The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-06-11
Maiden and Magnnis, M. T., Thursdy June Il, 1885,

provement of the line is markad.
indeed, both as to vehicles and stock.
and passengers into and out of the
Judith country will find more comfort
to the square inch on this route than
any other. ]. J. Davis. the superin-
tendent, is the person to whom the
travelling public is indebted for the
needed reforms.
BILLINGS.
As an old timer in Billings, having
seen the town grow from tents to
frame buildings and from the latter to
brick blocks We are able to form a con-
else opinion as to its progress and in
creased importance as supplying
point for the surrounding country.
The cool, bracing atmosphere of the
early morn had thoroughly shaken off
all desire to embrace or be embraced
by Morpheus, and in lieu thereof we
strolled down Montana Ave-, noting
the improvements, when suddenly We
stood before the black, charred re
mains Of what, in our day, was the
principal business block of the "Magic
City," Block III, in such condition,
was to us sad sight, particularly so
when We discovered the lever that
moved the Yellowstone world, the en-
tire press outfit of the Billings Gazette
Co., standing almost in the center of
the ruins. burnt beyond re building
The old Prouty press that We ran for
two years in printing the Herald, the
Globe used by the Post, a Gordon
jobber. Washington hand press and
numerous other valuable printing
equipments familiar to us, all in ruins.
Surely the printing Office devil had no
hand in creating this hades on earth
Though some complications have
arisen regarding insurance on the
printing material, we trust the Gazette
boys will succeed in getting satisfac
tory adjustment of their claim. and
despite their misfortune attain the end
aimed at previous to the fire, that of
publishing first class daily newspaper
containing associated press dispatches.
1t will be some time ere this block
is rebuilt, if for years, as it seems to be
the right thing to move at least one
square up the river as in the case OF
the frs. fire.
Several fine buildings are in course
of construction, notably that of the
Billings First National Bank, composed
of Yellowstone red brick with sand
stone trimmings, the stone being quar-
ried from the perp .ndicular bluffs back
of the town and pronounced by judges
to be of superior quality.
Enterprise" has been the watch
word of a number of Billings influen-
tial citizens and the life and prosperity
of the place is directly traceable there
to. y dozen or fifteen live men in a
town who believe in progression. in let
ting people know what kind OF place
they live in. and consume time and
spend money to that end, are worth
more to western town than 500
drones who. though in business and
desire good times. are only too willing
to lei Others pay for drawing ,he trade
they corral after 1t comes within reach.
Billings, like other places We could
mention. woald be better off to day il
some of its sleepy, -spend-a cent
advertis.ny business inen would pull
stakes and move on
The yellow stone Gun Club is dcs-
tined to prove an important factor in
shaping the future of Billings. Though
organized but recently it has accom-
pllshed the end desired: that of pro
vidlng club and reading rooms where
members can gather, exchange views
on subjects of local import, spend a
pleasant hour and entertain in royal
manner friends and strangers within
the city gates. Their rooms are elc-
gantly furnished. and wthal reflect
credit on the club and city.
Among the wholesale houses doing
a good business for miles around them
are II. Clark " Co, wholesale mer-
chandise; Camp Bros, hardware and
forwarding agents; l.. II. Fenske and
5. II. Erwin, wholesale liquor dealers.
We found a great many OF tine old
families moved away and their places
taken by new comers. The population
to-day must be in the neiyhborhood of
5000. Billings prospects are brighter
than for two years past and improving
as its merchants reach into tributary
country and secure trade. To us Bill
lings seems like our Montana home,
(it being or abiding place for two
years., and as such We hope to live to
see il city of 10000 energetic peo-