The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-10-14
In the Race for the Capital Great
Falls Stands To-day Without
Il Rival.
1t Possesses Every Advantage Other
Aspirants Claim and Many
That They DO Not.
The Basis Of Its Prosperity rs Last
ing a. Time--NO Cloud to
Its Future.

10 every man o IN Montana who
contemplates making this state his home,
the question of the location of the CAPT
tai is an important one. The seat of gov
ernment OF a commonwealth should be
convenient of access, and should be stu
ated where it would accommodate the
greatest number Of citizens thereof. The
city of Great Falls has in its favor more
than all the other towns and cities of
Montana combined can present.
Primarily there is not an argument adj
vanced as to why it should he made the
seat Of government which can be refuted.
1t puts forth no claim it cannot substan-
tiate. The merchant, the manufact-
urer. the professional man and the
laboring man are earnestly requested
10 weigh carefully the truth of what is
said in favor of Great Falls as the most
suitable place for the capital, and if the
statements do not conform strictly to
the truth, then a vote in it's favor is not
asked. No one who has not seen Great
Falls and made personal investigation of
her m%atchless resources and inviting
surroundings can form the ~fai,ltest con-
ception of their magnitude. They baf-
file description; they are infinite in
variety: they typify all forms of indus
tries and they invite to a participation
of their enjoyments all the citizens who
claim this country as their birth place
or who have made it their home by
adoption.
That skepticism is extant is admitte d
and that men who have not seer for
themselves may enter a denial as to the
existence of certain things is a conceded
right. But in the settlement of a ques-
ton of SO vital importance and where
the future seat of government of this
great and grand commonwealth shall be,
investigation of the merits of each can
didate for the place should be made. If
it be possible, let the citizens of other
communities visit the different towns
and cities now before the people. Great
Falls has made the assertion through
the press and through its citizens that it
presents advantages other places do not
possess. While not within the limit of a
newspaper to describe them, a few of
them will be mentioned in this onnec-
ton. In referring to the resources here
it is not the desire of TRIBUNE to detract
from the claims any rival for the capital
puts forth. When it said that mines
must eventually fail to be producers, it
is not a fling at Butte or Anaconda,
whose future is dependent upon the
mining industry. Statistics relative to
former productive and populous mineral
regions will bear out what will be said.
When it is further intimated that the
agricultural area directly tributary to
Helena and Deer Lodge is limited it is
unnecessary that the press and people
of those cities should enter a vigorous
protest. Rather let them study their
surroundings, if they do not know them.
And when the water supply of Great
Falls, the purity of which has never
been AMI never will be called into ques-
ton, is stated to be as lasting as the
days that are 10 come, our neighboring
rivals Helena and Butte need not rise in
arms and protest that they are equally
fortunate. Were the question alone one
of water suppl, it would not be neces-
sary to dwell upon it. for in every other
point thus lar brought out, or to be
elucidated, Great Falls is as signally in
In6 VANTAGE SIouuu 40 W. l loltuildtC
situation in this respect.
Wher mines have been worked out, and
smelters, COMMENTATORS, retiners and
quartz mills are idle. AS they must some
time be, Great Falls will no have eX
hausted her s~ustenance. While at her
door are the coal measures which will
make the process of cheap copper-smelt-
ing feasible, and furnish fuel to all the
smelling plants Of the state. when the
smoke of their fires no longer ascend
~heavenward there will be a market for
the coal product. and it's mining will give
employment to hundreds of laborers.
Until the time the ore deposits of the
country shall have been exhausted, there
is no point in Montana which can com
pete with Great Falls, because of the
~cheapness and unlimited abundance of
water power and coal for every purpose
for which it may be used.
Tributary to Great Falls are 22,000,OO0
acres of agricultural and grazing lands.
OF this area a large portion is suscepti-
BILE of cultivation and will yield hand
some returns to the husbandman. The
farmer need no longer fear that he will
not have markets for his crops, for be-
ginning with next year he will find
ready sale in this city for every pound
of grain he can raise.
As a home for workirgmen what city
in Montana or in the west offers equal
advantages! The Asiatic pauper is de-
MED an entrance here and can not com
pete with the American citizen, and this
fact alone should induce every wage
Garner in the state to deposit his ballot
on election day for the location of the
capital of Montana in a city whose citi-
e n say to the Chinaman, who has
cursed so many western cities with his
presence. that he can not come here. 1t
is a home for the laboring man who iden-
titles himself with the country and will
give employment to more laborers in less
I. an a decade than are at present within
the confines of the state.
Great Falls has no competitor in this
race who can bring to it's support such
an array of arguments in its favor.
There is absolutely nothing ~truthfully
O be said against this city. 1t may not
be exactly in the geographical center of
nonulation TODAY. but will be within Il