The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-01

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transcontinsntal railroads, whore travel
across the once traoklsss desert from ocean
to ocean has bean maids attractive and
easy. Tho board has Witnessed the growth
Of the city from : town with
out government. with q population
Of 5000 at the time Of the
census Of 1880, to the capital of the state
with a population of near 5000, and with
an assessed valuation for 1891 Of $22,OOO.-
600. The board has witnessed with pro-
found Subtraction the magnificent output
Of the state a. the product Of mines, placers
and gem workings, the vast money value of
cattle, sheep. horses and wool shipped
during the season Of 1891, amounting in tho
aggregate to over $50, 100000. Al the state
meets with good fortune or disappointed
hopes the board shares the Joy or sorrow.
suspense Or moved in prosperous tide. the
board feels the quiokeninRs or reactions,
and it is within their organization whore
the public barometer of progress and pros
perity indicates the true situation. The
state presents the anomalous but
out Of debt, with a self-imposed valuation
of $14O, 600. 600 for taxable purposes. Our
city, after vast expenditures in improving
streets. sewerage and promoting the general
welfare, has an indebtedness far within the
limits Of the leg legal percentage g Of issued
is happily located in . city and a state so
eminsntly endowed Re Helena and Mon
tana. For many reasons. substantiatsd by
local conditions of a large and healthy sup
ply Of banking capital and deposits. it is
manifest that g season Ct exceptional pros,
renew her rapid gait in the march Of
municipal distinction thus causing q flow
of money that will facilitate payments int
go o great way toward increased earnings
for those who build and those who labor.
Thus situated. there is no cause to stand
impel the Board of Trade to continue in its
business Of promotion and good works.
!. The retiring president, II. M. Parchen,
returned his thanks to those members who
had helped all along to make up a quorum.
Referring to the beneficial effects of the
appointment of a committee to stir up the
people, he said there wore some still who
should be brought in. There might be
some ill-feelinR on the part Of the Cham
Der Of Commerce. That body had died, not
because this Board Of Trade existed, but the
board had been rosurected because the
Chamber Of Commerce had failed. He
hoped the prejudioes had been done away
with by the change of officers.
William Muth, the new president, in his
inaugural remarks, deemed it a matter of
congratulatlon that the board would not
have to look around for work to do. There
was more out for it than at any time during
his connection with the board. He referred
to the various conventions which were to
meet in Helena during the year, and the
necessity of making some provision for
them. In the present ,%stringency of the
money market it might be that the state
armory would be the best they could do for
a meeting hall. but If anything was to be
done toward an auditorium building. the
matter should DO acted OF promptly.
Major Walker said that Q Of the build
coming conventions. He moved that the
executive committee be directed to petition
the CITY council to put up a building capa-
BILE of accommodating 1000 people, which
could be used for library purposes.
r. II. Howey said the school trustees
the ground for such q building, rssorving
part of it for a manual training school.
The city could we'll afford to dc this and
use the building for library purposes.
Judge j. g. Sanders said the board should
not be hasty in the master. He moved to
refer it to the executive committee, which
would soon find out if the council had
authority to mako such IN appropriation.
His motion was adopted.
Gov. Hauser made q report in regard to
the mining congress-. He said the exccu-
tive committee to whom was left the time
AIN pLdCo vi lltAt AOchAAk AoA AOGAN6u OH
the second Tuesday in July, and Helena.
The executive committee had decided that
the members representing the place should
make all the arrangements. He desired to
turn the matter over to tho Board of Trade,
A committee consisting Of President Muth,
Secretary Eddy, and Gov. Hauser. w. e..
Cox and Barnard Brown were appointed to
arrange the details.
Richard Jockey brought up the assess-
ment matter and that of management of
county and city finances. He Thought
them proper things for the sboard to look
after during the coming year. 'Unless we
have some business management of our
affairs" he said. "it would be better not to
have Il lot of people coming hare. We are
having mismanAsement m inoompetency
in all branches Of public service. We have
N Indebtedness Of $1,o00,0o0. county and
ished school house to show for it. II the
members OF the board would 90 TO the
county commissioned and reason with
them, ] think We would have n different
state of %affaira. Money 10 being squan-
dered in all all quarters. People will not
take the chances of investing. and non res
ident property owners are protesting and
giving orders to sell their real estate"
Judge Sanders said he had no particular
kick, as no had nothing to look after. Yet
it was history and fact. Ten years age
Helena had become a city, with . charter
had gone up to about $500,000 but no did
not know vino were to blame. AZ all had
stood by and applsudsd.
Ex-President Parchen did not know that
the existing condition OF affairs WAS due to
any particular ex~travngnnce. Helena had
Ind ltd hoom--thouRh ii was not much Of q
boom-and now it waa having ita relapse.
IF our indebtedness is $500. 0O0,n he con-
tinued, ut Is not high on TN assessment of
S25,0 900, 600. that ia provided our assessment
IL correct. My impression Is that II the
assessment 10 correct IL would be nearer
$4,000, Goo. Some may be assessed too
high, bnt there are others Who
ara NOT asaosand anonah NJ -