The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-01
7HE RECORD FOR 1892.
How HELENA HAS GROWN DURING THE YEAR.


Another year has passed into history. For
1892, 1t may bs safely said. Helena has no
regrets. 1t has bcen a year OF ospetity-
not in the sense that il has Witnessed any
particular boom, but for stendy and sub
stantial growth Helena has been surpassed
by none aud equalled by few cities of the
west and northwest during 1892 She enters
the new year of 1893 fully equipped as a
mo Tern and progressive city--a city of
sS0e, as we'll as Of houses; with broad and
ossps streets along which can be
So NO finest business blocks and
most ffl., ~ate residences to DO
found betwes. Portland; with AZ
complete q system " 10 car lines az
would be needed in plA~s OF twice its size;
with water system that can supply a pop
ulaton ten times as large. and electric light
and gas plants that are sufficient not only
for present needs. but for future growth AZ
we'll. When other places have complained
Of dull times. the people of Helena
have faced the various tides of depress ion
and overcome their worst features. Bus
iness has moved steadily onward; building
operations have been fully up to the needs
OF tho city; public Improvements have
gone steadily forward. and the usual dull
ness attributed to the years of presidential
campaigns has found only faint reflex
within the limits of Helena. The growth
of the business of the banks, az shown by
their quarterly statements, is one of the
best indications of national prosperity for
any community. Taking this growth of
business for the Helena banks, and Cor
steady and substantial progress during the
past year, the Queen City Of tho Rockies
stands without peer.
The past year witnessed for the first time
tho holding of national conversion in
Helena. There were three of these gather
ings-tho supreme lodge Of tie Ancient
Order of United Workmen, the mining
congress-, and the annual encarupment of
the Sons OF Veterans. The experience OF
Helena in this connection was pretty much
the same as that Of other places on the oo-
casion of first meetings. None of the
gatherings were as we'll attended as was
plsased. and the city was indirectly bene-
} lifted TO great extent. The washouts on
the rail. Dads during the summer months
had much to do with the attendance on the
strated. however. that Helena can take care
of all such national gatherings.
just about year ago the people OF Hell
ena began the movement which resulted in
the establishments OF a military post here.
!, Congress has appropriated 800 900 to begin
operations, and a commission selected by
the secretary of war has examined the var
icus aites offered the government. Until
this commission files ita decieion with the
war department and the report is approved,
The site once selected. the dirt will be fly
ing in very short time. OF all the good
things that have fallen into the Imp of the
Queen City of the Rockies during 1892. none
are more important, in its far-reaching
effects, than the military post. II will give
Helena a standing among the cities of the
county equal to that of many Of larger
growth. 1t ls thing, not of to-day nor of
Tomorrow, but Of all time. All Helena
will feel tho impetus created by this great
addition to her population and her business
and mater ial interests. II there were moth
ing else to be thankful for Helena could
rest content with the military post as one
! of the greatest blessings of the year.
The principal building begun and finished
during the year was the auditorium. 1t
was started in tho spring with the object Of
accommodating she conventions that were
expected in the summer. The apptopria-
tion for the building was $25.O00 and it
was put up within that amount. The light
ing and furnishing, however. made the
total cost more than the original app opria.
tion. This was matter with which no
body had amy fault to find, as the building
, was one the need of which had boen long
felt. The year also witnessed the PRACTICAL
completion OF the magnificent new high
school building SO long delayed, but now
towering as "A monument to the generosity
of the citizens OF Helena toward nublio
education. The building Of the Flower
Garden addition school at cost Of $15, 900.
and improvements to the west side school
amounting to 5000 further testify to this
feeling The grand building of the Mon
tana club has also resched n point which
shows that within very short time Helena
will possess tho finest structure of the
kind between Chicago and San Fran
Disco. The new county Jail is
another handsome structure that
tectural beauty du ing the year. While
the,e have not been anv large business
blocks begun or com pleted in 1892. yet 1t is
safe to say that n quarter of Il msllon dol
lars havo been expended in bettermonts.
These improvements were principally on
Main ut eet and took the shape OF new
and modern fronts nnl increasing the
heights OF buildings. Tho march of i'm
provement has also been witnessed in tho
many new and elegant residences that have
been erected on the east. west and north
sides of tho city. There has been nothing in
the shape of n building boom, but n ateady
and substantial growth which carries with
1t all the ideas and all the elements of gen-
erRl prosperity.
On the first day OF January, 1892 the
citizens of Helena and the strangers within
hor gntes had TO cross Main street either in
a river Of IN Id or on frozen ridges OF snow
and icc. To-day they can cross on M even
pavement such ns is found in the principal
streets OF other thriving cities. Something
over H42, COO was expended in paving hlau
street from Cutler street to Helena avenue.
While thero was much difference of opinion
as to whether wood or stone was tho best
article to use for pavement, on one point
nearly everybody was agreed. aud that was
TINT either was better than usithe. Wood
was selected and though it will not neces-
sauly last IA long rs stone. IL makes II
very acceptable pavement, and has the I'D
vantage of being noissless and atfording u
good footing for horses Besides this, it is
easily cleaned. A,u
Street grading was never carried on in
Helena to the extent IL was in 1892. g'hs
grading has been reduced to something like
u system TINT not only beautitss the city
in general way. but improves tho hitheto
very imperfect drainage. All this has cost
money. but it was money expended at
home whore il dad much GOOD, The OPEN