Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-05-10
DECIDED IN FAVOR OF HELENA.

DEClDED In fAVOh VI
Bozeman has a literary society
known as the Arena club. A debate
took place a few days since on the ques-
ton: "Should the Capital Remain at
Helena" 1t is useless to say that
the affirmative won, as that side
had clearly the best OF the argument.
II. II. Mckee and W. A. Buzard ar
gued in the affirmative and ]. l.. Pease
and f. p. Mills in the negative. The
debate a opened by II. III. Mckee,
who claimed for the debaters the
honor of firing the first gun in thecap-
ital campaign. Mr.. Mckee dwelt up
on Helena's fine railroad facilities, its
| direct railroad connection with four
teen counties, while Anaconda stood
on a spur argued that Helena was
cosmopolitan, Anaconda alocal smelt-
ing town; that Helena had capital
buildings, while if Anaconda was
chosen, the state would be Obliged to
build when it had not funds to meet
present obligations; that Helena
could care for 10000 people while
Anaconda had only one hotel, though
it had the finest paper in the state;
that Helena buys 81 600 900 OF pro-
duce yearly from Gallatin county,
while Anaconda buys little; and that
Helena was nearer the center OF popu-
lation in the state.
While the speaker may not have
produced any particularly new points
in Helena's favor, he stated some
facts that should not be overlooked
by the taxpayers OF the state. Mr..
Mckee stated one good and sufficient
reason why Gallatin county should
vote for the retention of the capital
at Helena when he said that she ''pur.
chased 81 900, 600 of products yearly
from Gallatin county, while Anaconda
buys little" The farmers OF Gallatir
county should do everything in theil
power to build up their nearest mar
ket place. The same argumennt vii
apply in a lesser degree to every farm
ing community in the state. Tn
hope OF the farmers in eastern Mon
tana is in state metropolitan mar
ket such as Helena will afford in tn
future with additional railroad facil
tiles.
Mr.. Buzard for the affirmative
claimed that while the Anaconda com
pany's capital was S25 900
paid taxes on only 81 900, 600; de
preciated the placing OF h capital ii
an exclusively mining town; that til
Standards capital stock was $3.50,
o 900, while it paid taxes on $4,000
while the Anaconda Review, a weekly
valued at SO, 800, was taxed at 80, SOC
that Helena was the center OF educa
tion and the home OF schools an,
D churches.
The argument for the negative wa
very weak, indeed. One OF the SPEAK
: ers called attention to the fact that
policeman had been killed in Helen
. during the past few years and none i
.NI'ttoIlddI Sltttd hat NdtitiiS IAN
had built one railroad flor his ow
use), while two promised by Helen
e were yet unbuilt; slurred Helena b,
cause it was a little quiet, owing t
{ the financial and business depression
i claimed that Anaconda gave promfs
$ of reasonable growth in the futur,
while Helena lacked the stability, b,
ing kept up by millionaires who n
sided there; failing to state, however
that the only citizen of Anacond
=. known one hundred miles from hon
vas Marcus Daily.
Another speaker for Anacond
thought the fact that the city had til
finest hotel in the state kept open q
financial loss) and the best newspape
supported largely by Butte), an
that it was a healthy place, was a
that was necessary for the permaner
capital OF the state.
The decision was very properly give
II in favor OF the affirmative. .