The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-16
ALL ROADS LEAD TO HELENA

Our esteemed contemporary pub
lished in Butte's s~idetracked suburb,
Anaconda, disputes the statement that
Helena is the railroad center OF Mon
tana. In refutation it suggests a
mathematical problem, which it does
not explain, to show that this center is
at some point of latitude and longitude
between Butte and Anaconda, and it
adds IN further evidence that the ton
mage of Anaconda is fifteen times greater
than that of Helena.
The latter statement is perhaps true,
but it is not to be seriously considered
when we remember that this tonnage
consists only of tons of ore from Butte
to Anaconda and copper matte from
Anaconda to other points. When it
comes down to the point of selecting a
capital the people of the state at large
nave no interest whatever in the bust
ness of the Anaconda company, a bust
ness, by the way, which has h%uctuated
to a considerable degree in the past.
Again we invite the Standard to look
at the map. 1t shows that Helena is
almost precisely the equi-distant point
between the northern and southern
boundaries, and that with but one ex-
ceptlon it is nearer the center between
the eastern and western boundaries.
The figures shown by the census bureau
locate the center of population within
sight of this city. Helena is therefore
the geographical center of the state as
well as the confer of population. This
is likely to continue, for the growth Of
population in the future must necessar-
lily be in the great agricultural sections
in the north, east, south and west, where
the great irrigating plants will be es-
tablished. So much for the future.
The present advantages of Helena as
a railway center are of course under
stood by all travellers. 1t is the only
point in the state where two great trunk
line railways cross and continue IN the
foul directions of the compass. 1t is
reached from more points, without
change OF cars or delays, than any of the
other candidates for the capital. The
traveller from Missoula comes to Helena
on a through express train. If he
wanted to &c to Anaconda In the morn
ing he would change cars twice, with
the possibility always of being sub
jected to delays. The traveller from
Great Falls, from eastern Montana, or
even from southern Montana would also
be obliged to change and suffer incon-
%venlences to reach this sidetracked
smelter town. The absurdity of com
pairing the railway advantages Of Hell.
ena to those of Anaconda can be seen
at a glance.
But other railway projects are not
only proposed, but have taken such
shape as to fully insure their compile
ton. 1t may be said that the construc-
ton of a railroad from Helena to Castle
and White Sulphur Springs is now Ger
tain. All the surveys have been com
pleted, the right OF way and termina
facilities in this city have been secured
the money is known to be ready and al
that remains is the completion of fna
papers and the contracts. This roac
will bring the people and the products
of another great section direct to Hell.
ena.
The road TO Dillon will be built. It il
known that the route is easy, that the
road can be cheaply constructed and
that it will pay. A great deal Of prepa.
ration in this direction has already beer
made, though there has been very littl,
noise about it, and now that the com
mittees have begun active work Their
can be no doubt at all as to the con,
struction and completion OF this rail
road.
The people of Helena have shown il
many enterprises the energy and per
sistency that win success. They hav,
determined that this city shall be, as i
has been in the past, the railway cente
Of this northwestern country, capital o
no capital