The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-10-07
CONE, LET US REASON TOGETHER.

w ASPAAhS thAc hhSaA Az Al
dependent an article we heartily approve.
1t appeared in the Helena paper the
same day the TRIBUNE's editorial on the
same subject was published, and points
out the necessity and wisdom of decid-
ing the capital question this year. The
Independent naturally thinks that a de-
cision will be to the advantage Of Helena,
and our view is that it will be to the ad-
vantage of Great Falls. This is simply
the difference in point Of view. One
place or the other is likely to be mis-
taken, but we do not think it is Great
Falls. On the contrary, the current of
public opinion is running strongly in
favor Of this city, and 1t is our belief that
some of the ~asprants for capital honors
who have not counted Great Falls as a
serious competitor are likely to be
severely disappointed.
The TRIBUNE has already printed sew
eral elaborate articles to show that Great
Falls is carer the geographical center of
the state than any other aspirant for the
capital, and that her position is
such with relation to the rest of the
state that it is an absolute certainty that
she will occupy the center of population
within the next few years.
We have carefully pointed out the i'm
portance of deciding this question now
in a name which will cause no regrets
hereafter. The capital must be at a
point where there is plenty of water, fine
scenery, good land. and where the peo-
pie from all parts of the state can reach
it conveniently for the transaction of
their business. In another year Great
Falls will have railroad connections (. om
the south and east. which will render her
by far the most convenient point in the
state. as the distance which c~itizcrs of
the eastern and southern portions now
have to travel TO reach any of the as
pirants at the west end Of the state are
great enough to annoy and discourage
the most good naturcd citizens.
It might be claimed that at the present
moment certain points can be reached
state, than Great Falls, but the compile
ton of the Burlington will entirely
change that condition and render Great
Falls the most accessible place ia the
state.
We appeal to the levcl-hcaded and
sober-minded citizens of Montana to
consider this question now in its rela-
tons to the great future that is in store
for the state, and not permit a snap
judgment which they will have occasion
to regret at no distant period. We
thoroughly realize that people through
out the state who have not visited Great
Falls have no conception of it's size or
importance as a city, or of the role which
it is destined to play in the u%pbuilding
of the commonwealth. But there is no
reason why any man wanting light on
this question should not visit Great Falls
within the next few weeks and look it
over for himself. BY so doing he will
serve his own interests and those of the
state.
The future of Great Falls is not de
pendent upon having the capital located
here. 1t has a thousand things which
guarantee It's future beyond peradven-
ture of a doubt. a vast mineral region
unsurpassed in richness and extent by
any in the world lies at her door; vast
cretaceous coal fields which are destined
to revolutionize the copper industry, and
make Great Falls the copper producing
center of the United States, are situated
almost within her suburbs; two splendid
rivers are at her gates, and an agricul-
tural region of untold richness extends
for miles in every direction around her.
She possesses everything to make her
the metropolis of Montana, while her
water power alone would be sufficient to
assure the building Of a city at this point
unequalled by any within the bound
aries of the state.
We appeal to the common sense of the
people as well rs to their pride, and ask
them il it is not their will to place the
capital first, where it will be the most
convenient to all the people Of the state;
second. where the climate and surround
ings will permit Of identifying the
grounds with grass, shrubbery, flowers
and trees, and where an aggregation OF
the states and advantages will
always be before the eyes Of visitors and
strangers who may come into the state
to investigate with a view to settling
here or to the placing Of investments.
or all the cities now in existence in
the state Great Falls approaches nearest
to this ideal. We realize that the city
is young, but we do not understand that
any city is barred from the fair consid'
GRAFTON Of the people on account of itf
aUe. whether the tale Of ite wears be