The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-04-04
FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1902.
DO THE RESULTS JUSTIFY?

DO THE RESULTS JUSTIFY?
Appreciative Of the fact that mucl
of the Importance attaching to Billings
as a commercial and financial center
is due to the enviable position the
city occupies in reference to the WOO
industry, The Gazette does not desire
to be understood as wishing to dc
aught that would in any manner tend
to lessen Its standing in that regard
Along with others, however, it believes
that such a thing is possible al max
ing sacrifices too great for a continu.
ance Of the prestige we now enjoy and
that the results likely to accrue there.
from will not be commensurate with
the outlays. Without unduly antag.
OniZing either the railroads or the
shippers, there are some rights belong.
ing to the citizens and the municipal.
ity which can and should be conserv
ed. When the city council by vote de.
crees that a public thoroughfare In
the heart Of the city shall be closed
for the accommodation Of shippers
and a railroad company it does a very
serious thing and one that in time to
come may be strongly regretted. Adj
uniting that the present facilities for
receiving and baling wool that the
Northern Pacific has in the city are
inadequate to the demand made upon
them, it seems that some other man.
ner of remedying the defect exists
than to peremptorily close n of the
very few streets that afford means Of
communication. between the two divi-
sions into which the city has been
created by the tracks Of that company.
One remedy at hand would be to en-
large the old wool warehouse, not In
an east and west direction, for 1t Is
conceded that this cannot be done,
but by extending that structure in a
s%outherly direction, toward Minnesota
avenue, where the company owns am
pie ground space to make a change
of this kind both feasible and easy of
accomplishment. BY an enlargement
like this the additional room that
would be acquired would be wen
greater than by the change proposed
by the company and sanctioned by the
council. 1t would do away with the
necessity Of closing one of the only
three streets remaining between the
north and south sides.
Better than all, however, would be
removal Of the entire wool plant of
the company onto ground near the
freight depot. The cost to the rail-
road company might be a trife great
err than the expense attached to the
proposed enlargement of the ware
house in its present location, but the
benefits to all concerned, the railroad,
the shippers and the people Of the
city, would, in the long run, more than
compensate all, collectively and separ.
ately. for the added cost. Such a move
would entail no nor inconvenience
upon the shippers than they must
now put up with. In fact 1t Is highly
probable that they would prefer the
change. for 1t would do away with the
necessity now existing Of driving
acros a network Of sidetracks and
also obviate the danger always present
when teams, particularly those from
the country, have to be driven and
backed among a lot of moving cars
and putting switch engines. To the
city the benefit would be found in the
absence of the constant switching and
shifting Of cars In one Of the busiest
parts and the relief from congested
streets, caused by blocked crossings.
The railroad company would be the
gamer by having It's business all cen
tered at n convenient point.
While not directly authorized to
make the offer, The Gazette still feels
confident that II a serious movement
were undertaken having for it's object
contamination of the change here rec.
commended not much difficulty would
be experienced in obtaining subscrib-
ers to a fund to be used in helping to
reimburse the railroad company for
the expense incurred in removing It's
wool warehouse to the place suggest
ed. It believes the subject one Of suf-
flcient Importance to warrant prompt
1ction In the premises and hopes that
the decision OF the city council will not
be considered final until serious and
sensibiy directed effort is made to
obtain relief which now seemingly can
be had. There r already too few
o streets between the north and
south sides and to close still another
looks like . very grave mistake.