The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-24
MONTANA'S NEEDS.
Suggestions From An Enthnsiaatlc CI
ixen.

sugecstlona From An Enthnsiaatlc CIt-
ixen.
To The Independent.
Permit me to make a few hur, led rug
Cestiono. from the standpoint of the many
who nrc seeking information. A thousand
persona equipped with common everyday
experience, and no education, could ask
moro questions in a day than N one man
could answcr in a life time; and they would
ask questions fraught with the most valuable
and pregnant suggestions. II IL a pity these
questions arc not called out some way.
Certainly the frat question in the mind
OF the man thinking of moving into the
weat ia. What am l going 20 do for q living
where. he has certain Rensral knowledge re-
garding the diffe,e nt states. or sections of
the west. They say. naturally enough. 60
to California and raise I iuit; 60 to WASH
ington and cut timber; 30 to Wyoming and
raise cattle; 90 to Dakota and raise wheat;
go to eastern Montana and raise horses md
sheep. or go to western Montana n work
in the mines.
This broad comparison does great inius-
tioe to western Montana. But II is the
comparison which will continue to obtnin
everywhere. until concerted influence is
brought to bear. to inform the public that
western Montana. Independents OF her
mines, can support by agriculture. fruit
raising, the lumber business and stock
raising. a population equal to that of the
state OF Indiana.
Now. it is western Montana that must
make Helena. 1t is a vast region. Hell
ena is natus ally (but not inevitably its
distributing and con- ollinQ point. She
must keep her hand on the pulse Of that
region. Tit very geographical difficulty
which makes Helena the gateway Of that
region, makes communication difficult and
labored; makes progress narrow and linn
tied, and makes the newcomers from the
east shake their heads and move on west.
ward, because they cannot see nor learn
what this land is good for. They can
hardly see that there is n tillable a
there, the mountains are 80 new to them.
and seem to leave the common level
nothing but drains or bitches.
People can buy townsits tickets from
Chicago through TO Portland at exactly the
same price charged to Montana pointr.
This 10 manifestly a great and serious dis
advantage to Montana. But the proper
thing to do is to get the people started to
Montana. Il is evident they do not stop
where and how they can make a living
here. The Bitter Root valley is waiting fol
fruit raisers. I know this one fact would
be 30 startling rs to be incredible to people
everywhere in the east. And the othe:
facts about western Montana would be
| equally startling TO tueus
How shall these facts be placed before the
quiet, steady stream of people moving to-
ward the west? Would it not be we'll for
the newspaper in each particular locality
to prepare q plain, concise and full article
describing its own locality, giving prices OF
land, wages paid. products raised, and stat.
ing generally the needs Of the community;
the said article to DO Published say
once a month. SO that those living there
could send these papers to friends and &C.
Quaintances. Pamphlets are costly and
are bulky and often tirssome. Newspapers
have a living interest. They are the voice
of the community. They contain informa-
tion which would set the people of the east
at rights regarding this misunderstood Sec
ton of country. They have all sorts OF
false notions about il. They think it costs
twice IS much to live here as in any other
spot in the United States. It docs not.
They would be interested in the real facts.
Why not print them Everybody roads,
these days. Not a lot Of tinsel and gener-
alities about the Gem of the Rockies
The wealthiest town per capita. and the
metropolis of the state. Put down the hard
facts and make plain comparisons, which
will speak for themselves.
ANDREW ADAMS.
March 10. 1898.