Daily Yellowstone Journal

The Work Commenced

The long talked-of buildings of the Marquis de Mores in connection with his abattoir will be commenced this morning on the land given to him by the citizens of Miles City, situated one-half mile below the old town, on a section originally belonging to the railroad but which was purchased from it by the citizens, and to which John Minci lays squatter claim having also posted a trespass notice thereon.

Mr. Charles Ellison, of Little Missouri, who arrived yesterday to take charge of the work will, he says, pay no attention to Minci's notice or claim as he is under instructions from Marquis de Mores to proceed with and supervise the building and not to settle any land titles. Mr. Ellison has all the lumber purchased, which will be delivered on the ground this morning and work will be started both on the buildings and on the Yellowstone, where the ice is to be cut.

While the ice house is in course of construction the ice will be cut and stored therein resulting in a great saving of time. The ice house will be 100x60 feet ground measurement, and thirty feet in height. There will be a space of two feet between the outer and the inner wall which will be filled with sawdust. The floor of the building will be on an incline to the center where there will be a drain leading to the river bank. The floor for the present will consist of earth which is understood to be an experiment.

The work will be pushed with rapidity and it is expected to have it completed and filled by February 20. Mr. Ellison states that the Marquis went to New York Monday morning last and that everything is completed for the spring start. For the present there will be erected no canning works in Miles but this will be the main point from which the Marquis will make shipments to the east in refrigerator cars.

Lieutenant Liggett, of Fort Keogh, has been notified and will lay off the land this morning and everything is in readiness.

The saw-dust will be hauled from the government mill and in a few days the first building of the works of Marquis de Mores will mark the unkept prairie where the sage brush now reigns supreme.

Thursday, January 24, 1884.

To-day marks the initial movement in one of the most important enterprises that has thus far fallen to the lot of Miles City. For there is but little doubt that the De Mores abattoir will be a realized fact. The work will be pushed as rapidly as possible, and while the contract with the board of trade does not call for completion before the first of August next, it will nevertheless be put in operation as much earlier as possible. Many circumstances that cannot be detailed here point to the almost positive conclusion that the pushing and wide awake Frenchman will in a short time establish the headquarters for his immense business at Miles City, in which event the capacity of the various buildings required for the plant will be quadrupled and minor industries auxiliary to a slaughter house will spring up around it. All of which will have a very perceptible effect on our town; but the greatest benefit which will accrue to us, and which cannot be too strongly impressed upon the minds of our ranchers and small cattle owners, is that a constant and steady market for cattle, from one animal to one hundred or more, is open to them at Miles City. A farmer or rancher can drive in his dry cow, get the market price for her and purchase his supplies all in the same day. There will be no standing around corners waiting for a customer, or being forced to sell at a sacrifice rather than pay for keeping until a customer is found. The market will be here, and the buyer ready at all times, and the seller will get the ruling Chicago price less freight. The advantages of this system are incalculable both to the parties who have stock to sell, and the merchants. Another point of advantage to our citizens will be the production by patent process from the refuse of the slaughter house, of a superior article of chicken feed, which has heretofore been so high with us that chicken culture was almost out of the question. By this process an excellent food is produced which can be sold very cheap, and within the means of all. It is not beyond expectation that a tannery will shortly be established to convert into leather the large amount of hides, that will necessarily accumulate as last summer a new process of tanning was brought before the board of trade, by which clay was used instead of bark. The enterprise of our board of trade and the public spirit of our citizens in making the donation of the land on which the De Mores establishment is to be located will bear fruit abundantly, and the only regret is that the benefits accruing will be scattered alike on those who generously contributed and those who niggardly withheld their support.