davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
PUBLIC BUILDING ASSURED.

The passage of the public building
appropriation bill by the house of rep
resentatives practically assures the
construction of a federal building
here as the measure will probably be
rushed through the senate. It carries
an appropriation of $125, 900 for the
erection of the proposed structure
in Billings.
The need of a public building here
has long been realized by the federal
officers situated here and by those OF
the national officials, who have been
here. The effort to secure an appro.
priation for it, however, it was feared
would prove fruitless due to the eff.
forts being made to economic. The
authorization of an appropriation at
this session Of congress therefore will
be all the more gratifying as it comes
partially as a surprise.
The thanks of the people of Billings
are due to the local federal officials
whose efforts in persuading the au
thorities at Washington that it was
needed, have been fruitful of result;
and to the delegation in congress 70,
bringing about its passage.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

|Is=e44z 5+Z 70 s%-NIlt spEE&SEZA4
The public parks of any communi.
ty are q ofSthe best heritages. They
should be carefully guarded and main
tanned and should be added to when
ever possible. The Northern Pacific
railroad right of w~aysbetween Twenty.
seventh and Tw%enty-ninth streets is
the only park IN Billings. It would be
a shame to deprive the citizens Of 1t.
No man with the future welfare OF
the city at heart would want to do
so, and II he wants to, there is I'm,
doubtedly personal reasons for so do
ing. But the railroad company will
not acquiesce in any such reasons II
the people Of Billings want the land
maintained as a park. The protest
seems timely and should be followed
by others.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
WAGES HIGH in MONTANA.

People, who are prone to complain
about the high price OF living in Mon
tana communities, should be referred
to q recent bulletin issued by the cen.
sls department, which shows that in
the matter of wages Montana pays
more per capita than any other state.
Onetof the causes of the high price Of
living is therefore explained. Incl,
dentally It is better to have the wages
high and the cost Of living high than
to lower the wages. High wages al
ways ssure prosperity, for, where
money is easily made, 1t is readily
spent.
The hgures In the bnlleting are the
sackpel wages earned By the workers
on - average, including days or per
tods when they weresout Of work OF
for Soma other reason did not work.
Ills shown BY the bulletin that the
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
INTERESTING FACTS.

Andrew Carnegie's library gifts
amount to almost $50,0O0,000.
M .
The total number Of persons In re-
ceipt Of state relief in India exceeds
1,250,0OO.
Brazil is using an immense amount
of cement, but none Of it is from the
United States.
Italy's imports from this country
are not quite $67,0O0,000 q year, and
ours from that country are only 1885,
10000.
According to the report Of the geo.
logical survey Of British India the
production Of coal IN that country in
4y07 was 9,s73, $50 tons.
In 1906 the receipts of the Shantung
Railroad company amounted to ST.
01O,7 O and expenses to $424,870, and
a Az per cent. dividend was paid to
stockholders.
The boys Of the Kishoregamz school
football team recently refused to play
for a cup on the ground that ~ was Of
foreign manufacture. As a result -
OF the head scholars were expelled.
America In 1906 supplied the South
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

EAEEt 81. FRnE& Lt4FaLz-re
Manchuria railway with $1,000 tons
Of steel rails, 1922 tons Of bridge ma
.terials, 2O5 locomotives, 2,O4O freight.
cars, VI passenger cars and 123 ca
booses.
The cost Of repairs on a wooden
railroad car is about 500 a year,
much more than that of a steel car,
and the wooden car Is out OF service
BY reason Of repairs six to one as
compared with the metal ones.
45s = sc sa& as&4ssB#
In 1906 the imports Of wheat and
wheat flour into the United Kingdom
were Is per cent of the total supply.
In 1905 the imports were So per cent,
and in France 3 per cent. In the Unit
ed Kingdom In 1906 the imported.
supplies Of wheat were Az per cent.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
OLE TIMERS IN MONTANA.

Bridger, Mont, May Is, 1908.
Il. G. Linebarger, Editor Billings Ca
zette.
Dear Sir: Among the old-timers
who were on the Missouri river and
near Fort Benton in the early COS,
and who made their living hunting,
trapping, wolllng, running wood yards
for steamboats, and trading with the
Indians, who are yet living and who
should be present If a meeting OF the
old-timers is held to have their story
OF the early development and history
Of Montana told ana compiled in pub
lished form, are John A. Cochran,
Black Mountain, N. O.; Henry Keiser,
forsyth, Mont; Harry Woodward,
Red Lodge, Mont; Uncle Bill" Ham
ilton. Columbus, Mont, now in Bill
ings; w. g. Conrad, Great Falls.
Mont; Luther Kelley. yellowstone
Kelley. San Carlos, Ariz.; George R.
Davis. Rockville, Mont; Arthur Morri-
son. Bridger, Mont; G. R. Norris. Ju-
dith; Charles D. Hard, Helena, Mont;
Charles w. Price, Great Falls, Mont;
T. G. Power, Helena, Mont; George
II. Town. Bridger Mont.
There Is not a stream Of water that
empties into the Missouri between
the mouth Of the Yellowstone and
Fort Benton, or into the Yellowstone
from Its source to where It ,empties
into the Missouri, that ! have not
camped on, and I do not think there is
a single stream but on whose banks is
buried the body Of some pioneer, who
gave w his life in helping develop
the west. They were the men who
opened up eastern Montana.
Will you kindly publish the names
enclosed, that any others who may be
living may send in their names. 4
think that 10 Is the time for these
old-timers to get together and talk
over the early days on the Yellow
stone and Missouri rivers and have
the early history Of Montana written
correctly, as those now living of the
pioneers. may tell it.
hope your efforts and suggestion
to bring about such a meeting will
prove successful. Yours truly,
GEORGE II. TOWN.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

average in Montana was $1S.19 per
week. In Nevada it was s17.76, Ari-
zon $16.15 and Wyoming s15.75.
Among the more p%opulous states ILL
noils comes fifteenth on the list with
an average of sl1.55, Ohio pays
$10.63, PENNSYLVANIA $10.51, New York
$10.4o, and Massachusetts 1903. North
Carolina, with 1896, and South Caro-
lima with $4.6s, reported the lowest
figures.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
INSURANCE AND The PARK.

Outside of the general desire on
the part Of Billings citizens to have
the land On the right of way of the
railroad between Twenty-seventh and
Twenty-ninth streets maintained as a
public park, property owners on Mon
tana avenue opposite the park would
have additional cause to complain
should the Northern Pacific Railroad
company decide to lease the land for
warehouses or business blocks. I'm
mediately on the beginning of con-
struction work on some structure on
the land now occupied by the park
there would be a big increase in the
insurance rate on the other side OF
the street. So for financial reasons
every property wner there should be
enlisted in the effort being made to
persuade the railroad company moi to
lease the land.
1t has always been the policy of Of
Gals of the company to permit the
cities through which its line passes to
utilize spots on the right of way, To-
Gated as the park in Billings, for pub
lie parks. There is no reason to be.
lieve they would deal differently with
Billings. In fact, it is said, that they
have continually refused to lease the
land because they wanted it main
tanned as a park. Recently, however,
some citizens, who want to lease the
land, are said to have tried to per.
suade the officials of the company
change their views. In view of this
the action of the chamber Of con.
merce and the $4,000 club" in urging
the railroad company not to leasesthe
land seems timely.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
SHOULD BE UNITED.

The need of a closer alliance pOl1t-
ically between the republicans in
eastern Montana counties is appar-
ent at every state convention. Com
pared with the vote Of some Of the
larger counties in the state that of
the largest county in eastern Mon
ltana is of small consequence. But if
the counties Of eastern Montana, Car
bon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Dawson
and Custer were united and their
| votes rel cast a. a unit, they would
be a most important factor in the de-
alterations of the state conventions.
In place of being practically unrepre-
scented in the official roster Of the
state, the counties Of eastern Mon
tana would have their share of the
political plums.
This subject was informally dis
cussed by many of the delegates from
these counties at the recent state con
vention in Butte. The opinion was
unanimous that some steps should be
taken to unite the counties on the po-
litical desires of each other and in the
interest of eastern Montana. It was
suggested that the question be dis
cussed previous to the coming county
conventions and the voters be given a
chance to express themselves upon it.,
and that after the election of dele
gates those from the different coun-
ties in the proposed alliance should
start for the convention one day ear
lier than usual and either meet in
Billings and aucus or hold a caucus
in the convention city, deciding upon
the course to be adopted by eastern
Montana and then vote solidly to
carry out the program outlined.
The suggestion seems a good one.
IN some manner eastern Montana re-
publicans should work together. The
interests of the party in all the east
ern Montana counties are identical.
The counties are all situated in the
great Yellowstone valley or country
tributary thereto. Their industries
and pursuits are similar. Agriculture
and stock raising are the principal
vocations. What will benefit one will
benefit the other. Communities with
such common interests politically
should be able to get together and
decide on a united line Of action.
It is to be hoped that the short dis
cussion on the Journey home follow
ing the convention will not end the
discussion of the subject until after
the next state convention. Now is the
time to talk about it and study its
feasibility If anything is to be done to
bring about such a political alliance.
The Gazette is heartily in favor of
such a plan and would like to hear
! from its contemporaries in eastern
! Montana. It would also be well il.
! some Of the republican leaders would
break into print and exress their
views. There is no doubt but what
the wisdom OF united action could be
shown the voters Of all the counties in,
eastern Montana.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

akduN1O0GO 1OI sAC R4O5AANASys 4WE5@NbS.
The state convention proved to be
the largest and most harmonious gath
ering Of the kind ever held in Mon
tana. The Taft shouters we're in the
saddle and they pulled the cinches
so tight that even an attempt at
bucking against submission to their
will was thwarted. The delegates were
practically taken by the map Of the
neck and the seat OF the pants" and
thrown onto the band wagon. No
time was allowed to protest, and the
delegates were not even given q
chance to roll on, tumble on or climb
on. They yer really not consulted
as to their wishes, which were antici-
pated, and were not even given the
satisfaction of kicking. And nov that
we are on the band wagon the time
for kicking is past. The only thing
to do is to "Whoop It up for Taft"
Yet there can be no denying that
the "whooping"' could be done with
more satisfaction had the state con-
vention recognized the right of all
delegates to participate in the DELHI
erations and permitted the different
counties to go on record. In view Of
the fact that some were instructed
for Roosevelt and others instructed
to secure an uninstructed delegation,
1t certainly seems that they should
have been given a chance to vote as
instructed. And had a vote been
taken it is not at all certain that the
delegation would not have gone unin-
structed. Even the Butte delegation
was divided on the subject. General
Warren Of Butte offered the only mo
ton made in an effort to secure dis
cussion of the question, and 1t waA|
seconded by a Butte delegate. But
he was ruled out of order and while.
a delegate from Powell county was
trying to protest the vote was taken
and announced carried. It was done
so quickly that the opposition did not.
have time to collect its thoughts be-
fore the vote was. announced and.
Taft was declared endorsed and the
delegates to Chicago instructed.
There is satisfaction, however, in
the result since the men who brought
it about probably felt they were doing
the best thing for the party, and in
selecting MI. Taft as Montana's can
didate they endorsed the prob
able nominee, who, even if some Of us
do not think he is the most logical
or best candidate, is far superior to
any one the democratic party has pro-
posed or might propose; and We a
consistently support him, since under
his administration a continuation Of
the republican policies as promulgated
by Theodore Roosevelt will be as
sured. *
Yellowstone county and eastern
Montana Jared well at the hands Of
the convention in the election Of del
tegates to Chicago. Charles M. Bair
OF Billings was chosen as a delegate
and Paul Mccormick as an alternate.
One delegate and two other alter
mates were chosen from the Yellow
stone valley.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

Alaska has shown evidences Of ex-
treme civilization that should almost
warrant statehood. She has elected
contesting delegates to a national con-
vention. IN
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
IMPORTANCE OF. THE FARMER

"A writer for one of the large maya
zines has been compiling figures on
the production of the American farm.
ers. The result has been most sur
prising, but it shows how really i'm
p%ortant a factor the farmer is in our
national Industrial life. The Ameri
can farmer and his product in some
shape form an important element in
every national industry, an element
that it would be impossible to elimi
nate. Upon the success of the Amer
lean farmer depends the success of all
other tradesmen.
We read columns about our indus
tries, u inventions, our professions
but little is said about farms, ex
cept in the magazines devoted to ag.
riculture. So people do not realize
how important the American farmer
is. The figures, which have been
compiled, seem staggering, yet they
are correct They show, says an ex,
change, that the American farmer
ErEzGES&S flI9EELE
earns enough every IL days to buy out
Standard Oil and enough every 50
days to wipe Carnegie and the steel
trust of the industrial map, and
thinks ordinary trusts are little things
comparatively. One American harvest
would buy the kingdom of Belgium,
king and all; two would buy Italy;
three would buy Austria-Hungary
and five at spot cash price would
take Russia from the car. With the
setting of every sun the money box OF
the American farmer bulges with the
weight Of "a new millions. If one
would place his finger on the pulse OF
/ his wrist and count the heart beats
one, two, three, four--with every four
of those quick throbs, day and night,
$1,000 clatters into the gold-bin of the
American farmer. The exports are
but a trif1e of the whole. Yet the
American farmer has exported enough
since 1892 to enable him tt buy every
foot Of railroad in the United States.
In the face Of such statistics and in
view of the enormous crop produc.
ton of last fall it is mor apparent
than ever that prosperity reigns in
the country and that the so-called
panic was nothing more than a furry,
which was prevented from being real.
~ serious by the American farmer and
his exports, which brought us the gold
of Europe and relieved the currency
shortage.
Pnatronizing home industry means
that not only shall the other fellow
buy your goods but you shall buy his,
This latter fact it is noticed is fire..
quently forgotten by the alleged
booster, who smokes a foreion made
cigar, buys butter made in Nebraska,
wears Minneapolis made clothing,
drinks Milwaukee brewed beer, eats
Omaha killed meat or sends away
from Billings for any kind Of printing
done under the sun.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
BY piling y cus on top Of an

by piling n excuse on top OF an
other.-Forsyth Times. ID
At the conference held at the white
house In Washington this week, Gov
ernor Norris not only upheld the
rights Of Montana, but Of the Rocky
Mountain states, In the address he de-
livered Thursday afternoon. He in
dicated very plainly that the people
Of the west are not opposed to the.
forest reserve principle, az far as pre-
serving timber upon the watersheds
Is concerned, but with 2l,00o.0ool
acres already set aside 90 reserves.
Montana does not want any more land
DEVOTED to this purpose.-Butte
Miner.
~ Nt GNp4 Ll Hm ANEEH
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

w. E0 -"
for American farm implements.
"A moderate amount Of rope Jump
ing is said to besyery beneficial exer-
else.
The operating expenses Of Columbia
college for the present year are ST.,
$50, 1868.
The collection Of a%nthropoid apes in
the Regents Park Gardens, London, Is
the finest ever brought together.
Many important drainage projects
are under way in the marsh lands Of
Louisiana which will ultimately make
1t q great agricultural country.
The wealth Of New Zeaiand, accord
ing to recent statistics, is $1,4S0 per
person, and is said to be the highest
of any country in the world.
One firm Of four men having their
headquarters near the Illinois river
gather $1,000 worth Of pelts every
year, which are sent to Europe.
Cuba exported 81, 1893 ,023 worth OF
tobacco, 1866, $40 worth Of cigars, $24,-
284 worth Of cigarettes and 81, 555
worth of cut tobacco in March, 1908.
There are 800 paint factories in this
country, making over 100000, 900 gal
Ions Of paint a year and the business
demand is increasing faster than the
facilities.
Iron ore production in the United
States in 1907, according to the Unit
ed States geological survey, probably
reached a total Of from 100000 to
$4,000 00 long tons.
In q recent campaign Of the French
in Madagascar $4,000 men were sent
to the front, Of whom 20 were killed
in action and over 1000 persisted from
preventable disease.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

A noted scientist has recently dis
covered that digging IL the best
health producer to be found. It would
be an excellent thing for dormant
boosters to get In and dig. It would
improve their health.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
MONTANA ON THE BAND WAGON

Montana is for Taft, The state
convention which met in Butte Thurs
day instructed the six delegates and
six alternates to the national conyen-
tide in Chicago to cast the vote OF
this state for the nomination Of the
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

We take back all we said about
having a man in Montana who would
scorn a political appointment. The
Hon. Fletcher Maddox has decided to
accept that federal plum he was al.
legged to have turned down.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

Times have changed since 1896.
William Jennings Bryan was the au-
thor Of Q resolution adopted by the
congress Of governors sympathizing
with Grover Cleveland.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

Congressman Littletield says that
congressman are all towards. There
is another term which could be more
appropriately applied to them. Any
disappointed constituent can tell what
It Is.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

The lights which the Northern Pa.
cifc Railroad company have had hung
over the right Of way on Twenty
ninth street and Twenty-seventh
street, have long been needed. The
action Of the railroad company in
placing them there Is TO be com 1i,
mended.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

The increase in the price Of copper
stocks is encouraging to u Butte
friends, even II the price Of copper is
not.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

II the strike of street a men con-
tinues long in Cleveland municipal
ownership of street railways will
probably prove to be q bowling sue
cess.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

William Jennings Bryan, Governor
Johnson and Vice President Fairbanks
rode on the same train out OF Chicago
recently. They must have been more
willing to travel together they will
be this summer.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

A garter on an Iowa woman broke
as she was walking down the street,
says an exchange. and $4,000 rolled to
the sidewalk and there were plenty
of gallant men willing to return it.
The paper neglected to say who re
turned the garter.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

Since Senator Tillman has recov-
cred sufficiently to return to the SEN
ate there are possibilities OF excite
ment in the upper branch of ON
gress.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

In Fergus county the lemon is be-
ing squeezed. Barnes-King is earn
Ing q proft for the stockholders.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

The restoration Of the motto I'm
God We Trust" to the coins is not
apt to extend the business Of trust
ing"
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

1t is said that congress will ad-
journ on May %. Before it convenes
IT is apt to be % for some Of the
congressman.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

The Pennsylvania capitol cases will
serve to take a little attention from
the California gif:afters.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

Matteawan, not content with the no
toriety secured BY being the combining
place of Harry Thaw, now seeks to
produce a second Laporte tragedy.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

Pittsburg, New York, Laporte and
Matteawan remind us that it is now
the wild and woolly east.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
INTERESTING FACTS.

Great opportunities exist in Spain
for American farm implements.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19

He is a diplomatist who gets his
boy to NOW the lawn by telling him
that he mustn't do it.-Missoula Her
c1l &B&f%@ $# @ &@ 8E M ~ G$M&N
The national prohibitionist. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1907-1911, 1908-02-13
CHTCAGO'S GOVERNMENT AND
THE SALOONS.

The Chicago Record erald, which, in
spite of its liquor advertising, seems to
maintain a resemblance of an editorial
conscience and to reserve for itself the
right to think and speak, at least part
of its thoughts concerning the liquor
traffic, presents to its readers a rather
remarkable editorial under the title,
"Lawbreaking Saloons" AS will be
gathered from the editorial, until with
in comparatively short time the ordi-
nances of the city of Chicago have re-
quired that the saloon shall close at
midnight The saloons, of course, did
not obey the ordinance Hundreds of
them never closed at all, from year end
to year end; scores of them were no
torious places of all-night revel. Prob
ably the Englewood district, where the
Englewood Law and Order League kept
up constant warfare, was the only
part of the city where even a majority
of the saloons closed at the midnight
hour. Then came an agitation to give