Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-05
4 VALUABLE CROP
WOOL SOLD. AT BILLINGS
BROUGHT OVER A MILLION.
BOOM IN THE LUMBER TRADE.
Billings Yards Will Be Crowded
Business Men Interested in Gov
eminent Irrigation.
Billings, Mont, Oct. 8.

-s Billings, Mont, Oct. 8.
From figures just furnished by the two
railroads in Billings, it is shown that
10, 200, 900 pounds of wool were brought
to this city and shipped out during the
season, which closed he latter part OF
August. This is over twice as much as
was handled here last year, and it places
Billings at the head as the largest ship
ping point, not only in Montana, but the
northwest as well, if not in the whole
United States. The average price paid
was close to Is cents per pound, which
means a total of 81, sos, 900 that was dis
bursed from his city. The larger part
of this sum found it's way into the hands
OF the sheepmen, who either directly or
indirectly do their trading in Billings,
and thus the merchants of this city are
to reap some benefit from the wool mar
ket. By those in position to know fully
about the subject, it is estimated that
something like Is, 900, 900 pounds will find
it's way to this market neXt season, and
everything points to a realization of this.
The Burlington expects to have it's
~Toluca-Cody branch completed in time
to secure the greater part of the WyOm-
ing wool, which now goes to Casper,
Wyo.. from the Big Horn basin country,
and will of necessity bring that wool to
Billings next year, as it will not be able
to build warehouses in time for it's
storage down there even if it should de-
sire to do so. 1t is even intimated hat
the company already has plans laid for
charging it's warehouse in Billings to
care for this wool, and will make other.
improvements such. as the addition of a
press r,1n by motar-power. In addition
tQS this q number of the wool growers,
h took their product to. Great Falls
the past season, will come to. Billings
next year, as they were greatly ,disap-
pointed in that market and prices. The
Great Northern has just completed it's
report Of wool handled, and it accredits
Great Fails with having: shipped out
about $4,000 900 pounds; which places Bill
ings in the lead about 2,2O0. 900. Next
year it is very doubtful if 4. the, Falls
handles 1000, 900 pounds, while Billings
will have at least twice that amount. =.
-
A few days 6 the announcement was
made of the fact of a reduction in freight
rates on fir lumber from Washington
points to points in the Black Hills and
Colorado. Few people at the time
realized the Importance of this item in
connection with Billings. Tuesday D. H.
McMulllen OF Omaha, representing the
Atlas Lumber and Single company, was
In Billings, and in conversation with the
reporter stated that the rate agreed upon
by the railroads and the Lumbermen's
association was 40 cents per hundred
weight, and that the rate applies to
points as far south of Denver as Trini-
dad, Colo, and to all points in the Black
Hills. In order to get this rate the as
sociation was compelled to guarantee
that 10000 cars of fir lumber would be
shipped yearly to these points. All of his
lumber will pass through Billings. and in
order to handle 1t Mr.. McMullen says it
Will necessitate the employment of
eighty men in the transfer work
throughout the year.. Mr.. McMullen
might have placed the number of men a
little high, but it is safe to say that at
least fifty will be engaged, which at the
price that is paid for such work here will
make quite a nice figure every month.
1t is also reported that the Seattle Lum-
Der company c~ontemplates the establish
ment of a wholesale lumber house in
Billings. which will have at least fifteen
travelling agents. who will make their
headquarters in this city.
A matter which is certain to bear good
fruit is the movement on foot among h
merchants and business men of Billings,
as well as other cities in the arid west.
in calling the attention Of the manu-
facturers and jobbers o .the necessity of
securing some government legislation for
irrigation. During the visit and lecture
of Hon. George H. Maxwell, of Chicago,
chairman of the National Irrigation con-
gress, to Montana. only last summer he
explained a plan whereby the business
men might cooperate with congress-.
and it is this plan the merchants are fol-
lowing out. each merchant is addressing
a personal letter to the jobbers and
others with whom he does business, and
in this way nearly 1000 letters will be
sent from Billings alone. The jobbers
cannot but see that the request Of the
merchants is one which will benefit them
If the issue is successfully carried
through. 1t will pen vast territory for
settlers, which will thus make markets
for their goods.
p. M. Gallaher, who has been spending
a few days In the city. in speaking of the
proposed new railroad from Bridger to
Cooke City. Mont, says the matter now
rests entirely with the moneyed powers,
who authorized the survey, and thai
some definite word should be received
from the east soon as to what will be
done. Mr.. Gallaher is one of the ciyil
engineers who made the survey, and
when asked as to the probable cost of the
nrnnncaa rnod sold ~ uyor1l - aH.,H