The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-01-09
NEW N. ?. BUILDINGS
Details of improvements to Be
Made in the Spring in
Billings.
A NEW FREIGHT HOUSE
On the Site OF Aliens Lumber Yard
and Several New Structures
Contemplated.

Robert knntOul or st. raul, DIVISION
freight agent Of the Northern Pacific
railroad, who was visitor in the city
all day Sunday, made public the news
that his company had made arrange
ments for some extensive improvements
in Billings during the next few months,
which would costsbetween $50, 1000 and
100000. Some few weeks ago The
Gazette stated that these improvements
were contemplated, the reporter having
received his tip from one who is on the
inside OF all railroad matters The
matter has progressed SO far now that
the company, no longer cares to keep it
secret, as was shown@by Mr.. Ran.
toul's oonver sation. Something is ex-
pected of Billings, but it is only little
matter and a>4request which the city
council can readily grant, being the
closing or condemning against travel Of
Thirty and Thirty first streets across the
Northern Pacific tracks
It has been known to the railroad for
10, many months, that its present
freight depot was entiraly inadequate,
either for freight or wool business. and
the company has at last decided OH a
plan whereby the difficulty can be
solved. The day Of Billings unimpor.
tance has fast vanished in the past three
years, and today ttstands as the leading
freight center Of Montana, controlling
practically III the traffic Of northern
Wyoming and southern Montana Re-
alizin1 all this. as we'll as the fact that
1t 10 growing in its territory the North
ern Pacific has decided to erect new
freight depot and warehouse On Mon.
tann avenue, west from Twenty ninth
street. The structure Is to be mads a
credit not only to the company but to
Billings as we'll. On the location now
occupied by Fl. m. Allen s. Co.'S. lu,n-
Der office. space will be reserved for
park about half block long. Then,
facing OH this will be the freight Off
ces, in building 50x4O feet. while ad-
joining this will be the freight ware
house. 50x200 feet, these two buildings
to be Of stone or brick.
The present freight depot is to be
rased to the ground and new addition
built to the wool warehouse, presuma-
bly, Of stone orfbrick, az it isin the fire
limits. The addition wi1l extend out
even to the street lipeo on both the south
and west sidas>>This large building
will then be used exclusively for the
large wool business which the company
expects to do here, making Billings the
biggest wool market in the state Of
Montana and the northwest A we'll
iuhtad and couvaniant sampl;uo roop
for wool will Sbe one Of the additions,
theraby DOING away with that continual
hauling around of yo6l all over the
warehouse, and a,faot that will be glad.
" hailed by beth growers and buyers.
The baling Of wool by hand will be
done away with, as three presses, oper-
ated by electricity or a gasoline ell.
gine, are to be placed in the house.
Other improvements are contem.
plated by the company, but nothing
definite has been made known regard
ing them. 1t il known that the present
passenger depot is too small to accom-.
modate tho passenger. express and bag
gage business and it is thought that,
while the other improvements are be.
ing made. the company will also make
some changes in this particular. Such
being the case it is more than likely
that separate baggage and express
building will be erected, facing east on
Twenty. ninth street, while the present
combined building will be converted
into commouious passenger depot.
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