The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-02
THE BOARD Oh TRADE.

The secretary Points Ont Directions In
Whtoh IL Can y. n Grent Power.
Undoubtedly the long ebb tide OF affairs
In Helena Ii about TO turn, or haa already
turned. and we are now TO entor upon n year
Of suoh q degree Of prosperity AZ we have
not known for a long time. Many events
Of noteworthy importance are about trans
piring which will each contribute to tho i'm
provement OF our condition. hat we
have passed tho worst time In our history
ia apparent. 1t is hardly probable That all
YER will be degraded below ita present
status, and with tho agitation now going
on among the intelligent students of
finance, it ia not Improbable that it Will he
given n much better position than 1t now
occupies in the near future. TIT military
post will soon BIO established. the work Of
the commission having been accomplished
and tho only thing remaining to be done ~
the formal announcement of the selection
made. Another most important factor in the
future progress Of Helena il the furnishing
OF ample power for manufacturing put-
poses, and this will soon be done by means
Of the dam now building on the Missouri
river, from which power will be transmit
ted by electricity In Whatever quantities
needed. 1t is understood that by the first
day of April the dam will be completed and
ready to furnish the great dosiratnm of
manufacture o.
While thaae enterprises are in position to
receive considerable attention., there are
others OF equal Importance to ouf future
taking shape and will soon reach such po-
sitions OF prominence aa will
their share of the attention of the public.
Is not this n most propitious tune for Il
more thorough and effective organization
of our citizens 70 the public good? To in
sure the largest SUCCESS to these undertake
ings at as early dates as possible demands
p.n -, oln r,,t aur pyfiuanu fnr fhaip yUiuauk
%counsels. best business aaggclty and the Ia
Dor requisite to formulate plans of action
and work out their contamination. Under
Ruch circumstances as will develop the
greatest good to Helena, a rallying place
where We unity and give direction and force
to public sentiment ia All absolute necessity.
Our present Board of Trade more nearly
meets this demand than any other oraani-
cation in this city and yet this. in my
Judgment. is far below the position of emf
nence and influence which ought 10 oha1ao-
terize such an institution. IL ought to
have readily available whenever it's execu-
tive board should zee needs for it. q fund
uron which it could draw for such uses az
would develop the various interests which
might be deemed OF public good.
While we are earnestly endeavoring to
encourage the establishment of manufac-
tn ed in Helena, would it not be q sensible
thing for the Board of Trade to avail itself
of circumstances now within it's reach ana
secure contracts for power from the new
company, which will soon be organized
upon this Missouri river franchise, in Order
that it may have something to offer to those
VINO SO frequently ask of them for the in
ducements offered to locate in this yicin-
ity?
No risk need be taken, for only such
power as thew may be able to utilize through
such manufacturing interests as they might
induce to locate here would have to be paid
fnr A. tho q n,,,a tinoo tbau mnr1H ha in 81
position to offer something tangible to those
who are looking to the progressive west for
the development OF their business interests,
A matter of great Importance to us within
the coming year will be the preparation OF
such literature as will present to the public
the resources of our state, and particularly
of our city. 1t is highly probable that the
proposed legislation with reference to specu,
lative ventures. and especially trading in
options in the markets and stock exchanges
of the east, will so limit the active uses OF
capital az to drive it into new fields, and if
our resources are so represented ae
to give a true idoa of theil
Importance and intrinsic value, much
of that capital might be brought here. Ii
the greatest amount of good is to be accom-
plished for Helena our citizens must be
united VI on all important measures. Their
wisdom must be aggregated, their means
consolidated and their energies we'll di-
reoted.
At present we have a Board of Trade and
a Commercial club. each wo king sepas-
ately and apart from the other. Why not
unite them and have a Board of Trade with
just that much OF added influence. enlarged
means and consequent usefulness? II
necessary increase the membership fee, af
some have already suggested, but let a
by some means place our Board of Trade
upon such a footing as will make it the
cent. al point of influence, the organ Of on
nnh1ic oaptinlpnf md the aGliakapt nf al
public enterprises in Helena.
John w. EDDY.