The Helena independent., 1889-03-17
BUsTLIyG BILLINGS.


business Men Predicting a Good Trade
During the spring and summer.
BILLINGS, March l2-[Special cores
pondence Of the independent THE ap-
proach Of spring and the continued fine
weather enliyens the mercantile life OF
Billings, and on every hand are TO be seen
the local merchants laying plans for the
seasons business which promises TO be
without parallel In the history of this city.
The big ditch which has been In process Of
reconstruction and enlargement for the
last three months nears completion. and
when the work Is finished, will insure a
supply of irrlgating water adequate to the
neccs OF the entire valley.
Tae fire department, which since the
ith Of July last has been In a demoralzed
condition, Is once more reorganized and In
It's new quarters, which have been fur
nished elegantly at an expense of $500, are
TO be found every evening the men who
have always been foremost In battling
with the devouring element, and who have
lasting monuments 10 their zeal, energy
and capacity In the structures which the
hand OF improvement has not swept away.
Their hall, which Ii in the sec
ond story OF the old fire house, has
been decorated and carpeted, and now Is
resort OF which the members OF the
Maverick" company may well DO proud.
The ranchers and farmers are preparing 70
break more acreage than ever before In the
Yellowstone valley, relying on the new
coal camp at Red Lodge. the terminus OF
the Rock Fork railroad for market. The
occasional hint of additional railroad
building from this point to Fort Benton,
and TO Cooke City, as well as the prospec-
tive outlet 10 the Union Pacific railroad,
all inspire the residents OF this locality
with new life and courage.
The business men are interesting them
selves In projecting an opera house which
shall equal any between the Missouri river
and Spokane, and will be when completed
q model OF convenience and comfort The
plan will be 10 place the auditorium on the
ground floor, with seating capacity OF five
10 six hundred, with plenty OF stage room
and fixtures, the front part TO be utilized
for stores and offices.
The plans and specifications Of the new
Touring mill are In the hands OF contract
ors for figures, and the bsilding will be
commenced with the first approach Of set
tied weather. The mill will be built with
q capacity adequate TO the demand and
with sufficient opportunity tor additions
whenever there is an increased demand.
News from the wool securing mill Is favor
able and the indication seems 10 be that II
will be ready for this seasons crop. Work
on the Rocky Fork rsilroad Ia temporarily
suspended, but will be resumed ON the LIST
OF April, when the road will be
quickly prepared for daily service and
the largest coal deposits in the
Northwest will be compelled TO disgorge
their contents 10 aid In the reduction OF the
great ore products Of Montana. The
"Grand" Hotel lottery has been declared
of, but arrangements will be made shortly
30 that the travelling public will have no
necessity TO fear the closure Of the premises,
which has been threatening for some
months past, and people coming to Billings
will find accommodations equal TO those OF
eastern cities of much larger proportions
than this. The Webb Guards are con
stantly and perseveringly drilling,
and II other companies IN
the territory envy them the honors they
carried away at the last encampment, IL
beho0ves the others 10 tend assiduously 10
their knitting, for the boys sre q little
''stuck up" over their performance Of last
summer, and are working hard To lead this
year
With all these things to encourage, who
shall say the prospect of eastern Montana
and the Yellowstone country Is not bright
With concerted action on the part OF
the Billings people, who shall be able to
hinder the onward progress OF this embryo
city? ". N. q.