The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-11-24
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TRYING
TO GET INTERCHANGE TRAFFIC.
COMPETITORS
Chamber Of Commerce and Business
People Are interested az Connection
Would Mean Much TO Billings-sec-
>tary Writes Two Letters.
M Saturdays Daily.

m Saturdays Daily.
The Chamber Of Commerce and
leading business houses of Billings are
at present trying to secure an inter
change o~fstrafic between the Billings
& Northern and the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & st. Paul railways, which would
put Billings in line for territory which
it is now unable to reach satisfactory
ly. Lewistown, Roundup and points
on the Musselshell river, which in the
old freighter days came to Billings for
their supplies, have of late been get
ting part Of their supplies from other
sources on account Of the Billings
merchants not being able to get goods
into that territory as quickly as If
bought at some point on the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul railway. Sec
rotary j. p. Decker Of the Chamber of
Commerce sent a letter to each of the
railroads and has received replies.
They hope to get the railroads to-
gether and make connections for the
interchange OF freight. The differ
ence Of the two roads at the point
where they intersect is some "a feet,
as to grade, but that difficulty could
be easily overcome and without a very
great expenditure.
The correspondence in the matter is
as follows:
Billings, Mont, Nov. 6, 1908.
"Mr. H. A. jackson, A. G. F. & P A.,
G. N. r. R., Helena, Mont.
Dear Sir:-Your recent personal
visit to this city and passage over the
Billings & Northern railway undoubt-
eddy caused you to become familiar
with the Importance of Billings as a
distributing center and the scope Of
territory the trade of which is natur-
ally tributary to it. Completion of the
Billings e. Northern railroad affords
US direct outlet into much of that ter
ritory and also opens a new field, a
deld that could be increased materi-
ally if an interchange of traffic could
be effected between the Billings &
Northern and the Chicago, Milwaukee
& st. Paul at their intersection on the
Musselshell. We respectfully submit
the following and sincerely hope you
can consistently approve Of it and as
sist us toward the attainment of the
object sought:
"As now situated the Billings &
Northern crosses the milwaukee, at
the Musselshell at a height Of twenty
four feet. What we would like and
desire would he some arrangement be-
tween the two companies by which an
interchange of traffic could be effected
at the crossing of the two roads. This
would entail the construction of a
wye on the north side of the stream
of a length probably not exceeding a
half mile, SO that cars could be trans
ferred from one line to the other and
freight unloaded for transfer when in
less than carload lots. Could this be
done we are confident that a large
amount of business would accrue to
your company not possible under ex-
listing conditions, as it would enable
the dealers of Billings to retain the
trade of the Musselshell section, a
trade that for years it has controlled,
but which will be diverted to Miles
City and Forsyth in the event some
such arrangement as has been sug.
gested cannot be brought about.
"We hope this will appeal to you,
for anything that will be conducive to
trade extension in the direction men
toned will, of course, inure to the ben
eft Of the company you represent in
the form of increased traffic, both as
regards freight and passengers.
we have this day written to Mr.. r.
NJ. Calkins, general freight and pas
senger agent of the c., M. & st. P. at
Butte, asking his cooperation in this
matter. K
very respectfully,
CEILINGS CHAMBER OF COM.
MERGE,
JEAN P. DECKER, Secretary"
To the above letter, the following
reply was received:
Helena, Mont, Nov H., 1908.
"Mr. Jean P. Decker, Secretary, Bill
ings Chamber of Commerce, Bill
ings, Montana.
Dear Sir:-Pleasa refer to file Up
II beg to acknowledge receipt Of
your letter of the 9th inst, relative tc
exchange of business with the c., M
& st. P. at the Musselshell river.
81 have taken the matter up with
our people and hope to be able to ad
wise you something definite shortly.
yours truly,
III. A. JACKSON,
Asst. Gen. Fri. & Pass. Agt.
Great Northern Ry. Co"
The following letter was sent to r
M. Calkins:
Billings, Mont. Nov. 6, 1908.
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