The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-29

Billings has been the Montana ter
minus Of the great Burlington, ant
by reason Of this fortuitous circum
stance has profted largely; immense
ly one might say. It Is not too mucI
to say that ninety per CEN of its
phenomenal growth since the Burling
ton came to town has been because
Of that coming. The lay-overs be
tween arriving Burlington trains anG
departing Northern Pacific trains
and vice versa, have produced small
fortunes for it's hotel and restaurant
keepers and these in turn have Civ
en- the merchants increased patron
age. Business generally has been
given a healthy impetus and popula
ton has grown and building doomed
in sympathy. This from being a ter.
minal. Now it is proposed to make
Billings a way station, and not only
that, but to make the point of diverg.
ence some fourteen miles distart If
this is done Billings will not see any
of the through travel that has in the
past been so profitable to it and must
eliminate the factor Of luck" from
it's resources. There is no question
but that it is strong enough to with
stand the pulling away of this prop,
but it stands to reason that the ef-
feet will be felt for a time. While
Miles City would joyfully welcome a
new railroad from the east, it's joy
would be perceptibly tempered Of it
was known that the road was intend
ing to push right on westward, build
ing up new centers of trade as it adj
vanced and thus reducing the area Of
territory now tributary to this town.
For that reason the project of bridg-
ing the Yellowstone at this point has
been regarded by our most thoughtful
people as promising more for the
town in the way Of increased bust
ness than could be expected from a
new railroad headed for the setting
sun. Billings has for years enjoyed
a very favorable location as a wool
market and this year forged hand
somely to the front as the leading
market of the state. The advance
OF the Burlington, not only westward
but in the matter of it's Toluca branch
must suggest some dubious thoughts
to the business men of Billings in
connection with it's future as a wool
market. With the wool producing
country to the north and south of
them tapped by railroads, the local
growers are quite likely to consider
an offer made at the ranch or the
nearby railroad station rather than
undertake the long haul to Billings
and there suffer the cool imperti-
hence of the Combine" that-if re.
ports be true-was quite a feature
of last summers market at Billings.
We do not prophesy that this will be
the inevitable outcome, but to say
that it is something to think about.
And Billings has been thinking abort
it, too, as is evidenced by the recent
endeavor of a committee of it's bust
ness men to enlist the influence of
Senator Clark with the Burlington
people, to get the latter to "loop"
the Toluca branch into Billings. Bill
ings is not asleep and will do it's level
best to protect itself, but there is
an underlying principle with railroads
which reads, 1T is me, not thee"
The fact that the schools of this
city have been placed on the affili-
ated list of the University of Chicago
is a matter of local pride and inter-
est. The recognition thus accorded
is not only a compliment to the
schools but a high tribute to the abil-
ity and standing of the instructors.
The benefits which the listing conveys
may be understood when it is said
that through it graduates of the high
school will be accepted for matricula-
ton in the university without having
to go through the usual preparatory
course, which generally takes two or
three years. In this energetic, ner-
Gus age when speed is the desidera-
tum in all things the saving of so
much time for those preparing them.
selves for the higher walks of life
through the requirement of a superior
education means much more than
would appear at first glance, as it
will fit them for entering upon the &C.
tive pursuit of the professions they
have chosen at a tine when life is
still in the first blush o. youthful Ell
thusiasm and v energy. Bill
ings has reason for feeling proud Of
tho destination If hac painpd FOR IFS