The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-31
The Final Step in the Utilization
Of the Missouri River Power
to Be Taken.
Meeting OF the Board of Trade to
Bring About an Official
Endorsement.
Meagher County Visitors Entertained by
the Commercial Club-AIining
. Congress Committee.

For nearly year there has been but
slight mention in the Helena papers Of the
work being done blythe Missouri River Power
Go. There have been several meetings of
the trustees during the time, however. and
at meeting held about month ago ar
rangements were made which assure the
building of a dam and the utilization of
the power during 1892. The reason active
operations have not begun ere this iH that
there WAS an idea that 1t was necessary to
obtain permission from congress to put in
the dam. Last year an official of tho war
department visited Montana, made q care
full survey of the site, and reported that al
the place where the Power company pro-
posed to put in dana the Missouri was not
nayigable, and that in no sense could a
dam be considered an obstruction TO
navigation. The citizens of Great Falls
however, look upon it differently. and
they have sent petition to the
secretary of war, protesting against
granting a permit to the Helena mon
to put in dam near Stnbb's Ferry. The
people of Helena, through the Board OF
Trade, city council or any other body, have
not as yet asked the war department to pass
upon the matter. The enterprise. however,
has now reached the stage where it is
necessary a final decision should be made
bv the war department. and in order to do
so, the secretary of war will be asked to
send to Montana competent man to ex-
anime into the proposition, and il the sit
nation is as Helena men represent it to be,
and engineers in the EMPLOY of the govern
ment have before reported, that is, that the
construction OF the dam will not interfere
with navigation, then the secretary will be
asked to grant permit for the con
struction Of the dam. All the work il con-
nection with the enterprise has up to this
time been done by few men, who have
put up good many thousand dollars,
good deal of time to the matter. Now
it is necessary that there should be
some expression on the part of the people OF
Helena as whole. to counteract the work OF
the Great Falls protest. In order to do this
meeting Of tha Board of Trade has been
called for Tuesday evening next, and that
body Will be asked to pass resolution re-
questinR the secretary Of war to send M
engineer to examine and report upon tht
subject. If the mayor and city council
would also pass similar resolutions, there
is little doubt but that Secretary Elkins
would grant the request.
Every one in Helena who has given the
matter any thought, realizes that no enter
prise now before the people promises sc
much for the upbuilding of the city rs the
utilization of the Missouri river power at a
point near Stubbs Ferry, about twelve miles
from Helena. The plan, without going into
details, is to build dam, which will give q
fall sufficient to produce about Is, 600 horse
power. This power is to be conducted into
Helena by electricity, and sold to manufac-
turing establishments at a minimum cost
In addition, arrangements have been made
for the establishment of two manufactures
near the dam, and there is little doubt but
others will follow.