The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-01
AT The TOWN OF BILLINGS
Details Of the Opening. Which Took
Place Week Ago

! race d w eek ago.
Guthrie, O. T., Oct. 800 many sensa-
| tional stories of the opening of the new
town Of Billings have been sent out that
a plain account is timely The Enid
extension of the Rock Island eastward
has now reached CARRIER, in Garfield
county, few miles further on, in Noble
county, is Billings. Southeast of Billings
Is the town of Whiterock, which has
moved to Billings The town of Billings
was opened a week ago today. People
from Perry, Enid and almost all of White
rock were present. Two negroes, who
came from Perry, were ordered out Of
town. plain account of the opening of
Billings is given by the Whiterock News.
1t says:
Monday had been set for the opening
Of the new town, Billings, and although
there had been scarcely any notice
given as to when it would occur, so many
were closely watching for the event that
somehow several hundred people were as
sembled on the ground in the early morn
ing. The day was a characteristic open
ing day. The weather was such as has
several times prevailed at the opening of
the public domain iof this territory. The
wind blew constantly and with great
force from the southwest. Clouds of dust
and sand filed the air from the newly
made railroad grade through the town
site 1t reminded one in a small wav.
OF the historic 18th of September. 1898.
About the same percentage of women
We're to be seen on the grounds; some Of
them had braved the wind and dust sim
ply for the purpost of seeing the opening
number of a boom town; others, how
ever, were there with an eye to bunsiness.
several of whom, we understand, went
away in the evening the proud possessors
of some choice lots in Billings. The town
company Office seemed to be the center
of attraction, but so much has been said
about the waited question concerning the
place that honors were about equally d.
yided between the office and the big rail-
road we'll in which the workmen had
just struck flow. The well was only
about twenty-five feet detp and as their
prospect wells showed them that the |
water vein was between twenty-five and |
thirty feet they had not yet reached it !
in paying quantities but all indications |
pointed to plenty of water soon. This |
seemed to convince great many that the |
company knew what they were about |
when they located the town here and |
would go off to pick out their locations. |
1t had early been announced that no lots |
would be sold until after dinner, yet many |
who had already picked out locations re-
manned close at the office, evidently fear
full that if they left their posts somebody
might find latch string out. get in and
Txbia Ia1
set their affections. All seemed in good
humor, inclined to make the best of a
dusty day. The saloone to the number of
four, were on the grounds located in tents,
but their patronage did not seem to in
licate prosperous business for their line,
partly because those present were there
strictly for business, we presume, and
partly because many were there who
seem to prosper without the help of slim
llants. The crowd was good natured and
orderly and submitted to the little incon-
veniences in a very philosophical man
ler. The hastily constructed restaurants
lid a land office business, and we heard
10 grumbhng' on account Of the short or
lers, being so extremely short as some
IF them were in provisions. When we
sulped down our cup of black coffee and
;Wallowed a few mouthfuls of bread and
boiled ham we paid our two bits with
badness and thought of the time, six
,ears before, when we paid a penny
apiece for soda crackers which would sink
n water, because of the quantity of black
;and with which they were loaded on the
)anks of Red Rock, the next day after
he grand opening of the Strip"