The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-20

hotels, a handsome bank building and
many others.
An efficient common school is main
tanned and this summer a handsome
and commodious school house will be
erected, it being the determination
Of the citizens that Billings shall be
amply provided with educational facil-
titles. The Congregational denomina-
tom have a large congregation and a
f1Ourishing mission of the Episcopal
church has been established under the
charge of the Reverend w. Horsfall,
and a chapel is to be erected at once.
The townsite company have set apart
a number of desirable lots as a gift
to any religious denomination that
desires to build.
There are several societies, among
them a flourishing Literary associa-
ton, a Library association, a Young
Mems Social club, a Ladies' Episcopal
guild, a society of the ladies of the
Congregational church, and Masonic
and Odd Fellows lodges are in course
of formation. Three f1ourishing news.
|pOPOA0, OAC udlly duu JWO WOOhly,
are published in the town. The pop
ulation is orderly and law-abiding.
The climate is the finest in the
northwest. The winter is short and
pleasant, the summer warm but rare
ly ~unpleasantly so, with delightful,
cool nights. S%unshiny days and clear
bright nights are characteristic of
this part of the country the year
round. The elevation is 5000 feet
above sea levei, to air being dry and
bracing, and particularly adapted to
those who suffer from throat and lung
diseases. The situation of the town
is very fine, there being a bold line
of bluffs on the north, the Yellowstone
river on the south, and on the west
is a magnificent view of the Snowy
range, about 80 miles distant, a spur
of the Rockies.
Billings possesses extensive cattle
yards and is the principal cattle ship
ping point in Montana, there being
over 10000 head of cattle shipped
from here last fall.
The following are the usual rate
of wages paid: Mechanics, $3.50 to
IS per day; l%aborers, 81 to to $3.50,
and other trades and occupations in
proportion.
The Yellowstone river affords ample
power for manufactures, there being
a fall of IL feet in a mile.
Arrangements are OF foot to erect
extensive Strengthening houses here by
fall, and ship dressed beef in refrig-
orator cars. This will give a favor
able opening for %tanneries, glue and
soap factories. Large shipments of
wool will be made from here and a
good wool market established. There
is also ar excellent opening here for
beef canning factories.
Some ideea may be gained of the
volume of trade transacted here from
the following figures supplied from the
Northern Pacific Railroad and Express
company of the business transacted
during March, viz: Freight received,
1872, 900 pounds; freight forwarded
from Billings, consisting principally
Of merchandise sold by Billings mer-
chants to outside towns, 400, 900
pounds; amount received from sale OF
local tickets during March, $4,000;
from coupon tickets, $1,000; total,
$4,000. The business done by the ex-
press company at Billings averages
over $4,000 per month. The following
are the rates of freight from st. Paul
to Billings, in either direction: Mer-
chandise, LIST class, 1925; End class,
$500; 3rd class, $1.6O; 4th class, $1.5O;
special car load rates per 100 pounds,
No. l, 81; No. 2, per barrel, 81; No. 3,
per barrel, SO; No. 4, lumber, per
hundred pounds, 80 cents; No. 5,live
stock, per car, $3.50; No. 6, per hun
dred pounds, $1.30; No. Z, per hundred
pounds, IS cents; emigrant's move
ables by the a load, $40; in less
than C a loads, $1.35 per hundred
pounds. Rate for wool to Boston,
$3.50 per cwt, including insurance.
The valley in which the town is sit.
uated, Clarke's Fork bottom, con.
tains over 125,O00 acres of excellent
arabic land, capable, with irrigation
of producing in abundant quantities.
all kinds of cereals and vegetables
An irrigating ditch, 80 miles long, has
just been completed which will supply
sufficient water for the entire valley
The excellence of the soil and climate
for agriculture is no longer an expert
ment; those who have tried farming
have met with uniform and gratifying
success. The conditions are favorable
for raising small fruits, and this bust.
ness, at no distant date, will consti
tute an important and profitable in.
dustry.
A large district of country depends
upon Billings as a supply point, there
being no other town of importance
nearer than Livingston on the west
lis miles, and Miles City on the east