The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-12-18

the successful termination of project
long cherished by the people OF Bill
ings. Local men first called the atten-
tion of outside capital to the feasible
ity of the scheme and upon their rep
reservations investigations followed.
The results more than verified predic-
tions and the enlistment of the neces-
sary money became a comparatively
easy matter.
While local men could not swing the
full amount of the capital required to
buy the land and construct the canal,
they had no hesitancy in joining in
the enterprise to the extent of their
limits and hence the Billings Land
and Irrigation company is not entire
ly foreign corporation. Billings
men are interested in it and Billings
is represented in the official roster
of the concern.
The officers are as follows:
John Schram, Seattle, president.
H. w. Rowley, Billings, vice-pres-
ident.
w. T. Clark, Billings, secretary and
manager.
H. P. Vermilye, general sales agent.
Marion Chase, superintendent OF
construction.
The company's Office is in room 10,
Belknap block
Benefits BILLINGS.
In the minds of many it is doubtful
whether even the opening of the Grow
reservation will prove of greater bene-
fit to the city than the project under
prospective settlers of the flats will
be lasting and immediate factor in
the advancement and growth of the
city. The nearness of the land they
will bring under cultivation makes
it almost absolutely certain that no
other town will spring up to deprive
created by them. On the other hand,
they are assured of good local mar
ket for much they will produce, while
at the same time they will have the
benefit Of unrivalled shipping facili-
ties for reaching the markets Of the
outside for the remainder.
passing benefit to the city will
be found in the employment of the
many men and animals necessary to
construct the canal, as this will mat
urally be the point of supply and much
to be had here will be needed dur
ing the period of construction But
this benefit, while great, will, after
all, be only transitory and introduce
tory to the greater and permanent
good to follow.
When informed yesterday morning
that work on the canal was under
way, we'll known cilizen gave vent
to many expressions of pleasure and
satisfaction. "This is the best news
I've heard in many days." he said.
"With the irrigation of the Huntley
flats now assured and the opening OF
the Grow reservation reasonably Ger
tain during the present session OF
congress, I want to know what is the
matter with Billings. Why, we're just
beginning to live and will soon de-
velop into the giant that nature has
intended we shall be. With the flats
settled by farmers and their families
and the good prices they will always
receive for their products, look for
the most prosperous community in
this bend of the Yellowstone that can
be found anywhere in the state, or the .
west, for that matter. The beauty
of it is that they will not run out any
of the sheep or cattlemen, but will
add to their number. All of them
will raise cattle, good, fat, market
able cattle, the kind that bring top
prices when shipped. Some may also
raise sheep, but all will find sale for
every pound of feed they grow, for the
day has passed when stockmen de-
pended upon the range for feed for
their flocks and herds. More beef and
mutton will hereafter be shipped from
Billings than during the palmy days
of the COW business. Then, too, will
not only the merchants now in busi-
mess here do more than they have
ever done, but new ones will come
and there will be enough to go all
around.
"After all, there is nothing like
good, substantial, prosperous farming
community to build up town and
one having such foundation need