The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-12-11

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A NEEDED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT.
Billings has passed the crucial point
that all towns must meet at some
time in their existence, and it's steady
growth and prosperity are assured.
From now it must be considered as M
of the prosperous, growing cities Of
the state. Everything conspires to
make it so. In geographical position
and environment it is favored to an
extent that but few of the younger
cities Of Montana are favored. With
its future assured beyond all reasona-
BILE doubt, the time has come when it's
citizens can safely take steps in the
direction Of providing the city with
needed public co~nveniences and ne
cessities of a permanent nature. One
of these is a public building, or city
hall, of a character comparable with
the city's dignity and to meet the
ever increasing demand for a NUM-
cipal %headqua1 ters suitable for all
needs and requirements. The city has
outgrown the structure which now
does duty in that direction and should
have a new one. OF course, this con-
templates the expenditure Of consider
able money, but the necessary means
could be provided after the manner
employed by all cities-the issuance
of bonds-and the burden shifted upon
those to come, the one who to the
full will enjoy the fruits of the labors
of those who gave the city its start,
and directed it along the channels Of
growth to the eminence it is bound to
assume as time passes on.
A building to meet all requirements
for many generations could be erected
at a cost Of from $l5, 900 to $40, 600.
Bonds for this amount, and drawing a
dow rate of interest, could be issued in
two series, one for 10 years and the
other for a longer period, say 20
years. Buyers in plenty for the bonds
could be found who would gladly pay
q premium of no less than five per
cent. Without adding to the burdens
of taxation, an interest fund could be
created to meet the semi annual pay
ments Of interest and in a few years
later a sinking fund could be estab-
lished to take up the bonds at matur-
ity, or if this were found ~inexpedient
a new issue could be made to take the
place of the old; but it is not at all
probably that such a contingency is
likely to arise, and, furthermore, to
speculate thus is, perhaps, discounting
the future to an extent that unneces-
: sarily involves the present.
To return to the necessity OF a city
building: All will agree that one is
needed and needed urgently. For the
amount suggested n could be erected
that would meet all requirements and
be not only a honor to the city, but
also add to its Importance and credit,
to the extent of a material addition to
its assets, should it ut some future
time be deemed expedient to again
issue bonds for some other purpose. A
building such as The Gazette has in
mind and which the exigencies Of the
situation demand, would not only
afford the needed city offices, but also
a city Jail and place for the storing of
fire apparatus and suitable quarters
for the department., the men who vol
unteer their services for the public
good. They certainly are entitled to
SOM recognition for their unselfish-
ness and public spiritedness, not to say
love of community. Not only should
they have a place where they can meet
for purposes of business, but they
should be provided. at public expense,
with q place where they could meet in
a social way and for mutual enjoyment
and benefit and while away the hours
they have for recreation, hours that
now hang heavily on the hands of
many, as a majority are single men
with no other homes than are afforded
by the cherries comforts of a oom in
a hotel or lodging house.
While it is true that the city has a
Jail, it is at best but a poor one, con-
sisting of a single room where all pris-
oners are herded together indiscrimi-
nately. It is almost nightly filled
with men picked up by the police and