The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-08-02
uNwARRANTED OPPOSITION.

element in the city opposed to the is
suance of bonds for the erection of a
city hall and fire station. The need
of such a building is SO apparent and
so urgent that it seems strange any
person could be found to oppose the
efforts instituted for its acquisition.
Every argument is for a new city hall,
while none that is reasonable or ten
able can be advanced against it. The
present structure has long outlived it's
usefulness and the expense incurred
annually to keep it in repair is prac-
tically so much money wasted. Erect
ed at a time when the municipality
was not able to build a better and
more %pretentious building and when
the need Of a public building was not
SO great as at present, the old did
very we'll for those days. But since
then Billings has become a city in fact
as well as in name and what answered
the purpose then is now absolutely in
adequate to meet the demands made
upon it.
the fire apparatus is altogether too
small, necessitating the crowding of
men, horses and appliances in a man
ner that seriously interferes with
quick and prompt response in times of
alarms. This of itself is a serious
objection to the building, while abso-
lutely no provisions exist for the hous-
ing and comfort of the firemen, except
the room upstairs, which also must do
duty as a council chamber and which
the firemen must surrender whenever
the council is in session. Then, too,
the total absence of all room that could
be utilized for offices for the mayor,
police magistrate, city clerk, street
commissioner and the others forming
part of the city's official family and
who should all have Offices under one
roof. is another strong condemnation
of the present building. AS all of
these must have proper offices in
which they can perform the duties of
their various positions, the city is
annually compelled to pay out a con
| siderable amount for rent, which
would be saved were it the owner of
a public building large enough to ac-
commodate all these officials and pro-
vide them with suitable Office rooms.
Another and strong objection to the
present city hall and it's continuance
in the place originally selected for it
is the fact that it stands upon leased
ground and in a part of the city that
| should have been the last to be select
ed for it's site. With a net work of
railroad tracks almost surrounding it
and constantly exposed to the dangers
of fire from the ever moving switch
engines and those of passing trains,
it affords but poor security for the
safety of the city property stored I'M
der it's roof and in case of a large and,
serious fire would probably be n
of the first buildings to go, thus leav-
ing the municipality without a home
and nc place in which to put what few
of the contents Of the structure might
be saved.
In advocating the erection of a new
city hall The Gazette is not doing so
with the intention of advancing the
interests of either the north or south
side, neither does it purpose to say
where the new building should be
located. 1t is content to leave that
part of the matter to the wisdom of
the city council, confident that the
gentlemen composing that body will
act in accordance with what they be-
lieve to be the best interest of the
city. It is merely using it's voice to
further what it takes to be for the
welfare and benefit of the city in it's
entirety and hopes that it's motives
may not be misunderstood. Along
with many others it belives that Bill
ings should have a public building
in keeping with the city's needs and
it's ability to erect and maintain such
a structure. For that reason it urges
all to vote for the bonds intended to
be tloated for giving the people what
they ask for and need, and hopes that
those now opposing the proposition
will consider the question fairly and
honestly and their own good judg-
ment and public spiritedness will con-
vince them their present position of
antagonism is wrong and without
proper basis,
-- as
With the dismal failure made by
his admirers in Ohio to organize a
democratic party distinctively Bryan
esque and the ~southerners clamOring