The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-08-09
LET N

W AS NAo 'AA
be afforded the opportunity to register
their wishes in regard to bonding the
city for the erection of a suitable
public building.
The question of the building itself
and the necessity for its construction
has been thoroughly discussed by the
press of the city and also by the people
and it is to be assumed that all must
now be wholly familiar with the sub.
ject, and it seems, in view of the urg-
ent need of the city of a public build.
ing to replace the old structure now
doing duty as such, that to advance
further argument in favor If the prop
osition is entirely supererogatory. On
several occasions The Gazette has
fully discussed the matter and believes
that in the position it has assumed
on the issue it has the endorsement of
a large majority of the citizens who
favor advancement and material pro-
gress in all matters that go to give the
wy pSClSA oCo1ulAS anu 4Ap1oRC 1IS
credit, both at home and abroad. Ev-
erybody who has given the subject
even the most cursory consideration
must admit that the time has arrived
when a new public building is needed.
The present structure long ago out
lived it's usefulness and is entirely
ipoIocro+o ~ f,1E11 4bo f,oo+;o,r ~,
pected of a building of that sort, no
matter how we'll it may have been
adapted to meet the requirements of
the city at the time of its erection.
The city has grown and with it's
growth has arisen a demand for a
proper public building in which the
city's business may be transacted and
a center established for the location
of all the public offices that form a
portion of the city government. Yet
in spite of the manifest and many
reasons that can be advanced for the
erection of a new city hall, The Ga
zette is surprised at the existence of
a feeling of opposition to the proposed
improvement. Particularly is it sur
prised at the source of that opposi-
ton, as it comes from persons and
direction where it would be supposed
the heartiest support and endorse
ment could be looked for. Chiefly re-
sponsible for the feeling of antagon-
ism existing is the unfortunate spirit
Of sectionalism which at frequent in
t~ervals, particularly in cases of the
kind as the present, is permitted tc
spring up and interfere with the city's
welfare and prosperity and act as 8
deterrent to everything calculated tt
inure to the good of the entire com
munity. 1t is unfortunate in every re
spect that such a condition should flint
place in n community, but partic
ularly unfortunate is it in the case O
Billings, as the advantages of location
and environment all conspire to max
it one of the largest and best cite
of the state and the metropolis Q
eastern Montana, taking the mai
range of the Rockies as the dividin
line. But with dissention and ~jealso'
les separating its people and faction:
feeling taking the place Of united an
enthusiastic loyalty to the entire cit,
a loyalty that should know no SOUL
side and no north side, but should b
great and grand enough to includ
every corner and section, the advanc
ment of the city to the position whel
it rightfully belongs may be a Ion
time of attainment.
Even those who are opposed to tn
proposed improvement, if they al
honest, must acknowledge the nece
sity for it and be free to confess thu
to longer postpone a move in th
direction of it's acquisition would /
poor policy and a manifest error {
judgment. But because of the deplo
able feeling of jealousy which prevail
among some people living o
one side or the other of the divisio
formed in the city by the unfortunat
location of the Northern Pacific
tracks they are willing that the matte
shall be Indefinitely put of, for a
time If need be, rather than give tn
side they oppose an apparent adval
tage over their own. Such a feelin
Is to be deplored because it is wron
and works to the detriment and injur
Of the entire community. The railroa
was here before the city and much q
We may all dislike the location Of tn
tracks because Of the division the