Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-12-25
MANY N0TABlES, INCLUDING GENERAL u. S. GRANT,
ATTENDED, FIRST BILLINGS AGRICULTURAL FAIR, 1883
fBy w, II. BANFILL)

4 T THE time of the driving Of the
II Golden Spike. marking the COM
pletion of the transcontinental line
of the Northern Pacific railway in
1888, the first community display of
agricultural products of Yellowstone
county, and at least one of the first
in eastern Montana was gathered to-
gether at Billings for the edification
of the excursionists who came from
the east for the ceremony at Gold
Creek.
AS the various excursion trains we're
oil to stop at Billings, enterprising
citizens of the year-old town went to
great trouble to gather together as
ambitious a display IS possible of the
resources of the newly opened up
region. 1t is doubtful if the city has
ever since had SO many distinguished
guests within its gates at n time as
on that bright September morning At
years ago.
General Grant Present
Most distinguished of the guests was
Gen. U. S. Grant, former president.
With him were William M. Ewarts
and Carl Schurz, both former cabinet
officers, and leaders Of the political
life of the era as well as a whole
galaxy of senators, governors, generals
and financial leaders. PRESIDENT Viii
lard of the Northern Pacific and
Frederick M. Billings, his predecessor,
for whom the town of Billings was
named, were of at least equal i'm
portance to those who greeted the
visitors.
In the September 7 issue of the
Billings Gazette, in 1888, a lengthy
account of the events during the stay
of the excursion parties in Billings
is given. The report, with the omission
of the summaries of the speeches given
is as follows:
"The longed-for visit Of the dis
tinguished visitors to witness the driv-
ing of the Golden Spike took place
today. The morning was bright and
beautiful, and the blue outlines of
the snowy range to the west stood
out on the horizon. The town looked
at Its best, streets cleaned, %evergreens
abundant and everything in apple pie
order.
"A very elegant rustic pagoda "
cred with wheat and oats in the stem,
and surmounted by a deer's head, was
erected at the depot and showed off
to good advantage the excellent SAM
pies of grain exhibited.
Nearby was a collection of melons,
potatoes, turnips, cabbages, cauliflower
and other vegetable products grown on
the ranches in the immediate vicinity
of Billings, which would have borne
away the palm at any eastern fair and
which effectively demonstrated that
Yellowstone valley has nc peer in the
excellence of the vegetables it is capa-
BILE Of producing.
"a magnificent piece of coal from
the mines of the Northern Pacific Coal
company in the Bull mountains at
tracted a great deal of attention. The
vein from which it is taken is II feet
thick and unlimited in quantity.
Bullion On Display
"a fine showing of bullion from the
Clendenin mine in the Barker district
was placed on exhibit through the
courtesy of Harry D. Burghardt, man.
ager of the mine. A large number OF
other articles produced here were
placed on exhibition. T. r. Mallon
g. Co., exhibited some magnificent car
casses of range-fed beef that aston.
ish u visitors and demonstrated that
Montana grass is the best material
for making good beef.
"As the first section of the excur-
sion, consisting of 10 cars, pulled into