The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 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.-The 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 and
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 at
tention of the stranger from scenic
standpoint The growth of the West
in a general way has been somewhat
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
passing. That can be reserved for
another time and some of those whom
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 crop
conditions are very bad. The long
continued drouth has had its effect
and an estimated loss of from one
third to one-half compared with last
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 a 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 100000 Among
the many things this city can boast of
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, six
school buildings, several large hotels
two daily newspapers and a number
nf wna1.Ix-
state banks here and two national and
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 thu
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 witt
Its $500 people. 1t is in the center Of
a vast, semi bituminous coal regiot
which is being mined extensively. an;
fully 700 men are employed in this
work the greater part of the year ir
Red Lodge. Like Billings, it is sur.
rounded by large agricultural, stock.
growing and wool-raising area. Grain
hay and vegetables are also grown
with success.
st. Patricl1's church at Billings. re.
Gently finished at a cost of $4,000. i.
certainly a magnificent structure, ant
the Catholic people here have goo1
reason to be proud of their work IL
this direction. The building was be.
gun, and we believe completed, under
1 the careful supervision of Rev. Fathe
4 Stack, now of Glendive, and is ;
splendid monument to his zeal and t,
those who assisted him. There are :
Y number of societies in connection wit.
b the; Church, not the least being a larg
4 and we'll conducted council of tn
knights Of Columbus There are nov
r eight or nine councils Of this organ
d ization in Montana and another one
& 1t is believed. will soon be institute,
in Miles City.