.