The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-23
HOW THE TIDE TURNED.
"A Helena Writer Tells Eastern
Readers Of tho Work or
Local People.
The Story Of the Selection OF
This City for Three Big
Conventions.
Wonders of Nature for h Tourist and
Health-GivinG Waters for the In
valid In Our Midst,

Residents of Helena, who send letters de-
scriptive of the city and country to the
eastern papers, do = greater work for she
community than they realize. Among
those engaged in the work ia G. T. Con
molly, who corresponds regularly for the
Call, Of Newark. N. j. The paper has =
large circulation and letters of MI. Con-
molly roach thousands of readers. In "
recent issue. among the other things said
about Helena. are the following:
In the east We are accustomed to hear
much of western push and energy; but l
don't think it always comes home TO us in
\ forcible and glowing light until We have
been ON the ground and oculsrly behsld its
dsmonssration. Three or our years ago
this city had what might be called a wss'-
ar. bonn in a mild form. From a large
sized village it took on metropolitan pro-
portions and airs in an incredibly short
space of time. But the boom, like
all booms, spent its force. and she
boom director neglected. like the man
who sent tho mule to the small boy, to tie
its hind legs The reaction was SO monot-
onous that the public spirited citizens set
to work to makerspairs. At Toronto the
national convention of teachers was in ses-
sion, The Board Of Trade sent a commit
tee Of energetic citizens to Toronto. carry
ing An invitation to the convention, osautl-
fully engraved and embossed in gold. to
hold it's next annual session at Helena.
The committee engaged rooms at a proml-
neut hotel aud started in to contest the
claim Of Saratoga, Washington city, st.
I,ouis. Baltimore and San Francisco. They
came away with the prise. The fever
spread. Other conventions were in session
throughout the country. A committee was
sent to the convention of the Ancient Order
of United Workmen at Detroit. As q
result tho convention not only decided to
como to Helena this year, but it elected
a its supreme master workman a Helena
man in the person OF Hon. Joseph W.
Kipslsy, IS a tribute to his energetic work
in the int est of the order. But the
Board Of Trade did not rest. The annual
encampment of the Sons of Veterans was
in session at M~irnsapol,s' I9 eurtsal inc
story, that was secured, and decided TO
some to Helena this. year. Fhe National
Mining congress was also in session at
Denver. Committees visited that city, and
DESPITE the efforts of st. Louis, Salt Lake.
Omaha and San Francisco, Helena carried
off the prize. The only drawback received
in the course of these rapidly developed
evidences of what organized energy may
do. was the intelligence that the com mittee
appointed to Iatify the action OF
the national teachers convention
at Toronto, actuated by motives
stood, in view Of the fact that the convsn-
ton in session unanimously chose Helena
as its meeting place, wheedled one COM
mittse vote from Helena and threw the
convention to SARATOGA, the second choice
of the convention. But rs a set-off to this
congress has. through the same energetic
measures put forth by the citizens of Hell
ena, passed a bill creating one of the larg-
est military posts in the United States at
Helena, and is very likely to give her An
appropriation of $780, 900 for a government
building. 1t is euerRy and sagaclty like
this that have built upon the plains OF Col
orado one of the most delightful cities ON
the American continent. Helena has built
an auditorium for the use of these various
gatherings.
received more attention from the pleasure
seekers within the past two decades than
the spas and watering places. Americans.
long cognizant of the healing properties Of
European waters, have at last become aware
OF the fact that their own oountry has
within its boundaries waters as curative
and destined to be as popular as any Of the
world-famed waters of Europe. Saratoga
has attracted visitors from every state of
the union and from abb Dad. Its springs.
hotels. umbrageous groves and caves OF cool
recess, have afforded comfort, pleasure and
physical relief to thousands, and while the
American now goes to Carlsbad and Baden
Baden, the European traveller crosses the
water to visit Saratoga, and from there
wends his way across the continent to SOC
the Yellowstone National park, about
which, by the way, the average European
has read and heard more than the average
American. In fact, it was tho discovery of
the Yellowstone National park that
first called the attention of the
world to the marvellous wonders In natural
scenery that abound in the west. Senator
Vest, of Missouri, once said that the people
q America travel the continent of Europe
from end to end in search of sightseeing,
when within the limits of their own coun-
try, in the national park, are sights and
visions before which all the marvels of Eu-
rope pale. Anyone who has ever looked
into the great caverhaus depths of the
Grand canyon of the Yellowstone never for
Rets the scene.
The mountains of Colorado, California
and Montana are prolific of natural springs
Of healing waters, Of varied degrees of tenn
perature, and Of most wonderful curative
owers. Ihe Indians used these springs for
tho cure Of many ills long before the white
man saw the crest of the Rocky mountains.
Among the springs most popular with the
Rocky mountain tribes. where many Indian
trails in olden days DIVORCED and e0ded at
the base of Mount Helena, were the
springs that are now known a. the hot
springs of Helena. Here. within the past
four years, has been erected one OF the
most magnificent pleasure resorts On the
American continent-the Hotel ~Broadwater
and natatorlun, unsxapgeratedly styled the
"Saratoes OF the West" The visitor Of the
east to this spot, travelling for two days
over weary stretches Of plain and desert.
stands ezra ptursd with the undAunted en-
terpriss of man. the beauty Of the scenery
and the lu1uriance and prodigality every
where apparent a'oand him. He walks
amid winding paths thRt curve through
grassy esplsnaaes, he il amazed at the en-
~bellishments that greet the eye. Electric
cars that are modern pnlscss glide ami id
the fairy scenes like moving visions of en-
chantment. A broad sweep Of boulevard
winds around the base of q great mountain
and enters the grounds in varying direc-
tions. finding its vaRrant way through
arches of trees and shubbery md ami d
flower beds whose aroma is sweetened by
the cooling spray from many fountains
BY night, towering mountains that
rise majestically in the shadow air, onG
above the other. the murnur of waters fall
ing over miniature falls and dripping foun.
tains; brilliant lights OF varied hues tina
cast glints aud shadows; the sounds of deli.
oious music that float upon the air; "th'
tumultuous grandeur that crowds the blaz.
ing sQuare;'' the Swiss skies. %ningling con.
fusedly glimpses Of blas ethereal and deli,
cate floating clouds with the notes of bird
and the distant glitter of snow-capped gla
Gle. And then the great nntatorium. O