The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-29

fH7-GGs -
hibition wave
----n-- n
PRESERVE THE PARKS.
It is unfortunate indeed that a few
OF the local business men are so short
sighted that they oppose the efforts
Of the boosters for a more beautiful
Billings to persuade the Northern Pa
cifc Railroad company to permit the
retention of the land around the
present depot as a public park, when
the new depot is erected. But be
cause of this opposition the Billings
boosters will have to work that much
harder in their efforts to save to the
city the only park it now possesses.
The few men, who are opposing the
efforts to save this park, do not rep
resent the sentiment Of the citizens
of Billings at large. Hundreds Of peo-
pie have expressed themselves upon
the subject since the agitation COM
menced and save these few, who
were active last night, at the joint
meeting Of the chamber of commerce
and the '.25,0OO club" in the city hall
in speaking against trying to persuade
the railroad company to permit the
park to remain, all are anxious that
the railroad company take action
against leasing the land. The frater-
nal organizations, that have discussed
1t; the labor unions, whose members
have discussed it; the membership Of
the chamber of commerce and the
$4,000 club" and the Woman's club
have gone on record as wanting the
park preserved. When the question
Of postponing action temporarily was
voted upon last night, only a small
per cent of those in attendance at the
meeting voted, showing that the ma
jority we're not actually with the OPP
ponents of the park. y
There is nc. doubt what the railroad
company will do. 1t will take what
ever action the people of Billings de-
sire.
1t has been urged that the land is
too valuable to maintain as a public
park. There is no use to which it
could be placed that would prove
Tor valuable to the citizens Of Bill
ings. It has been said that the land
was needed for business sites. "a
glance at the business sections of Bill
ings, shows the fallacy Of such a
claim. There are scores Of vacant
business lots, in every bit al good To-
cations as the park, available for
building purposes and it is a notable
fact that the price of business proper
ty in Billings is comparatively low.
The one thing for which the land is
valuable outside a park is for ware
house purposes and if it is leased out
side Of the first floor any buildings
constructed would be used as ware
houses. The people of Billings do not
want warehouses in the principal por-
ton of the city. The 4men, who own
property on the northern side of Mon
tana avenue do not want warehouses
on the other side.
The construction of warehouses on
the southern side of Montana avenue
along the track would reduce the
value Of property on the northern
for it would mean the removal Of
business from Montana avenue to
streets farther from the railroad
tracks. The experience of other cities
in this respect should be a warning to
the people. of Billings and should slim,
ulate the agitation to have the land
as a park.
Some of the few who favor permitting
the railroad company to lease the land
say we must not oppose the wishes Of
the railroad company. What rot. Did
not President Elliott, Vice President
General Manager slade,
Superintendent Goodell and other Of
ticials of the company, on their recent
visits to Billings declare, that 1t was
the wish of the officials OF the rail
road company ito find out what the
people of Billings want?" It is but in
compliance with their expressed de-
that the people of Billings assert
that they want a public park main
tanned on Montana avenue.
Billings needs a public park. She
needs it along the railroad right Of
way that the hundreds Of thousands
Of people who pass through here an
nually may see what manner Of city