The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-30
THE STEAM MOTOR GOES
The Helena, Hot Springs & Smelter
Railroad To Be Equipped
With ELECTRICITY.
Contracts Let and tho Work to
Begin as Soon as the Ma
terinl Arrives.
Northwestern Guaranty loan Company
Now the Owners OF tho Road-J. H.
Clark to Continue Manager.

Now the Owners OF tho ROad-J. H.
Clark to Continue Manager.
II the weather keeps good for three o
four months longer. there will DO no NOR
complaint of the dirty steam motor" al
those who have Offices along the line of tina
road sometimes term it. II will be remem'
bered that about four weeks ago tho Helena
Hot Springs u Smelter railroad was sold
pursuant to the order of Judge Knowles
The purchaser was q gentleman named
MoRhe. He did not buy the line for him
self, but was the representative OF the
Northwestern Guaranty Loan company, OF
st. Paul, which company took up the bonds
origi nally issued to build the road. Tbt
Guaranty company. recognized that the
franchise owned by the road was a very
valuable one. and they also saw that
the day of the steam motor had passed in
Helena. President Menage, of the conf
pany, was in Helena at the time of the sale,
and looked the entire situation over care
fully. He finally concluded that If Judge
Knowles confirmed the sale, which he did,
II of two things were necessary to be
done. Either sell the road or equip it with
electricity. A number of gentlemen. some
in Helena and others IN the outside, talked
of purchasing the property, and they were
all given a chance at it. But while the lat
ter were figuring on it President Menage
was not idle. He consulted n number Of
gentlemen engaged in the electrical bust
ness and finally concluded arrangements
with j. II. Lawrence. of this city, to put the
poles and string the wire. No contracts
were signed at the time. because it was the
desire to give intending purchasers an OPP
portunity. Monday the limit expired, but
President Wells, of the Helena Street Rail
way company, asked for more time and this
was granted. This expired yesterday at four
O'Clock, and no agreement being reached,
j. II. CLARK, tho representative of the COM
pany, told Mr.. Lawrence to consider the
contracts signed and to telegraph for his
material. The latter had already made his
arrangements and last evening he tele-
graphed his people to ship the goods. The
poles will be on their way to the station to-
day and the wire will leave Chicago by
tractor will have his men at work, and he
says with good weather he can complete it
in sixty days.
But there is a great deal more to be done
besides strinRing the wire. The North
western Guaranty company has ample CAPT
ena, said if his people did conclude to
equip the line with electricity, they would
mako it as good as any in the country. Men
will be put to work Immediately fixing up
the road bed. SO that by the lime the wires
are strung the track will be ready. The
just where the power house will be erected
has not yet been decided. Certain extern
sions which it is believed will greatly ac-
oommodate the public and at the same
time add to the revenue Of the company,
are under consideration. 4o3
pany, and who as receiver of the motor
line, has proven his capability to manage
an enterprise OF this kind, will have charge
of the equipment of the road, and it's run
ming when the changes are completed.
Speaking yesterday of the interests of the
public just as good service as was given
anywhere. They would endeavor to make
the line a popular one, and he had no idea
that the change in the motive power would
cause any change in the present rates of
fare charged Oh the steam motor.
Around town last night where the matter
was discussed much satisfaction was ex-
pressed that a subject which had been
agitated for several years was now to be
settled in SO satisfactory a manner The
AlstoIy oL tue bIedm mOGOF uhS Deen u most
eventful one. 1t was started in 1887 or 1888
by local men, among them being VIM.
Muth, ]. L. Porter, E. D. Edgerton, j. b.
Sanford, L. G. Power, j. j. Palmer and
others. It was built by Mr.. Palmer and the
bonds sold to the Northwestern Guaranty
west side. and for the first six months or so.
with the fares at % cents, it made lots of
money. MIR. Palmer was the manager of it
for some time, and was succeeded by OK
Alderman Dunn. After a while the road
began to run behind, and as some of the
they became Disguised. When the Broad
water line was built the business of the road
also to a considerable extent.
Then w. L.. Humbert undertook the man.
agement of affairs. He held on for quite a
while until last winter. Then with the
cars nearly WRECKS, the track in
terrible condition, and mountain
of debts on it for fuel, wages and all sorts
of supplies, it stopped running altogether.
The Northwestern Guaranty company, the
holder of the bonds, then applied to Judge
He appointed j. H. Clark, and he under
took to save something from the wreck.
And very we'll did he succeed. He had the
roadbsd put into shape, the motors repaired
and the coaches fixed up, and then gave the
public something they had never before
49, AAAO AAtA "a va
ming on time. manned by sober engineers
and run by accommodating conductors.
He took for his right hand man Chris Ca
hill, who had been with the line through all
it's troubles, making him superinten-
dent. Everything possible had been
done for the accommodation of the
public, and Mr.. Clark has the best wishes
of the patrons of the road for his contin-
ued success. Under his management it
has made no money, because it has taken a
great deal to get into fair running shape.
1t is universally recognized that the TAX
ing hold of the line by the Guaranty COM
pany is a good thing for Helena. The
company has a capital of n million dollars,
and has done more toward the building up
of ST. Paul than any other one institution
in that city. Whatever it undertakes it
does in the best possible manner, and there
is a belief that it will pursue the same
course in equipping Inc running the motor
line.
,Don'tfail to attend the bargain towel sale at
The Bee Hive this week.
Artificial fowersin hanging baskets just ar
rived at The Bee Hive.