The Irish standard., 1910-07-16
An Irish. Standard Representative
Has Something to Say About
the West.
Crop Conditions Are Not at All
Flattering East of the
Missouri River.
Items of Interest About Persons
and Events From Many
Places Visited.

Especial Correspondence irish Standard.)
Billings, Mont, July 5.-Thc trip to
the coast over the line of the Northern
Pacific is always interesting. 1t is
picturesque in the extreme and one
never ceases to enjoy the beauties an,!
grandeur of it ALL There is variety
enough to suit any and every taste
and the Bad Lands of North Dakota
and snowclad mountains of Montana,
often described by your representative,
will never fail to claim the special al.
tention of the stranger from q scenic
standpoint. The growth of the West
marvellous during the past few years,
the far East contributing largely to
this result.
1t is not the writer's intention, in
this brief letter. to describe at length
the country through which we are now
passing. That can be reserved for
we have met along the line will be
given a share of attention.
East of the Missouri river, and that
will include our own state, the cro,
conditions are very bad. The long
continued drouth has had it's effect
and an estimated loss of from one
year is conceded in the summing up
West of Mandan, n. D., and through
Montana the losses will be much
lighter, good rains in that part of
North Dakota and irrigation in Mon
tana assuring a fair average crop.
The city of Billings, about 900 miles
from ST. Paul, has II population of
over $4,000, is growing fast and is one
OF the most important points in Mon
tana. 1t is situated at the junction
OF the two great continental lines OF
railroads, the Northern Pacific and
Burlington, and has an assessed VAL
. uation of more than $4,000, 900. Among
the many things this city can boast of
is a free public library, a fine opera
house, mail deliveries, city and rural
hospitals, electric light, power and
water plant, two telephone lines, a
packing house and cold storage plant
brick yards brewery, creamery, sin
school buildings, several large hotels
two daily newspapers and a humble,
of weekly publications. There are five
state banks here and two national anC
1t has the reputation of being one OF
the greatest wool markets in the
Union. The city is situated in The
Yellowstone Valley about 100 miles
east of the Rocky Mountains and TIL;
climate is excellent. About sixty miles
from Billings, situated at the terminus
OF the Rocky Fork and Cooke Cit,
branch of the Northern Pacific is tho
pretty little city of Red Lodge will
its $500 people. 1T is in the center q
a vast, semi-bituminous coal regiof
which is being mined extensively, an;
fully 700 men are employed in thi,
Work the greater part of the wear IL
Red Lodge. Like Billings, it is sur.
rounded by a large agricultural, stock.
growing and wool-raising area, Grain
hay and vegetables are also grown
with success
st. Patricks church at Billings, re.
Gently finished at a cost of $4,000. /.
certainly a magnificent structure, ant
the Catholic people here have goot
reason to be proud of their work II
this direction. The building was bc.
gun, and we believe completed. unde,
the careful supervision of Rev. Father
Stack now of Glendive, and is ;
splendid monument to his zeal and tt
those who assisted him. There are :
number of societies in connection wit.
the Church, not the least being a larg,
and we'll conducted council of tn,
knights of Columbus There are nov
eight or nine councils of this organ.
iZation in Montana and another one
it is believed, will soon be instituted
in Miles City.