The Helena independent., 1892-01-24
WHAT THE YEAR PROMISES.

The year 1892 will be one of unprece-
dented activity in Helena. With three new
railroads to come with the probability of a
fourth, with the development on a large
scale of the gem fields, the building of an
extensive Catholic college, the completion
of the plan to bring Missouri River power
into the city, the entertainment of three
large conventions, a presidential election
with "capitap' trimmings, much grading
and paving, the neiahboring activity in
mines and divers and sundry other projects
just now premature to discuss, if there be
any idle mon in Helena they will be diff
cult to find. So many circumstances have
never before combined to create a period
of such exceptional prosperity, and Helena
is to be congratulated on the brilliant
prospect. The effect in the real estate
market cannot but be good, and when real
estate is of active demand and ready sale
ease of money follows as natural conse-
quence.
1t is source of much surprise to those
familiar with the traffic possibilities of the
road between Castle and Helena, that the
construction was not commenced years ago
as purely commercial venture. The profit
TO be realized will be sure and large. The
estimate as to the cost of construction and
equipment, allowing literally for discount
on security, does not exceed $3,0OO000,
creating fixed charges but little in excess of
$500, 900 per annum. On the other hand,
with an average of 400 tons of orc freight
daily at So per ton, and handsome returns
for miscellaneous freight and passenger
traffic, the income would closely approx
mate 100000 year. With reasonable
certainty that the income would provide
for fixed charges and operating expenses,
and leave surplus equal to good diyi-
dend on q stock issue of S., 900. the ex-
tent OF the "velvet' is very perceptible.
| The excessive accumulation of idle funds in
all the eastern money centers would seem
to invite investments 80 surely profitable,
and why the Helena capitalists have not
! before taken advantage of such an oppor-
tunity is a mystery difficult to elucidate.
| The gratifying announcement that tho
Northern Pacific will make an early COM
mencement of work or the branch from
Avon to Columbia Falls has been received
The Importance of this road to Helena can
not be overestimated, while to She Northern
Pacific its value will be incalculable. The
distance between the two points is about
150 miles and practically all water grade.
The immense coal deposits at Columbia
Falls, said to be equal in quality to any
now on the market will find 4 ready sale at
Helena and Butte, added to which, the
almost inexhaust8ble timber supplies alono
the route will yield freights equal to the
hauling capacity for many years. BY the
, building of this branch the Northern
Pacific will snatch from the Great Mort thsrr
su ubstantially all the traffic of the Flatheaf
section. In what manner the Great North
ern will protect itself remains vet to b
seen. Obviously it cannot with prof
transport the heavy commodities of TIN
. valley to market via Asslnaboine. If tn
3 Great Falls q Canada line be acquired ant
8 used (after widening ths gauge) as Il cut-oi
8 between Grent Falls and tho main line i
| would still have tho long route, as agning
the Northern Pacific, with the addtions
. disadvantage with Butte freight OF bein
y compelled to cross the main range twice.
: The certainty that the great Burlingto
o system will reach By rapid construction
Q the spring tue cities of Helena, Butte an
# Great Falls, creates considerable intere,
n IN the routes likely to be followed. It
- asserted that the Missouri river will /
:, reached by way of Sixteen Mile creek, tht
!. the Butte branch will follow the route ,
~ the Crow creek valley, and the Smith rive
q will be adopted as the best grade to Gre,
% Falls. While much of this is pure cor