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Bozeman’s Mayor Delivers His "State Of The City" Address. Krauss: "Cities Exist For Two Reasons: To Facilitate Commerce And Create Wealth"

Delivering a "State of the City" address is an opportunity to ask, "Why do cities exist?" Why does Bozeman exist? Cities exist because they facilitate commerce and create wealth. We can see that throughout history, cities are built on trade routes, at the confluence of rivers, in harbors and ports. We can see that cities in Montana whose commerce is growing are themselves growing, attractive and successful. And, we see cities whose industry and commerce is in decline that are losing population around the state.

This purpose of "facilitating commerce and creating wealth" is very clear in the history of Bozeman: (My city has founded as a Shortcut to the frontier gold fields, and cultivated a niche in selling ag products to miners taking the shortcut, resulted in the army being conned into building a fort to supposedly protect our residents against Indians, then getting the railroad to show up so that crops that could be shipped out, then applying to become the Montana state capital only to settle for getting a land grant college, then, later, building the interstate and a great airport with federal bucks, in a place located near a famous national park and other fantastic geography. Bam! Ya got Bozeman.)

Alas, if only the next phase of our future could be pondered so simply as we do the former phases in hindsight. Bozeman is growing up. Along with that increased commerce and wealth I mentioned earlier comes the need for investment in infrastructure, treated water, sewer, hospital, and a big increase in the quality of life: health, culture, art, leisure. Public health and culture are an outgrowth of commerce.

Full Story: http://www.newwest.net/index.php/main/article/7849/

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