The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-15
BIG DITCH COMPANY.
Annual Meeting Of Stockholders
Proves Very Interesting.

Proves Very Interesting.
Yesterday the stockholders Of the
Big Ditch company held their annual
meeting at the court house. The at
tendance was large and the interest
manifested in the proceedings was Of
the liveliest throughout. Some Of
those who took part in the delibera-
lions showed themselves possessed Of
knowledge other than tending bitches
and growing crops and displayed a
familiarity with parliamentary laws
for in men who lay no claims in that
direction.
President Summers being unable to
attend, T. G. Armitage was elected
to preside. The total number of
shares voted was 4,446. After the
meeting had been organized the sec
rotary read his annual report and af-
ter considerable discussion it was vot-
ed that a committee of three be elect
ed to audit the accounts of the current
year and to publish in phamphlet
form it's report, the report also to in
clude a general summary of the bust
ness done by the company since it's
organization and to make an exhibit
of all expenses and
Ifter this had been carried nomi-
nations for directors were declared
in order. Several for each district
were nominated an4 when the vote
was counted the following were found
to have been elected:PafK City
j. w. Cole and Ike. Galloway; Laurel
Charles King and w. l.. Allen; Bill
ings- Paul Mccormick, c. G. Sander
son and A. M. Crawford.
A motion to enlarge the ditch own
ed by the company having been duly
seconded, H. w. Rowley asked permits
sion to address the meeting, saying he
had a proposition to submit in behalf
of the Billings Water Power COM
pany. Instead of making his PROPOSE
ton to the meeting direct he asked
that a committee be appointed with
whom he could confer. -
The motion to enlarge was now put
and the chairman being unable to de-
eide, a rising vote vas asked and it
was found that the motion was lost,
27 votes being cast in the affirmative,
while 80 were cast in the negative.
A motion to appoint a conference
committee of five members to. meet
Mr.. Rowley was successful. The
committee was also empowered to re-
ceive any subscriptions for stock in
the company that might be offered
and make report to the board of di,
rectors.
1t was now moved that the vote on
the matter of charging the ditch be
reconsidered. The motion prevailed
By this time 6 o'clock had arrived
and the meeting adjourned until 1880
o'clock. #,
Evening Session. &
When the meeting reconvened Mr.
Armitage announced the following ap
ence committee: Messrs. Sanford
North, Mccormick, Burla and Storey
Calling Mr.. Sanford to the chair
Mr.. Armitage moved that the com
mittee be instructed to make a per
sonal inspection of the ditch and re
port the result Of such investigation
the matter of charging the ditch as
the committee might deem proper
An amendment was offered to include
the board of directors as members O.
the inspecting committee.
The motion and amendment precip
itated a lively debate. Some VIII
spoke thought it would expedite mat
tiers and give the committee some
thing to work upon if given some in
structions by the meeting.
In reply Mr.. Armitage said. it wa
! for the committee to make sugges
3 tions so that the company woul'
know what should be done, either il
the way of enlarging the ditch o
2 simply repairing it.
This brought back the original me
| ton to enlarge the ditch. Mr.. Horne
r the mover of the motion, now too
the floor and moved that it be tn
: sense of, the meeting that the ditto
: be enlarged, without deciding upoI
any particular time when the enlare
ment shall be made, no action to b
! taken in the matter until after tn
inspecting committee makes it's re
port.
h When the vote was taken the chat
r decided that the ayes had it. Thos
on the other side differed and d.