The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
II RAILROAD A II

Ml3ItH GN%DE@S f5EGS ETEEIEm4= E5IIG.
THE RAILROAD PARK.
The people Of Billings cannot ST
ford without a protest to permit the
Northern Pacific railroad to lease the
ground now occupied by the park on
Montana avenue to some private in
dividual for the erection Of either
business blocks or warehouses. 1t
is the one spot of green in the city
which can be considered common
property. It is the only park in Bill
ings and the city needs several more.
It was secured only after hard work
on the part Of some of the most public
spirited citizens, who had the plot
filled with soil, planted the seed, cared
for the trees and finally laid the name
OF Billings out in the center, bearing
the expense out Of their own private
funds. ss
The value of such a park to every
man, woman and child that lives here
or may live here cannot be estimated
in dollars and cents. It is an excel
lent advertisement for the city. It
furnishes a cool place for one to rest
In the heat Of a summers afternoon.
Last summer, on the hottest days
scores Of men and women enjoyed. the
GOODNESS Of the park. 1t is but a
nucleus, a start in the way Of park
ing that should bring about the lay
ing out Of scores Of such parks. Other
places have these beauty spots and
Billings needs the one she has and
more. She cannot afford to give it up.
The chamber Of commerce and the
$4,000 club" r making an effort to
persuade the Northern Pacific rail-
road to permit the city to park all the
land which will be vacant between
the new depot and the freight depot.
Their efforts should receive the heart
lest support Of the citizens. Il the
matter is properly presented to the
new management Of the line, which g
showing q distinctly friendly attitude
to Billings, they will undoubtedly be
only too glad to permit the city to
use the land for a park. It is the pol
icy OF the railroad to permit such
parks In other cities and there is no
reason to believe its ofhcials would
assume any other policy in dealing
with Billings.
1t is understood, however, that an
effort Is being made to secure a !ease
on the land by parties who will erect
a warehouse. People who n &C.
quainted with the Northern Pacific
oficials should protest to them In
strong terms against granting such a
lease. Il they show the railroad Off.
cials that It Is the desire Of the PEG
pie of Billings to have the land re.
main a public park the railroad corr
pany is sure to permit it, for it woulc
not go against the wishes of the citi
zens of as important a community as
Billings.
The people Of Billings do not want
warehouses on the land. They want
It left open that passengers going
through here may have a good view
of the city. Think Of raising a ware
house on the plot adjoining the bean
tiful public library and marring the
beauty of that structure and its sur
roundings. The people Of Billings
are certainly opposed to such use Of
the land.
The suggestion made at a recent
meeting Of the chamber Of commerce
and mentioned locally and editoriallJ
In some Of the local papers is the
best use that can be made Of the va
cant land on the right Of way between
Twenty-seventh and Twenty-nintl
streets. Keep 1t parked and make
It a civic center. laid out with walk.
and fountains, nicely parked and com
fortably furnished with seats that tn,
people may enjoy it. The efforts tina
have been made SO far to keep tn,
land q park are to be commended. Thu
people Of Billings should get benin,
the men who have made these effort
and boost with them and the two com
mercial organizations, and the rail
road company will easily be pe-suade'
to permit the retention If the lam
Is the city, which can keep It a put
lie rsrk.
o--.--
WAGES HIGH IN MONTANA.