Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-09-01

always think it better to not mislead
in cases of this kind.
Yours very truly,
JOS. M. DIXON.
In relation to this matter, Mr.. Leh-
man has handed in the following in
teresting communication:
Dear Sir:
During the past few weeks it has
seemed to me that the time is op-
perfume for the broaching of the sub
ject of federal building for the city
of Lewistown.
Since the days when the first post
office was established on the ranch
Of Mr.. Frank Day-it seems that with
every change of administration-or it
may be owing to the fact of rapid
growth-the post office-like the tepee
Of the Indians, is placed upon a
travois and tracked to another camp
ing ground.
Today the fact is apparent to every
one that the present post Office ia
cilities are entirely inadequate-each
evening after the mail has been dis
tributed-a large crowd gathers an
lticipatory to the opening of the dis
tributing window-and in some in
stances the line has been compelled
to extend into the street
The doorway being norrow-it is
| Impossible to enter or leave the build
ing without jostling or running into
someone-making it decidedly un-
pleasant in either instance
| Lewistown is at the present time
blessed with a United States land Of
| hce-and as there are some 100000
acres of land yet to be filed ONT
bids fair to sojourn with us for a con-
siderable time.
! have therefore written Senators
C4rter and Dixon with a view Of Sc
curing an appropriation for the prop
er housing of the post Office and the
land office--and both of them have
promised to endeavor to secure the
necessary appropriation-their letters
to me being appended-and which
will fully explain themselves.
| desire to make a suggestion in
regard to this bulding-and as no two
people think alike-there will un-
doubtedly be opposition-but with a
view of getting the matter in a
definite form-I will take the liberty
of making it any how.
Unfortunately for Lewistown--as in
many other smaller towns-there is
a bone of contention between the
various lends" Of the town-each one
having an eye towards bettering
their business conditions-naturally
desire to have every laudable enter
prise located in that particular neigh
borhood
There seems to be tacit under
standing that the dividing line should
be Fourth avenue-and that any build
ing located on that street would be
acceptable to either end of the city.
Property is enhancing in value each
day-and l would suggest that the
city council decide upon some suit
able site on this street and enter into
negotiations with view of purchas-
ing it Immediately.
While this building-from the tone
of the letters-might not materialize
for a few years-the property will
always be there and in the mean time
few trees may be sent out-a lawn
made-and the same be used as a
park.
I would suggest that the building
be along the same lines as the Car
negie library-ie. on lot ninety by
one hundred feet-and the building
situated in the center in order that
samblance of shrubery be kept about
it.
There are several of these vacant
lots on Fourth avenue-any one Of
which would be acceptable-a very
pretty site being the vacant property
directly opposite the city hall and
adjacent to the Hoffman house, i
the entire front facing Fourth avenue
and running to the alley, could be
purchased.
Then there is the property opposite
the Knight building-or that opposite
the Masonic temple-or the property
of Mrs. N NJ. Erickson adjoining the
temple.
In fact there are several very
pretty sites available. My reason for
suggesting that the city council pur-
chase this property now is this:
When the proposition for federal
building in the city OF Helena was
broached-the actual erection of the
building was delayed for years-ow'
ing to the fact that the moment q
subject of this kind is started-prop-
erty values jump to about twent,