The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-30
IN BILLINGS.
Postoffice Bids Received-May Go to the
South Side.


South Side.
Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Billings, Sept. 26.-Inspector Vance
of the postoffice department was here
last Saturday to receive bids for the
postoffice building, as the lease at pres
ent existing between the department
and the First National bank has ex-
pred. Three bids were submitted One
was by the First National bank, offer
ing the present location, with the ca
pacity doubled and hot water heating
and electric lighting. State Senator
Gruwell offered a location in his new
building, party constructed, adjoining
Losekamp's store on Montana avenue.
Yegen Bros. offer to construct a build
ing for the postoff1ce on Minnesota
avenue in the same block as Their de-
partment store. Both Gruwell and
Yegen reserve a small portion in the
front part of the building for news
stand, Inspector Lance has sent the
bids on to Washington, and has not
made public the amounts asked for
rent. 1t is generally thought, however,
that Yegens bid is much the lowest,
as it is known that for years they have
been anxious to have the office located
on the south side of the track. 1t
would undoubtedly be a serious incon-
venience to most of the business houses
in the city to have the office located on
the south side of the railroad track,
but the picayune way in which the de-
partment is run makes it seem probable
that the businesses interests will have to
suffer the inconvenience.
The work of constructing the north
side sewer has been commenced by
Ben Hager who is superintendent for
T. r. Kinds of Butte, the contractor
The work will be pushed as rapidly as
possible, and as many men Will be put
a Commemorative
to complete as much as possible before
cold weather sets in. Laborers are
paid So a day, but are scarce. There
will be about two and half miles of
sewer to construct under the contract,
besides the work of making the private
connections.
The building committee of the Parm-
ly Billings Memorial library met
Tuesday morning to open the bids for
the construction of the handsome struc-
ture, which had been designed by Archi-
tect c. H. Hare. There were six bid
ders, Charles Stabern & Co. and Shaffer
& Moncreif of Helena, Tubbs & Ward,
S. B. Sawyer, e. H. Gagnon and r. r.
Grove of Billings. It was found on ex-
aiming the bids that the building
would cost more than the amount
promised by Frederick Billings, $4,000,
owing to the advance in building ma
terial and labor, and the committee de-
tlucu " ueIei Tue ielllIlS u llt Coii-
tract until the matter had been sub
mitted to Mr.. Kilner of New York. who
represents Mr.. Billings in the trans
| action. AT present the committee will
not make known the terms of the bids.
Billings is now within speaking dis
| lance of the Musselshell country, the
long-distance telephone between these
| points now being open for business,
| the line being so miles in length. The
| line will be great convenience both
| to the business men and the ranchers,
| and will doubtless be much patronized
The Billings water power company
| is making preparations to move into
| the building now occupied by Vale &
| Potter as a saloon and fit it up for an
| office and workshop. Vale & Potter
| will probably consolidate their bust
ness with that of Scally & Co., in which
| they are interested.
John D. Losekamp has been up to
| Bear Tooth lake. in Carbon county,
stocking it at his own expense with
large consignment of trout fry. The fry
consists of Eastern brook, steelhead
and rainbow trout.