The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-27
OUR LEGISLATIVE NEEDS.

OUR LEGIsLATIVE FED
While it may appear somewhat pre-
sumrtous or the part OF a non-residen
to enter into a discussion of matters al
fecting the welfare solely of the people
of Montana, there is on the other hand
a certain propriety in his expression, by
reason of a greater familiarity with 9TH
er sections which in the nature of things
many Montanians cannot enjoy. This
acquaintance with the esource and de-
velopments of the eastern states only
adds to the surprise common to every
visitor in Montana over the great num-
Der of natural advantages in the noun
tain commonwealth and the pancity OF
effort in the line of development.
He sees thousands of square miles of
the best agricultural land and (relative-
ly speaking) no plowed burrows.
Hundreds of streams running clear
water unemployed to the sea and no ir-
rigating canals.
Many valuable sites for dams and no
water wheels.
Routes cut out by nature for railways
and no grading done.
Immense stores of timber, building
stone, slate, brick and fire clays, coal
and iron ore standing in improbable
natural conditions.
He hears men talk of hard times while
kicking under their feet the richest gold
and silver quartz.
The very atmosphere is impregnated
with enterprise, and the population en-
braces the flower of the Anglo Saxon
world-conquering stock. The wonder
is why, under such circumstances, do
not great cities grow and the wheels of
progres turn? 1t looks to a stranger
like the ball chained by the laws of in
ertia to inglorious inactivity, or like a
powerful engine with its crank in the
center.
1t seems to need only the push of
some occurrence to make the whole
mass r~evolve, OF that there is, SO to
speak, some secret valve in the mechan-
ism which touched will liberate the com
pressed steam to do it's work.
Where is it and how can the applica-
ton be made?
When inquiry is directed to an ex-
PLANTATION Of the problem the common
reason assigned is the lack of capital.
1t is stated hat the accommodations
represented by local bark deposits can
only be reached with a Il per cent.
ninety-day note-obviously not the kind
of means for Investments of a perma-
nent nature. The difficulty of enlisting
foreign interest is dwelt upon and the
humiliation of standing beside the desk
of an eastern capitalist with hat in hand
begging for assistance, has due weight.
The developments so ardently desired
appear to be a matter dependent solely
Oh Wal Street caprice, and if that sem
timent be Indifferent or hostile, the res
ident population is doomed to endure a
period of inactivity quite fatal to pres
emf prosperity. This condition is sup
gestlve of an examination as to whether
the dependence IN outside assistance is
not more fancied than real. Are there
MOI within home limits the resources, If
properly used, to work their own ex-
ploration? Does the situation not JUS
tify the hypothecation Of anticipated
yields, as the farmer judiciously Dor
rows on his growing crops? The CUES
ton Is, how to vitahze credit SO as To
evolve from it the circulation which.
passed from hand to hand, does duty as
money. To borrow from foreign sources
means q bending to ~usurious exactions
which robs the undertakings oil their
greatest profits besides the mortgage of
future annual revenues in favor of non
resident proprietors.
Wealth being nothing but human Of
fort crystalized into real p%roperty.
stocks, bonds and other tokens of in
debtedness, any measure tending to
promote effort begets wealth, even when
the stimulation is in the line of destruc-
ton, as evidenced by the expenditure
by the government of seven thousand
millions of dollars to devastate one half
of its then inhapitated territory in the
south, and yet came out OF the under
taking vastly richer than before. The
only difference between the accumula-
tiohs eff eastern financial centers and
the proposed local emission is that one
represents the efforts of the past and
the other anticipates the efforts of the
future.
Happily there are prevailing elements
which worked in combination PROMISE a
solution of the entire question, the first