The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-28
THE WEATHER.
YOUNG MEN AT THE FRONT.

$@&##%@A IVJAta MEN Al 1IAr
Iii appears that the revival Of the pro-
iact for building a railroad from San
Francisco to Boise and Butte, connect
ing with tho Northern Pacific, the
Great Northern and the Burlington sy,s-
tenn, when the latter shall reach Helena,
ID due chiefly to a rev organization OF
the young men of the Golden state h
are determined to revive CALIFORNIA;
languishing industries and infuse new
life into her chief metropolis.
This organization, known as the
"Yonng Mems League OF Progress"
promises to be n powerful factor in the
California renascence which is at hand.
In a communication to the Railroad
Gazette M. j. Lorraine, a civil engineer.
gives u graphic picture OF the stagnation
that exists in California, and it's causes.
He says: ..
People in the east think Of California as
the Golden state, and a land of promise.
wealth and activity, and associate with its
people a dash and enterprise which is be-
lieved to be the. peculiar. attribute of the
west. But, although %singularly favored by
nature and position, with an equable eli
mate. bountiful agricultural resources, its
hills stored with every variety of minerals
and their surface covered with the finest
forests, with grand scenic attractions. the
Pacific tributary on the west, and on the
east a territory rich in mining, agricultural
and timber resources, much of which seeks
a natural outlet to the coast. yet California
- %D-lau 10 ,,nro l;foJopu and o%o ~ a ~ than
any other portion of the United States. In
its principal city, San Francisco, trade is
dull and Improbable, and many old firms
are going out of business; vacant houses
are numbered BY the thousand, and COM
plants Of dull times are heard from every
lip. The pioneers, whose pluck and indus
try ave to the farther west it's early vigor, |
have either died or are now old men. and
their children have lived in fancied security.
not knowing the need of effort, and with
the quality entirely lacking or dormant be- |
cause of the apparent lack OF necessity for
its use. While the majority of the people
have been living on the golden results and
reputation of the past a few men of shrewd-
ness and foresight have been gradually
building and absorbing the means of trans
portation to and within the state until Cali
fornia stands in the novel position of a
state having practically but one railroad.
The result has been disastrous to the well
fare and progress made, high rates of
freight have been sustained, politics and
the courts have been controlled, and every
means and hanne utilized to advance the
intet ests and the wealth of one grand mon
opolistic power. The state has conse- |
rr,arAI<, fa,1nl 90 3ou1~- tLc f-li .-4.uk -
its resources, has been unable to compete
successfully with other markets, and is
fully ten years behind the times, in many
respects, as compared with other localities
having fewer natural advantages but more
adequate means of transportation and
cheaper rates.
In short, as in other communities
many of the men who have accumulated
fortunes are taking life easy and are dis
inclined to put forth the energy and
effort necessary to correct evils that
make the conditions of life hard for
coming generations. The milliouaires
OF San Francisco spend their time in
eastern cities or in Europe. and in fact
many OF them pass the year round IN |
"~' - y" IL 1lOIflItitl |
residences on the Pacific coast. Their
fortunes are secure and, if the men who
are struggling for them do not succeed
because Of adverse circumstances. thew
care little. Young men in western com
munities as we'll as elsewhere, as IA rule,
do not possess large means. They have
brains and energy and resolution. They
have ideas which, if they could carry
them out, would promote the growth |
and prosperity Of towns in which they
live, but they are seriously handicapped.
1t is SO in San Francisco; it is so in
Helena.
The young men of San Francisco have
at last become aroused and they propose
through thorough organization to see if
they cannot accomplish something for
themselves and their city. "The Young
Mems League Of Progress" has been
formed for this purpose. 1t Includes
within it's membership not only the nro-
gressive business men of San Francisco
but also young men throughout the
state with kindred interests, hopes and
aspirations. AS Mr.. Lorraine states it.
''Their object is to give their aid and
support and efforts to ameliorate the
condition Of business and politics. To
promote and assist every enterprise that
will benefit the state, to oppose concen-
trated control Of the lines of trasporta-
ton, and to bring about the construc-
tion of competing lines. The last two
things they have particularly IN view at
the present time
They have many railroad enterprises
under consideration and have issued
maps and descriptive matter showing
the nature and resources OF the country
that pew lines of communication
would open up and make tribu-
tary to San Francisco. They
propose to enlist capital to enable
&sA&5E E=s..-.