J. T. SMITH, GENERAL MERHCANT.
ALEX. TUMOTH, GROCER AND FRUIT DEALER
W. B. OXFORD, INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE AGENT.
JOS. KERR, IMPLEMENT AGENT
J. R. SPEARE, BAKER AND FRUIT
AND CON-FECTIONERY.
GEO. WALDEN, FRUIT AND CONFECTIONERY.
W. H.BOOTH, DRUGGIST.
W. S. FORGEY, LUMBER DEALER.
ROBT. SCOTT, EDITOR BELMONT STAR AND JOB
PRINTER.
J. T. MUTCHISON, M, D. PHYSICIAN.
W. N. J. HUST, V. S. VETERINARY SURGEON.
R. MCDONALD HARNESS MAKER.
J, FITZ-ROY HALL, INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE AGENT.
A. MARQUIS, TAILOR AND READY-MADE CLOTHING.
T. MCLENNAN BLACKSMITH.
W. McMILLAN HOTEL AND LIVERY.
T. CORNER, BLACKSMITH.
JOS. BULGER, BUTCHER.
E. SPALDING, CARPENTER
ROBT. THYMIE, STONE MASON.
Main Street,
Belmont, Looking South – Photo by F. Stevens
ELEVATORS.
The Dominion Elevator Co., and the Northern Elevator Co. have elevators
at this point, each with a capacity of 30,000 bushels. The grain
shipped in 1898, reached the total of 200.000 bushels, which is
sufficient proof to demonstrate the nature of the country lying around
the town.
BUSINESS MEN.
Mr. J. H. Standing, a cut of whose store is given, is the town's most
active businessman and a pioneer resident. The firm is conducted
under the name of J. H. Standing & Co and does the long end of the
general store trade of the town and district. A large and well-assorted
stock is carried and the amount of business transacted in the year
moves well up into the thousands.
Outside of his business, Mr. Standing takes an active part in every
movement tending to the interest of the town, and is well known for his
sociability and general good nature.
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Mr F. F. Sparks, hardware merchant, a cut
of whose business premises appears on this page, is another of
Belmont's most popular and esteemed business men. A thorough believer
in the future of the town and country, his ready help is always
foremost in promoting its welfare,
Mr. A. O. Houghton, implement agent, and proprietor of the Belmont
livery stables, does larger business in farm machinery than any other
portion of this district. During the past year he turned over $50,000
worth of implements including seveial threshing outfits. He has just
completed a five thousand dollar brick mansion, three stories
with basement and lighted throughout with actyline gas. In the spring
he will erect a three structure solid stone warehouse, with hall. Mr.
Houghton, as with all the others quoted in these pages has made his
money in this country.
Municipal Officers.
The business of the municipality is transacted by a reeve and six
councillors. They are elected annually by a
direct vote of the ratepayers. Their
chief duty is the assessment of property, the levy
and collection of taxes for all purposes, the
formation and readjustment of school districts and
the building, construction and repairing of roads and bridges.
The affairs of the municipality are
administered ably and at the same time economically; the cost of
administration averaging from one thousand dollars to
fifteen hundred dollars. It can be presumed from the
simplicity of municipal government that taxes
are kept down so that settlers do rot find
themselves in any way handicapped in this respect. Taxes are
levied only on the value of the land, which is of
great benefit to the settler. The average amount of taxes
on a quarter section—160 acres—is only a little over
twelve dollars, so taxation is comparatively light.
The municipal officers of Argyle are all representative men, who have
grown up with the inception of the municipality and have its
improvements and the advancement of the interests of the people at
heart. This is the first year of office for the present reeve, who sat
in the council for a number of years the councillors with the exception
of the representative of ward 1, have been in harness year after year,
and it would be hard to find a body of men of more sterling worth and
ability than those who administer the affairs of Argyle. All of these
men are in a position to give reliable and trustworthy informaŽtion to
intending settlers—but perhaps none is more able to do so than the
present clerk of the municipality, who has occupied this honorable
position for ten years, creditably to himself and to the gain of the
municipality. One of the first settlers in the district when it was an
unclaimed, unsettled, and unculŽtivated prairie, he has become familiar
with every foot of soil in Argyle and acquainted with every soul within
its borders. For purposes of information the constitution of the
present council is given:
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