The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-07
WHERE MONEY is PLENTY AND
PROSPERITY RElGNs.
LIKE PEEP INTO the PAST
Miles City Resuming Its Old Place at
Head Of Eastern Montana
Cities.

PSiouS anu Hdppy people Can De IOunu
anywhere in territory of the same
s.ze than those OF eastern Montana,
and this, too, in spite OF the drought
which has prevailed there and made
the seasons outlook anything but
bright. While other communities
may complain OF tightness of money,
the eastern Mantanans seem to have
more than they know what to do with
and are putting it into circulation in
true western 1ashlon and it is not
accumulating moss to degree to
make it unrecognizable. Now that
generous rains have fallen there and
the fear of sterile ranges has passed
there is even a greater unloosening
OF purse strings and money is about
the most plentiful OF commodities.
Like Old Times.
While Gendive is having it's share
of the prosperity that blesses eastern
Montana and is fortunate in possess
ing two sources to contribute to its
stability and success-.@-e liberal pay
roll of the Northern Pacific and the
wealth that comes from tributary
range interests, Miles City is easily
on top OF the towns OF Rosebud, Gus
ter and Dawson counties. ! lose wbo
have been there recently would scafcE
ly recognize the staid. old place.
Miles City today is counterpart OF
Miles City in the days of the buffalo
hunter, freight wagon and later the
reign OF the cattle Klng. 1t is growing,
too, and quite fast and IN way that
indicates permanency and confidence
in the future. Some very imposing
and pretentious business buildings
are rearing, while the residence part
of the city is not behind the process
sion, as is attested by the many beau
tiful and costly dwellings just COM
pleted and in course of construction.
But it is not in this direction that
the city's charm lies for the "old-
timer" 1t is the way in which things
hum in the avenues through which
the loose coin finds it's way from the
original source-the sources of pro-
duction. 1t is there that Miles City
is as il used to be. No high walls
or impenetrable barriers of barb
tn ho
town from attainment with contact
with the world AS one of it's citi.
zens expressed it, everything goes"
That explains the situation.
OF course. they are there, but the
men who find delight in occupying
the front pews and singing the loud
est are not in control anu they keep
their eyes averted and ears shut to
sights and sounds not pleasing. Night
is turned into day and keys have been
lost. There is no use for them, for
some of the big doors are not locked
any more and swing responsive to
the touch of him who would enter,
whether at the hour when dawn and
darkness linger in parting or when
the orb of day is shining his brightest.
The sound of music never ceases and
the stream OF life is ever rushing and
hurrying forward.
All classes find representation in
the feverish, excited throng. The
sheepherder, who is temporarily in the
possession of wealth that to him
seems fabulous and which he is try
ing seriously and earnestly to get
rid of, crowds the soldier-for Fort
Keogh is largely garrisoned again
and the two rub elbows with the
man of leisure leisure made possi-
| BILE only by their liberality and dis
| regard for the article that he so COW
cts. Rancher and stockman meet in
the happy, careless crowd and con-
tinue their dispute over fenced water
holes and encroachment upon range
! and pasture and the late arrival from
| the east who has come out to make
a home on the broad prairies, or the
scion whose wealthy father has start
ed him on the road to riches via the
sheep or cattle trail timidly stand
about and view the strange scene
or recklessly become sharers in the