The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-28
THE WEATHER..
!. .po,NrrR. FOR HELENA.

A critical discussion on the wealth and
business relations of the west IN the
January Forum is replete with sugges-
tions of value and should be read and
considered by the men who are dong
most to make a Helena a great city. 1t
treats of the relations between the two
great sections of the country, of the
mistakes which have been made by
municipalities resulting in the increased
dependency Of the west upon the east,
and suggests lines of work, which, il
acted upon, would soon secure needed
relief. The great western country to-
day is mortgaged to eastern capital to q
much greater extent than it should be,
for the reason that very many men have
made their fortunes in the west and re-
turned to the east to live on their Incomes.
Montana is more independent than other
states because her W people have done
the greater part of the development;
eastern capital has not been turned in
this direction as in other states.
That reference which most interests
the people of Helena is the authors
view that the west is drained by men
who come here to make fortunes and
reside elsewhere. 1t is doubtless true
that in Helena and in the mining camps
of the state there are hundreds of young
men who come with this plan outlined.
In order to give Montana the place to
which she is entitled among other states
it is necessary to make III cities at
tractive enough to induce men who have
made their money here to make their
residence in Montana; to make her peo-
pie truly loyal to her interests. The
writer in referring to this topic, says:
''The west should cultivate a%sslduously
all those characteristics which will ex-
cite the love and admiration of her own
sons and daughters and the stranger
within her gates. Men of independent
means may live where they please.
When such men move from west to east,
their bank accounts go with them.
Beautiful towns, good roads, the best
schools from kindergarten to university,
active churches, reasonable laws-all
these agencies will save the west far
more than they cost. Everything of
beauty in the west will certainly be a
Joy forever to some man who, without
it, would go elsewhere and take his
money with him. The best achieve
ments of the architect, the builder, the
artisan and the artist should be en-
couraged without stint. The beautiful
club houses of Albuquerque, Helena
and Chattanooga will anchor more
money there every year than the houses
cost. The palaces Of Portland and San
Francisco, Denver and st. Louis will
always hold neal them thousands be.
sides their owners"
The very reference to the Montana
club house in this magazine article is
evidence of its value for advertising pur.
poses. What Helena needs more thar
anything else is the employment of al
means to make the city attractive as 6
place Of permanent residence. 1t needs
better styles Of architecture; it needs
parks and public improvements of al
sorts and. a more immediate need anc
one that can be satisfied without great
difficulty is the replacing OF dangerous
and unsightly board sidewalks by some
thing safer and more modern. The side
walks in this town ON business streets
and on streets lined with handsome ant
costly residences, are disgraceful to tn,
owners and to the city and can only re
suit in leaving the very bad impression
of Helena's yaunted enterprise.
The movement for better schools ant
finer school buildings has progresse,
during the last two years in u most graf
flying way. Similar efforts should b
made toward the erection of finer churcI
edifices, and in tins work it is the dut
of all citizens TO assist.
Helena must be made a city of home
as we'll as of business enterprise, if til
population is to be increased by deail
able classes. While so many cities al
struggling for the newcomers and offer
ing so many inducements, our peopl
must study all points in the contest an
neglect none il the city is to keep pac
with her sisters.
TO STOP POLITICAL CORRUPTION.
In many of the states yariOus form