The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-15
THE WEATHER.
WHAT WILL HELENA BE-?

The always interesting speculation as
to Helena's future is revived by Editor
Smalley in the current number Of the
Northwest Magazine. Mr.. Smalley is
SO thoroughly acquainted with the
growth and resources Of the northwest
and has been SO close an observer OF the
progress Of its chief towns that his
words are entitled to great weight. lie
says: 4. "#-# -+- A- v@+
Will Montana develop q large city? This
ID a question often asked Of people familiar
with the state. and the answers are not al
ways in the affirmative or the negative,
Looking at Denver, which stands near the
eastern slope Of the Rockies and is sus-
tanned by the same kind of as
those which form the chief industries of
Montana, the advocate Of the affirmative
side of the proposition finds a strong ar
pument. Colorado preceded Montana by
more than ten years in securing railway
facilities. Montana produces as much silver
and gold, and pastures as many sheep,
horses and cattle as the elder mountain
state. Why, then, should not a city like
Denver grow up within her borders? On
the other hand The fact that Denver is 400
miles further east than Helena is pointed
to, and a point is also scored On the obvious
tendency in Montana to build up a number
of large towns rather than center business
in a single city. Helena has about 1900
people; Butte has % 5000, but is more an ag-
gregation Of mining camps than a CONNER
cial metropolis; Great Falls has enjoyed a
rapid growth and now scores at least 5000,
while Missoula is not far behind her. There
are other good towns Of local Importance,
such as Deer Lodge. Anaconda. Dillon,
Bozemsn. Livingston, Miles City, Billings
and Glendive. Helena is the political,
banking and commercial capital and is not
likely to be disturbed in her honors. Her
only possible future rival is Great Falls,
which has a certain advantage in her posi-
tion on the Missouri and her unlimited
water power. This advantage is more than
Offset at present, however, by the greater
railway facilities and large established
trade of Helena and the fact that she has
more %populous country within easy reach
to draw upon for business. If there is to
be a city corresponding to Denver within
the boundaries of Montana, Helena has the
|Sou ~ 1SSoA1O VAUb OAbys 11l4
effort will be made to take the capital away
from her next fall, but it will not succeed.
This is the view of an unusually we'll
informed and impartial outsider who
always leans toward conservatism.
The reasons advanced by those who
hold the contrary opinion, as cited by
Mr.. Smalley, seem to us unworthy of
consideration. Denver loses rather than
gains by being four hundred miles fur
Their east than Helena. Her riches come
from her tributary valleys and noun
tains; she gets nothing from the east
but the competition Of Kansas City.
"The obvious tendency in Montana to
build up a number of large towns" is
not more marked than in Colorado.
Pueblo is larger than Butte, and Lead
vile and Colorado Springs are each
towns with t%wo-thirds the population of
Helena. Denver has been helped by the
growth of the other towns OF Colorado
just as Helena gains by the increase in
population and business of Butte, Great
Falls, Missoula, Bozeman, Livingston
and the other cities Of this state. Very
likely there will be three or four large
cities here, but one of them is certain to
be the largest and that one, in our opin-
ion, will eventually be Helena. But the
larger the others the better. There is
community of interest between our
towns. The prosperity of each is the
prosperity of all, and whichever is chief
whether it be Helena or Great Falls OF
Missoula-the people Of the others, and
of the whole state, will be proud of it
Every inhabitant of Colorado is Justly
proud Of Denver. We shall have another
and greater Denver in Montana, the
metropolis and the pride of the north.
west.