The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-01

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This is the time Of year when rail.
road building, on paper and in the
minds of those blessed with fertile
imaginations, is usually very brisk.
The columns of newspapers contain
generous reference to projected roads
Of that kind and the people who
would like to see certain roads con-
structed take new hope from the ru-
mors and by a little mental effort sat-
isfy themselves that at last they ARE
a go"
One of the reports that has been
thoroughly exploited locally is the ex-
tension OF the Burlington in the Big
Horn to points far beyond the pres
ent terminus. The report has the Gus
tomary embellishments and the "unus-
ually we'll informed gentleman is not
wanting to give it the dignity OF an
apparent foundation. Added to th1s
is now another report. This has "
that the basin is to be further invaded
and that the road preparing to lay its
tracks into that highly. favored re-
gion is none other than the Chicago
& Northwestern. That eminently re-
spectacle publication, the Nebraska
State Journal, is authority for its
dissemination. 1t declares that n
Northwestern has become tired OF
waiting at Casper and will build into
the Basin. To give color to the re-
port the Journal adds that the COM
pany has invited proposals for the
delivery in the spring of 100000 ties,
and that it is known to have been a
heavy purchaser in the rail market.
Even more; the same authority de-
clares that various of the high officials
of the company have made recent
tours Of the region west of Casper
and that they are well pleased with
the prospects.
The only depressing note that en-
tiers into the story and which bears
heavily on the people of the basin
is the statement that the proposed
extension will be in the nature OF a
retaQiatory move in cas- the Hill peo-
pie carry out their present intention
of invading territory that the North
western views as it's own. The threat
ened invasion is a line connecting
the Great Northern, via Fremont, with
the Burlington at Sioux City. I'm
til a move is made in that direction
it is believed the Northwestern will
be content to remain where it now is.
While the idea may have occurred
70 others, the men in charge of the
experiment station at North Platte,
Neb., seemingly are the first to make
a practical test of ground alfalfa as
feed for fattening purposes. A west
ern man who passed through the city
a few days ago on his way home
visited the station and saw the new
form of feed practically applied. It
was used for feeding both hogs and
cattle, with results eminently salts
factory. By mixing 1T in various pro-
portions with other feeds and feeding
it to different lots an accurate esti-
mate of it's value colud be found. In
its behalf it was claimed that SO
i.
far as nutritive qualities are con.
cerned the ground alfalfa was SUI
perior to wheat bran, while it was
also more economical than if fed in
the ordinary way, as animals ate more
and wasted practically none. The
best results seemed to be attained
where the meal was fed in the pro-
potion of one-half to an equal amount
Of barley.
Probably the hardest working and
the most unhappy man in the city
these days is the street commissioner.
To use a popular expression, he is
getting it on all SIDES" Not only
has he the mayor and aldermen to
contend with and please, but he also