The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-14
Destined to Boom Billings.


The boom of the Crow lands has been
of immense value to the hustling little
city of Billings, which, with a population
of 5000 today will within a year be
almost 5000, for it is only now that the
lie the possibilities of Billings CONNER
cially, financially, agriculturally and So
cially, and of the surrounding country.
with Its magnificent farm lands and min
ing claims. . :,..-
For city with a population of 10000
and under billings stands at the tn h, head DOT Of
the rank n bank deposits, With n Its total
healthy, growing municipality could see
Immediately upon striking town, Its gen.
ha ppiness.s The residence district with
Well laid street, the stone buildings both
public and private; the hospitals, every
one Of which is furnished with. the most
modern appliances known to science; the
beautiful structures set apart for the
spiritual welfare Of the people. and the
commercial institutions, are worthy OF
any city. :.
As a commercial city Billings is by far
and before many years will take the lead
ing place in commercial Importance in
the state. Situated on the north bank
tween st. Paul, MINI. and the Pacific,
coast, Puget sound, with adequate rail-
road facilities and ss booming trade, It
city with such advantages from rising to
that pinnacle to which 1t must force it's
way by the laws Of evolution. Lex s.
Billings Place In Manufactures.
From a manufacturing standpoint Bill
lings is forcing its way to the front. nat
urally and not unnaturally. There is
brewery there which has an annual out
put of 10000 barrels, and within another
year will have to be enlarged in order
to meet the demands of the population
for it's products. A large brickyard tends
to swell the commercial part of the city's
interests; so do the creameries packing
houses, the Touring mills, one alone Of
the latter having capacity Of $50 bar
rels day, and when the beet sugar plant
now under construction is completed it
will have a capacity Of 1000 tons day,
which will indeed add greatly to the COM
mercial industry of the city. @
Socially Billings is far from a settle
ment or a border town. It has it's wom-
M sge along the ass Of IF sine
| union, affiliated with the state and ma
tional organizations; fraternal orders
| galore; Civic Improvement league, the
members Of which have done much to i'm
prove the city's interests, and the now
famous Billings club, comprising among
it's members many Of the leading men
| of the city and state. The club has sunp-
tuous quarters, and is up-to-date in every
respect. \ ~
Educat ionally Billings is on par with
many cities Of much larger population.
She has two high schools, the graduates
! entrance examinations, and public
| library valued at $25 900, the gift Of Mr..
Frederick Billings of New York. in mem>
Dry Of his brother, Parny Billings.
Situated as Billings Is, all Of the sur
rounding cities, towns and villages look
upon 1t as the mother city Junction,
Musselshen, Solunnbus, Laurel and tarls
City are all within the same county, while
| liQhtV miles west
Cody, 100 miles to the south: Miles City,
$50 miles to the east, and 40 miles to
the north is Lewiston. all f1ourishing
PLACES which make heavy purchases at
house for their products. rs
Points OF Historic Interest.
Historically. Billings has much to in
terest the visitor-Pornpeys Pillar, the
camping place of Lewis and Clark, lies
fifty miles southeast Of Billings, across
is cottonwood tree called the lose
phine" tree, where the trading boats
landed, and it marks the farthest point
where trading boats have penetrated on
Park City, is a point called ''Battle
Butte" and here the Grow Indians held
g pitched battle with thieving northern
n Poot dsgtr9ng the and
remains Of thirty-fve people who died
! with their boots on from unnatural
causes This is known as the Oldest
graveyard along the Yellowstone.
The banking institutions of Billings are
all solid. The First National bank, the
largest in the city was founded as pri-
| vate bank In 1882, nationalfzed in 1888,
its first statement showing a deposit OF
| $4,000. When it was made national
bank the deposits amounted to s100. 900;
i today the deposits reach $2.0o0,000.
In calculating the advantages and pos
sibilities Of Billings quote James J
Hill, who. in his address to the business
/ men Of Billings last fall said: Now you
/ farmers who are selling your farms for
1 SIS and 500 per acre think you are catch
ing bunch of suckers, but let me tell
you, gentlemen, think the sucker Is on
the other end of the pole. I would advise
i you to look around and see where you
can buy another farm before you SELL
Mr.. Hills advice upon western matters
| is always worth taking. There is little
doubt that Billings is on the eve of a
most tremendous development, and the
man who holds on to his land is the one
uhn xUiI y.oS,r