Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-07-24
MIR. BILLINGS ATHIs HOME.
His Reception by his Friends-His Cheer
full Views of the business Outlook.

His Reception by his Friends-His Cheer
full Views of the Business outlook.
Last Friday afternoon the Northern
Pacific private car "Glacier" arrived at
Woodstock, via Montreal and Burlington
bringing home Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick
Billings, Mr.. +. y. Billings and Mrs.
Allen, who with Mr.. and Mrs. O. p. G.
Billings, have made in the past six weeks
an extended trip along the lines of the
Northern Pacific, Oregon Railway Navi-
cation and Oregon Short Line systems.
In the evening Il number of Mr.. Bill
lings's townsmen marched to his house,
and through their spokesman, Hon. War
ner c. French, babe him a cordial wei
come home, in behalf of "ail citizens of
Woodstock, present or absent" Mr. Bill
lngs acknowledged the compliment in
the handsome way which is so natural to
him. No man is more happy in an off
hand speech. We quote the following
paragraphs from his remarks, as reported
by the Stdnddrd:
This kind welcome to the good old home
where | have nothing to ask for except
the good Will and respect of the communi-
ty is especially dear to me and thank
you most heartily for It, and for the kind
manner in which Mr.. French has seen fit
to express, as he says. the feelings of my
neighbors and fellow townsmen. Not the
less dear is the welcome that it is an en-
tire surprise.
First and above all | wish to express my
heartfelt gratitude to the good Providence
that has been over us ALL never less than
six III number and much of the time eight,
keeping us III good health and preserving
us from all dangers seen and unseen.
Six weeks have we been travelling, GOV
ering Il distance of nearly ten thousand
miles. We have been up into Her Males
tvs DOminiOns in Manitoba. We have
followed out the various branch lines OF
the Northern Pacific, and have beer
through on the main line to Puget Sound
where | wish you could all be to see the
natural resources and the beautiful anc
impressive scenery that characterize thai
wonderful region.
On our return we went down to Sal
Lake city, not especially to see the Nor
mon brethren, but 50 that | could inspec
the Union Pacific connection with Oregon
and Washington territory by the Oregon
short line, which comes in Us factor II
this great matter of transcontuenta
roads. We also visited the cities of Du
luth, superior and Ashland, the latter be
ing the eastern terminus of the Northerl
Pacific on Lake superior And in thi
long Journey we have spent every Sunda
Just where proposed before leaving NeN
York. The first Sunday was in Mime
apOlis, the second in the National Park
the third ON Puget Sound at Tacoma, tn
/ fourth at Salt Lake cIty, and the fifth u
Ashland, and we have got back here thi
, afternoon on the very day and at the yer
. hour set down in the programme pre-
pared before the journey was commenced
: There have been accidents before US an
behind us but they have not come mig
IN nli
considering that we have had no sicknee
in the entire party, have not sui1ere
much from either heat or dust and hav
; all come back i'll better health than whe
we started, the journey has been ma
y velous experience and for it all we feel I'll
y most devOul gratitude.
{ 1t may interest you to know that as on
6 result of the trip have become convince
i that the great depression which we hay
+, all been under in every kind of industl
= Tor 50 long time appears to me to hay
> reached its lowest ebb, and am considers
Z bly, more hopeful about the future of bus
!. ness than when went away. What a
/ fects the great Western country to
:, large extent affects us. If prosperit
"a comes to one part of the country it is te
c everywhere, and | trust the bottom of han
= times has at length been touched. I'll
wheat crop in Dakota and Montana, clei
up to the Canada line, never looked mo-
{ promising. In Oregon and WashlngtC
territory the crops were nearly ready #
V the harvest and there is a larger acrea.
" this year than last and everywhere II
y price of wheat is likely to be entirely sa
m isfactOry. Last year, while the crop WI
III good the price hardly paid the cost of pr
10 ductOn. OF course, with this prospect
It to the great staple of wheat the merchan
at and bankers and all classes in the Mort
T. west are feeling better ! was told tn
r if prices had remained as low as they we
~ last year more people would have move
nf out of the wheat growing region tn;
Je would have moved in, for the simple re
II, son that they could not afford to st;
of there. OF course the wheat business
ne but one factor i'll the prosperity Of q
~ country, but it is "A great one and you mu
pardon me for abiding to it.
10 But my friends, | am not out here
ly make speech, but simply to thank "
most earnestly for the respect and gre
nd Kindness which you show me by comil
H. here to night and to say that ] am mo
~ glad and happy than can tell you to
back ON this hill, under these old trees, al
st to look You all in the face. ! can say tn
or so long as | have Il home in such deligl
cr full place in dear old Vermont, and ha
such friends and neighbors us | see Def,
me ! ought always to be a happy ma
Again thanking you and inviting y
into the house that Mrs. Billings as W
as myself may take you all by the han
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