Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-30
The FEDERAL
BUILDING SITE
Citizens of Butte Enlightened
The Commissioners
AN RULING
Mineral Reservations in the Title
Don't Co., Will lnvalidate
Many Bids.

II ACoSioA pulluilS SieC
met a number Of Butte realty holders at
the city council chamber last evening
and ~canvassed the situation. During the
course of the discussion it developed that
the government will ask for a title with
out mineral reservation, which will make
invalid many of the tenders of property.
A. H. Wethey, representing Senator
elect w. A. Clark, was among the first
to address the commissioners. He ad-
vocated the acceptance of the site on the
west side of Montana street, between
Broadway and Park streets. He said he
had been given to understand that this
| site would be sold to the government for
a nominal sum. probably 81. The peo-
pie he represented, he said, owned con-
siderable property on North Main street,
which would be enhanced in value by
the location Of the building on the Ley
son site, but he was of the opinion that
the interests of the city would be best
served by the selection of the Montana
street site.
State Senator Courtney addressed the
commissioners on behalf of the Leyson
site. corner of Main and Copper streets,
holding that the location of the building
at this point would best accommodate
the miners who worked on the hill.
Mr.. Window remarked that the COM
mi%ssioners had been informed that Park
street was the street of the future Of
Butte, and was doing more business now
than any of the other streets except
Main, was level, and that it would work
a hardship on business men. who would
be compelled to toll up the hill to rams
act their business at the postoffice.
Mr.. Courtney replied that he had been
walking up the hills Of Butte many years
and it had worked no hardship or him
He said three of the largest mercantile
institutions in the city were in favor of
the Upper Main street site, and when
asked by Mr.. Window to name them, re-
piled that the Hcnnessy company, the
Cornell ompany and the Siegel Cloth
ing were anxious to see the
building located on the Leyson site.
Mr.. Courtney then went on to say that
in his opinion Park street was not grow
ing particularly fast.
James Cassidy advocated the selection
! Of property on Park street, near the
| Clarendon hotel.
In reply to a question from William D.
Thornton, Mr.. Window said the govern
ment would require full title, without
mineral right reservation.
Mr.. Thornton then advocated the Ley
son site. which, in his opinion, would be
near the center of population.
Judge Roberts Of Walkerville spoke for
the Leyson site, which, he said, was
easily reached by a large number of peo-
pie. Centerville and VAUDEVILLE, he
said, had been great factors in the prog
ress and prosperity Of Butte.
w. McC. White said the ruling of the
commissioners in regard to mineral res
ervations would necessitate an amended
bid from him. He was of the opinion
that the smelling plants on Silver Bow
creek had helped to extend the city in
that direction. The absorption Of the
smelling plants by the Amalgamated
Copper company probably meant that
the copper product would not be treated
in Butte, and in less than a year no Butte
smelters would be in operation. The re-
suit would be that the town would go up
the hill to the mines. He advocated the
selection of the Leyson site.
James H. Lynch said he did not con-
slider that Walkerville had any interest
in this matter. as Walkerville was a sep
arate municipality and had a postoffice
of it's own. While he was postmaster
under Cleveland he had been instructed
by the department to investigate the
matter Of abandoning the postofices at
Walkerville. Centerville, Meaderville
and South Butte, and Of establishing in
stead sub-stations. Walkerviile object
ed to this proceeding so strenuOusly that
nc sub-station was established there. He
had also been instructed by the DEPART
ment to select q commission and make a
report as to the most desirable point for
the location of the federal building, and
the commission decided upon the corner
Of Arizona and Park streets as the center
of population. Mr.. Lynch commended
that Park street was the center of popu-
lation, north and south.
James A. Murray said that under the
ruling of the commissioners very few Of
the bids could be accepted, and, under
the circumstances, they were wasting
time.
The meeting then adjourned.
Eionct oyotyn h,T Il ra 1,o,I> r., wv.