The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-05-28
THE CAPITAL QUESTION.

making these presentations it contends
for the interests of the many tens of
thousands Of people who will eventually
inhabit this promising city and the sur
rounding country. 1t is unfortunate for
all concerned that the permanent loca-
ton of the capital must be so soon de-
cided. The matter could be more in
diligently determined by the masses of
voters five years hence than now. The
trend of population; the developments
of the future: the necessities of the peo-
pie and the eligibility, the accessibility,
the and the fitness of any
given place for the capital would be bet
ter understood her than they possibly
can be now. But as it is the people
must be governed in their decision by
the lights before them.
In presenting itself as a candidate for
the capital Great Falls is fully aware
that it labors under the disadvantage of
youthfulness. 1t is young. 1t is the
youngest city in the state. Helena is
nearly thirty years of age. Deer Lodge,
Bozeman and Missoula are quito as old.
Great Falls is less than eight years of
age. 1t is comparatively achild in years
but it is a giant in stature. Today it is
the third city in population in the state.
1t will be the second next year and the
first in 1894. In five years it will contain
a larger population than Helena and
Butte combined. There is scarcely an
old-time Montanian who has not visited
the older cities named; not one in fifty
Of them has seen Great Falls. 1t sprang
into existence and attained it's present
growth almost before it obtained a place
upon the maps and before the old-timer
could realize that a young giant had
risen in tho east. Hence in it's youthful.
ness lies its only disadvantage in the
capital race. In a few years it will be
the best known city in the west. Time
will rescue it from adolescence.
Great Falls does not owe its location
and phenomenal growth to chance, mol
was it built upon a prospect to serve a
present purpose. 1t was founded and
built upon a cold, clear-cut business
proposition by careful, far seeing bust
ness men-men who saw in it's wonder
full native resources the germs of a
mighty city. They were not mistaken, as
the constant influx of population and in.
vesting capital testify. 1t is in view Of all
these facts and in view Of the certain
future that Great Falls presents her
claims for the capital.
1t is neither the purpose nor the de
sire Of the tribune to misrepresent or
belittle the advantages of other candi,
dates for the capital. But in this as in
every other business proposition the
truth of history must be indicated
This teaches that mountain towns built
upon a single industry are not perma.
nent. Many are brought into life, flour
ish and decay within the span of mans
existence. Capitals are not permanently
located in mountain towns. The ext
gencies of early days may call for their
temporary location where they best
serve a temporary population, but when
the industries of a country become de.
veloped and it's population become cen.
tralized the seats of government are per,
mancntly located where they best ac.
comodatc the largest number of people
Great Falls asks for the capital, first
because the time is near at hand when
it will be the center of the population OF
the state as tits now near it's geographi
cal center. Second: because 10y reason
of its centrally "A larger number Of the
people Of the state will be best served b.,
the location of the seat of government al
this place. Third: because it's resources
are as permanent as the everlasting hills
and it will De an important, prOspcrOul
city when others which are % promi
r nent will be mere landmarks left behint
r in the march Of progress. Time viii
demonstrate the force of this reasoning
but as time is not given for this Grea
Falls must assert her claims in the shor
months allotted her.
Touching the points brought into view
! it will be noticed Great Falls bases he
] claims to the capital upon the grounds
: that it is near the geographical center o
the state; that it will be the cente
. of its population; that from the natur
I of it's immediate and surrounding re
sources it is at fixed as the rock of ages
: that it is easy OF access; has e~xcellen
! transportation facilities, and that, thong
i young in years, it is rapidly outstrippin
its older competitors in the race fo
q prominence and will soon be not only tn
first city in the state, but the first in tn
Z west. These facts should tell among a
y intelligent people,
IF THE democratic house passed tn