Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-08-08

King" No stone was left unturned by
either man to further his cause and
neither spared the influencing pres
sure on his private purse.
Convincing arguments were given
out for Helena; equally convincing
ones were released by Anaconda. The
press took up the fight and editors
/ burned the midnight oil to write
flowery editorials in which TO convince
the voters that their choice should be
the voters choice.
The following is taken from an old
clipping in which is described the city
Of Helena and many reasons given as
TO why it should continue to be the
capital site; also reasons why In the
opinion OF the author, Anaconda
should not be eligible for such an
honor.
Helena is now a city Of $1,000 in
habitants, most Of whom own their
homes. Its stores and residences are
on a larger scale and a finer scale
than are usually found in a town of
Its size, because there has always been
plenty Of money there. Helena has
been the metropolis Of Montana from
the days of the early gold excitement.
Last Chance gulch, In which the orig
inal town was situated. and which is
the heart of the city, was a great
bonanza of placer gold, over $35.000.-
600 in dust and nuggets having been
found there.
Assets Are Listed
Nearby are some Of the finest hot
springs in the country. and a bathing
establishment which would do credit
to a much more populous region. The
city has a good free library, flourish
ing clubs, several sound and we'll
managed banking houses, retail stores
which equal any in the west, and all
those modern conveniences In the way
Of waterworks, electric lights, street
cars, good streets, ETC., which help to
make the modern city desirable resi-
dence. The schools also are the best
in the state, and there are two col
leges on a prosperous basis. The cityS
situation is one of the finest in Mon
tana, against the south mountains OF
the great Prickly Pear valley and In
the county named for the famous ex-
plorers, Lewis and Clark.
Anaconda, on the other hand, con-
tains only Mr.. Days copper smelters,
and the Hotel Montana, which is also
his property, the houses Of his en-
ployes and such business houses, sa-
looms, ETC., as they support. It is an I,
isolated out-of-the-way place, which /
could never have been thought Of for
the state capital except under the cir
cumstances and for the reasons no
ticed. The disinterested reader can
appreciate, therefore, the anxiety
which pervades the minds Of the pa
trtutic citizens Of the state over the
prospects of having their government
sequestered in such place through
such agencies"
At long last. after years Of fighting,
Helena emerged as winner in the cap
ital race. It was q joyous day for her
when the votes were counted for the
last time and declared to be in her
favor and she could rest secure In her
enviable position Of guardian over the
hard-won capital. The citizens went
wild with Joy and in recognition Of
Clarks services and he and his helper,
John Quin, the Butte Miner editor.
we're given a great ovation and their
praises sung far into the night. The
celebration was climaxed by a mock
funeral when an effigy Of DAILY was
carried through the streets on bier.
An overly enthused but intoxicated
Anaconda supporter made the mistake
Of advertising his loyalty in the streets
u Helena by shouting "Hurrah for
Anaconda" at the risk Of his life. He
was Immediately mobbed by furious
crowd and afterward taken In custody
BY the police for his own protection.
Daily, hearing Of his supporters plight,
zane TO his rescue with a specially
chartered train and two influential
mad expensive lawyers. Upon the