The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

eral years past. This statement is tes-
titled to by some of the leading bust
ness concerns of the city and by men
who are in position to feel the public
pulse and know whereof they are speak
ing. Mayor Edwards and many other
leading citizens join in the general
statement that times have greatly i'm
proved in the capital city. Take for
instance the general mercantile bust
ness. Hardly a merchant can be found
in Helena who will not admit that bus
mess is considerably better than at
this time last year and in fact. than in
many years previous The people of
Helena on the whole have occasion TO
Join with the Christmas Standard IN
expressing thanks for what the year
has done and to hope for a continuation
thereof.
During the year there have been
substantial improvements in the build
ing line. A number of residences have
been erected and several larger build
ing erected. Chief in the building line
has, of course, been the state capitol.
The work that has been conducted on
this building during the last IL months
has been simply phenomenal. Since
the dedication of the structure last
July it has steadily advanced. Two
stories have been completed ALI Of
the iron work for the building has
been placed in position. All of the cut
stone work for the last story has been
completed.
Governor Smith, the chairman of the
state board of capitol building COM
missioners, when asked to-day as to the
progress of the work upon the struc-
ture, said he and the board We're sat
flor II t1,,t I, H., i
son to believe that the building would
be completed by the time the next SEES
sion of the legislature convened. While
1t is true that work upon the govern
ment building has been delayed, it is
expected that on account of the recent
advertisement for bids, work upon the
building will be resumed and early in
the year this important addition to
Helenas improvements will be a set
tied fact. Speaking of the improve
ments in the times in Helena a we'll
known banker, in conversation with
the Standard reporter. said:
In my judgment Helena is financial
~ and commercially in a much better
condition than it was one wear ago.
There is a more buoyant and hopeful
feeling in the minds of it's citizens
than perhaps for a long time, which
has a tendency to bring about a mater
ial Improvement. Considerable loca!
capital has recently been invested in
enterprises of Importance to the city,
and, in addition, there has been quite
an amount of Eastern capital invested
in and about Helena, that has resulted
in the development of many mines ad-
jacent and tributary to this city.
Among the merchants, nothing but
words of encouragement and satisfac-
ton are heard. One retail grocer told
me that his sales for this year had
been $1,000 more than for the cores
ponding months of last year. One dry
goods merchant told me that in one
day recently his sales We're greater
than for the day before Christmas last
year.
Il believe that, on the whole, Hell
ena is enjoying her full share of the
prosperity that seems to be attendant
upon the entire country"
One of the leading merchants, when
| asked for an expression of his senti-
ments upon the existing conditions, in
dorsed every word that the banker
| said. This merchant is in a splendid
position to know whereof he speaks
He says that trade from adjacent points
| has never been better An element that
had contributed a good deal to these
| happy conditions, he said, was the fact
| that the mining camps around Helena
| were unusually prosperous. As State
| annual report, the amount of mining
| exploiting going on in this county sur
| passed any previous year and was SIM
| ply surprising. Marysville, Rimini. Win
| ston. Bald Butte and other mining
| points are seeing lot of work being
| done. The good prices that have beer
| received this year for live stock anC
| general ranch products have also con.
| tributed materially to the general i'm
| proyement. The ill effects from the
| suspension of two of Helena's banks
| have gradually been eliminated. Two
years ago the subject was uppermos
in the public mind. to-day it is hardly
| mentioned. Under the able and skill
| full management of Eugene T. Wilson
| who is receiver for both of the sus
| pended banks, the affairs of those con
| Germs are being adjusted in a manner
| that will rebound greatly to the benefi
| of the depositors of the defunct inSti
| buttons. Both institutions are paying
dividends, and if times keep on improv.
ing so that Mr.. Wilson can dispose o.
the properties belonging to those in
| situations advantageously. the deposit
| ors will receive a good share of theil
! money. During the last few weeks an
| other bank was started in Helena. ar
| indication that business is anything but
bad.
Mayor Edwards in discussing the stu
alton with the standard reporter said
THE outlook for the future of Helens
was never better. Conditions generally
indicate that our people are ready, will
ing and financially able to take holC
and support all industries which would
be beneficial to a city, the permanency
of which, in their judgment, is guar
| anteed.
Compared with previous years the
collection of taxes, both city and coun.
ty, for 1899 and the promptness with
which the same have been paid, ha!
never been equaled. All desirable resi-
dence properties are occupied, bushes,
| properties likewise. Investors havins
| confidence in our city, as demonstrated
by the offers of handsome premiums
for Helena's 4 per cent bonds, and tn,
fact that our debt during the past yea
has been materially reduced, has Great
ed a very favorable impression.
II believe that within six month
| Helena will own and operate an electr
lighting system, and within eightcel
months will operate and control waite
system and supply. These ventures vii
result in a saving TO the city of at leas
twenty-five thousand dollars per an
! Wi