The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-01
THE OUTLOOK FoH HELENA.


and the sections tributary TO ~.
THE OUTLOOK FOR HELENA.
The Year 1894 Promises 20 lie the Bess
tho city Has seen for a Long While.
The year 1894 gives promise TO see a
greater advance In every way 10 Helena
than has any twelve months since 1885.
All the prelIminaries have been settled for
the construction Of Fort Harrison and in
the early spring work on the post buildings
will bsRin. There are now available $25O.-
900 for the work. and under the manage
ment Of Capt Hoyt. who has suporintended
the construction OF new posts in various
sections Of the country. there is no doubt
that la'gs portion, II not II Of this, will
be spent before the year ends. The build
inR Of the post means work for large num-
Der OF laborers; IL means work for
carpenters. brioklayers and stone masons.
and for other craftsmen. u means that
the lumbermsn. the brick makers. the stone
quarry men, aud all those who deal In
building material will have. while Fort
Harrison is under construction. a eustomsr
in Uncle Sam who will take large guam
thy OF their product This quarter OF
AAAAAAtn A1AtaAa VI NAe AaA ANN E3AAAo1 VI ~
will be pat into circulation il this city. and
it will be foun that just some enterprise
Of that character was needed 20 start
all the wheels.
Bat the building OF Fort Harrison is not
all that will make 1894 notable. The con-
struotion of the Montana Midland aud ths
Montana Southern railroads has reached
that point where their completion is an
assured fact. Already contracts have been
made By one of these lines for
the rails. and both roads will employ q
large number OF men. The Midland will
bring direct 20 the merchants OF Helena
the trade Of one Of the most prosperous sec
tions in the stats-that Of the smith river
valley In Mssgher county. u will do more
than that because the road will afford the
means Of cheap transportation for the mius
owners, and there vill be seen q wonderful
revival of the mining industry In MsagheE
county. In those localities tributary TO the
road. The Hontana Southern will open up
one Of the oldest and richest farming &C
tions in Montana. and while this section
will not be so directly tributary 10 Helena.
= large portion of its business. which now
goes elsewhere. will come here. IL will also
give employment 10 a large number OF men
and support the third army Of laborers
Helena will put into the field.
Early In the spring the Helena electric
railway will extend its Broadwator line 10
Fort Harrison. The right Of way has been
secured. and II is only a question Of favor
able weather when the work will commence
The gas and electric lighting companies
will also make extensions Of their systsms
as will the consolidated water company.
/ hsss have all been planned and arranged
for.
Bu, tbs prospect is that the gold mining
industry in 1894 In the vicinity Of Helena
will do more toward making business for
its merchants aud adding to its wealth
and population than either the construo-
tion OF Fort Harrison. or the building OF
new railroads. That rich district, Of which
the town OF MaFTsvilla is the result and
which includes such great mines ~ the
Drum Lummon. Bald Butte aud Psnobscot
has shown such marvsllsus progress re-
Gently that great impetus has been
given 20 the gold mining industry.
Recent finds in the Scratch Gravel
district will result In great activity there
this year. and the same is true Of Union
VILE. Montana City and Dry guleh and Big
Indian. Recent purchases Of gold bearing
ground at Montana City by Helena men
was made with the intention OF putting in
an extensive plant in the spring and carry
ing on operations on large scale. These
plans will be carried out. as will others
looking 30 the development Of gold quartz
miues IN this vicinity.
Another feature Of promise for 1894 is the
condition Of the banks Of Helena. Before
the fret month OF 1894 ends all Of her
financial institutions will be open. and
their condition will be such as will tell Of
strength aud bsget confidence. The report
made TO the comptroller Of the cur enoy by
the four national banks OF Helena Dec. IL
1898. showed aggregate deposits of S3slO.-
9lb.lO. and cash resources OF 81, ,4i6 Ill.54.
Entering the new year with nearly S4OO0-
600 on deposit. and cash resources Of nearly
80 per cent. OF that smounL tue people
have reason for confidence in ths eity's
financial institutions. The fact that the
people themselves have this amount on de-
posit In ths banks is also an indication Of
their wesith and prosperity.
Comparatively few people know vha, .
rich country ia tributary 90 Helena. ID has
been q surprise 30 many. both IA the state
aud out OF a. that the city emerged so zap
idly from the hnaneial storm and came Qua
Ia such good shape. Scarcely sir months
have elapsed since the panic vas a. ita
worst. and yet business has not only as
sumed almost its normal condition. but new
enterprises. with plenty OF capital back Of
them, are taking shape. 10 is th- rich
mining country back OF the city that ao-
counts for il in a large measure. Al Union
A. - a.
J Dry gulch section there are ~ many mores
in the vicinity Of Montana Ci,y loo OF more;
in Scratch Gfavel ani Blue Cloud as
many mole; in the vicinity Of the
sapphire nsids. another l0Oi In the
Req Mountain country 800; In the vicinity
OF Clancy 100. near Winston 40 In ths
Marysville district 100; ~ Eikhofn 80; in
, the Bssln oouDtry 20oi the East Helena