The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1883-03-01
MASS MEETINGS
To Celebrate The Creation of Vel
lostone County.

lostone County.
Immediately after the receipt
the intelligence Of the passage (
the bill creating Yellowstone coul
ty on Friday last, an ilnprompt
mass meeting was called to be hel
at the Opera House in the evening
There was a full attendance an
the the greatest enthusiasm markc
the demeanor of all present. Shol
addresses were delivered by Mcssrs
Wilde, Miller, Harwood, Hcrsey
Mathcson, Quivvy, Bates and 9th
crs. 1t was announced that fol
NAL ratification meeting would b
held at the court house on the fol
lowing Saturday evening.
Accordingly, at the time an,
place stated, a crowded audience O
both ladies and gentlemen had as
sembled. Bonfires lighted the from
of the building and the air wa.
kept in constant commotion by tn
discharge of firearms and NOR,
noisy explosives - demonstration.
which bespoke the joy of the mul
titude at the new era which hat
dawncd upon them.
F. B. Stoneman being elected tc
the chair, briefly stated the pur.
pose of the meeting, viz, to ratify
the action of the Territorial Legisla.
turc in passing the bill for the ere
alton of Yellowstone county, with
Billings as its county seat. II. II.
Mund was the first speaker. He
expressed his satisfaction at the de-
sirablc consummation which had
brought them together. Though
the new county had been created
their work had only begun. The
next labor was to build up a COM
monwealth on a firm and lasting
basis. United action had secured
the passage of the bill and this
should be an example in the con-
luct of county government. The
new county was equal in natural
wealth to any in the Territory, and
ne believed would soon surpass them
n population and artificial devel-
)pment.
+. \. Harwood said the occasion
vas one fraught with especial in
crest. But a little while ago the
audience was scattered over the
ength and bredth of the Union.
,ut all looked toward the Yellow
tone river with its growing impor-
ancc. Less than year ago the
nows were drifting over an almost
rackless waste where now stands
'ur beautiful city. What had been
ccomplishcd III our midst since
hat time almost surpassed the
york of the nagician's wand. This
arly period of our history was a
time for the establish
lent of a new county, and the OK
:nsion to them of the privilege to
lect their own officers.
Judge Miller took the floor. He
aid the regulation of their own
affairs was privilege |
cry dear to the American heart. |
his had been one of the causes
'hich led to separation from the
lothcr country, and for this were
tatcs and counties organized. (,
hey were now celebrating the re- |
option of their birth-right-thc |
riyilegc Of governing themselves
ithout the interference of antago-
istic interests. If the affairs of
le new county were properly man
yed division would prove a great
oon. If not, then immigration
ould be discouraged and from dis
onest government our town and
ounty would fall into disrepute.
hey should be careful to elect
bod officers. Billings was already
ne of the most prosperous towns on
le road, and being peculiarly well
laced should become a great city.
railroad was to be built from
ere to Benton, there to connect
ith q branch from the Canadian
acitic. He believed that this
ould induce the construction Of q
,ad from the South designed to
Itch traffic continually flowing be-
veen the Northern and Southern
ortions of the continent. This
ould make Billings great rail
ad centre. The town was sur
'unded by magnificent stock
Using and agricultural lands and
ith the development of mining
III manufacturing resources it
ust be place of great Importance.
e believed it best to erect good
'unty buildings at once.
r. Il. Allen said he was there as
tizen, not as a politician. He
'cw amusing pictures of the future
our town and county, and the
'ctentious outgrowth of our infant
stltutons-our, strcct-cars, court
ouses and literary society.
Sam Wilde related the history of
C adoption of the name of the
w county-Yellowstone. \ party
citizens, of whom he was one,
ere discussing some public busi-
'ss when the question of a proper
lmc for the prospective county
IS raised. Several names wetc
but to G. a. Wustum was
lie the honor of suggesting
[ Yellowstone" He believed the
w county had before it q brilliant
turc. Its county seat, Billings. s
I'd natural advantages equal to ,
ose Of Denver, and there was no :