The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1882-06-01
BILLINGS.

So much has appeared, recently, in
the press throughout the United States,
respecting the town of Billings that
further discussion of the place would
seem superfuous. 1t tappears, however,
only fitting that the initial issue of a
newspaper published in the town should
devote a portion of its space to a brief
description of the enterprise which the
BILLINGS HERALD is hereafter to repre-
sent before the public. The sudden
transf3rmation of an open prairie into a
city is phenomenon but seldom wit
messed, even in this age and country of
rapid progress. The transition from bar
barisn to civilization is usually of slow ac-
complishment. In the present instance,
however, the change has been instan-
taneous. Only few weeks ago the spot
on which this paper is printed was a
barren plain, dotted at long intervals
with the humble ranches of venturesomc
frontiersmen, and from time ilnme-
mortal the home of the buffalo, and the
Indian. To-day houses ~, erected on
twenty different streets, and new ones
are going up on every side, wagon trains
laden with merchandise are arriving
daily, and the thoroughfares of Billings
present a scene Of business activity such
as is not witnessed in any other town of
Montana. The change seems almost as
wonderful as some of those related in
the old time tales Of Eastern magic. No
such supernatural influence however, has
been required in this instance. The
only magic brought into play was that of
cited into activity by the fast approach
ing track of the Northern Pacific rail-
road.
Several months ago Mr.. Hcman
Clark, the leading contractor of the n.
?. II r., foresecing the advantages of the
location, purchased from the company
all the lands contained in its grant III the
tract known as Clarke's Fork bottom.
This extensive purchase embraced up
wards of &C, 600 acres of the: most fertile
soil in the Yellowstone valley begin
ming at the point where
the railroad, making its first crossing of
the river, emerges from the Crow
Indian Reservation. The requirehents
of the railroad made it evident that
town was to be built somewhere that
locality, as division terminus w ds,e
needed Immediately after leaing the
region sacred to the Crows. ,townsite
company was organized, wi4Mr. Clark
as the president, and the 2sent loca-
ton was decided upon, md early in
April last the plat was PLACED before the
public for the sale oflots,' The unprece-
dented rapidity with which the latter
have been disposed Of shows conclu-
sively the popular confdsnce in the in
trinsic merit of the scheHe. Inside of
four weeks nearly 5000 lots were sold,
and in every instance thesrder forfe}
land has been followed by tns yonired
cash payment. The only dicnlty has
been to satisfy the eager has Of appli-
cants.
The location Of the town. ,,aculiarly |
attractive. AS far as the eyes.ht reaches
the grassy plain to the Vat sIopes
gently and evenly from peEandicular
ridge of soft sandstone, which, rul l.,,ss II
northern boundary, to the lellowstbnes
whose swift flowing wats1 separate III
on the south from thcN w Reserve.
On the opposite banks of the river afisc
a series of picturesque castellated fills,
above whose heights appear at intervals
the snowy tops of the Big Horn and
the Prior ranges. About 50 miles to the
west the Rocky mountains rear their
snow capped SUBMITS to the clouds, and
appear in the clear pure atmophere not
over Is or 20 miles distant. Surrounded
on every side by lofty eminences, the
town lies ON u beautiful prairie whose
soil, wherever essayed by the agricul-
turist responds with luxuriant crops
The town company owns one-half the
land for a distance of thirty-two miles
west from Billings, and applications are
daily received for the purchase Of farms.
Within the next twelve months an agri-
cultural community win have grown up
|on the company's property in the valley
which by itself win insure the enduring
prosperity Of q town Of 10000 inhshi-
tants. Excepting at Pease's bottom and
a short stretch on the Grow Reserve,
there is no such fertile soil III the Vel
lowstone valley east of Clarke'ss Fork
bottom. For the cultivation of wheat
and oats its capacity has already been
tested. Artificial irrigation docs not
appear to be generally necessary, but in
order to insure successful crops, and ia
render the farmers independent Of con-
tingencies Of rain,fall, the company In
tend Ia construct a ditch along the foot
Of the bluffs through the entire stretch
Of its domain. This great canal, which
will enter the Bottom at fensleys, about
81 miles west of BillinsnlIs to boa20 feet
wide and q feet in epth. 1t " calcu'
Hated by this means to iriigatc, # re.
quired, every acre of II 10000 on the
!; bottom. Work has edy h u segur
on this snssr
prise BY ,1t