The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-04-30
CHANCE FOR BILLINGS.

-.
While it is said that all things come
to him who waits, it sometimes is not
bad policy to anticipate and assist
things to make greater speed and
closer. connections. The opportunity
is now presented to do something for
the benefit of the community and to
accelerate arrival of the time we
al confidently look forward to-when
Billings shall be a much larger and
more prosperous city than it now is.
AS is well known, east of the city
and practically abutting it's eastern
limits lies a large tract of valuable
agricultural land, %aggregating about
$4,000 acres. which only needs the
application of water to make it pro-
ductive to the highest degree and
cause it to become a permanent con
tributor to the city's prosperity and
maintenance. Every alternate section
of this vast area is the property of
the Northern Pacific company, while
SoS y 11CNI0CC SCCllOA UClOuSS IL
the state. The railroad company is
not in the business of improving and
developing lands-its business is to
cater to traffic and selling the lands
which a generous government granted
in aid of construction Of the road.
The state is not financially able to
undertake reclamation of the lands
which it received from the govern
ment through the operations of the
Carey law and consequently is a poor
neighbor to have. so far as the reali-
cation of benefits from it's ownership
are concerned. From information it
has on the subject, The Gazette feels,
warranted in saying that the railroad
company is prepared to sell it's share
of the tract referred to at a very
reasonable figure, not 10 exceed a dol
lar an acre, provided satisfactory as
surance is given that the land will be
improved and titled, thereby making
it productive and becoming a contribu-
tor to the carrying business of the
road. A like assurance to the state
would probably induce it to part with
it's holdings on very reasonable terms,
for by affording place for settlers the
taxable wealth of the state would be
increased and it's population would
become greater. The state has made
a survey of the lanas and the maps,
notes and profiles and all other ad-
Juncts necessary to a complete topo-
graphical knowledge of them are on
file at Helena. Without doubt suhi-
Gent capital could be secured here at
home to purchase the railroad lands
and the required arrangements could
also be made to obtain tlCle from the
state for it's share of the tract. The
only requisite then remaining to in
sure settlement of the land would be
the Inauguration of an irrigating sys-
tenn. This could be done at a very
moderate outlay. Probably. all that
would be required by settlers and
intending purchasers would be the
construction of a ditch or canal to in
reduce the waters of the Yellowstone
to the western boundary, the OCCUPANTS
of the land to build their individual
bitches and laterals needed to irri-
gate their respective holdings. Of
course, the lands would be sold at a
marked advance over their cost, were
the venture to be undertaken and the
revenue from the canal would also
insure a fair rate of interest on the
original investment.
Should a local company or syndi-
cate undertake exploitation of the
plans here briefly outlined, the profits
which would accrue would be twofold
to the members. They would make
their first profit off the land and the
canal and the second would inure in
the enhancement in value of their
town holdings and increased business
in all branches which would be bound
to follow a large agricultural pop
lation situated so closely to the city.
The Gazette throws out the suggestion
and hopes that some OF the many gen.
tlemen of large capital who make
their home in Billings will be able &C
e their way clear to. act upon it
The proximity Of several hundred in
dustrious and thrifty families would
mean much to the city and everybody
residing in it.