The Montana post., 1868-09-11
FALSE STATEMENTS.

w ma false statements concerning
the present condition of Montana float
ing numerously through our exchanges.
One of the latest of these comes TO US
in an Idaho paper with the caption,
" Hard Times" and reads as follows:
The editor of the Lewiston Journal has
been shown private letter from n merchant
In Montana, In which it is stated very hard
times prevailed in business circles. Some of
the largest st. Louis branch houses in the
chief cities had failed, other houses were
shaky, mining was falling of, and goods were
selling at States cost, with only freight
charge added.
To all living N this Territory the
above statements are mauifestly false.
No large houses, whether st. Louis
branches or not, have failed, and we are
not aware that any of our merchants
are shaky. On the contrary, we do not
believe that there can be found in any
community the same number of busi>
ness men that we have in Montana that
are, as a class. more worthy of being
trusted. But the most patent falsehood
contained in this letter is that with re-
lation 10 the prices obtained for gooGs.
A simple reference to our market report
in which the quotations are jobbing
rates and given in gold, will show that
our merchants are making better profits
than can be obtained in almost any
other portion of the United States.
Flour, which is probably as low as
almost any article in the market, is
being sold for the same price in gold as
it can be laid down here for in green
backs, thus securing TO our merchants a
profit of twenty FIVE per cent. Sugars
which sell in the States at fifteen cents
per pound, and which do not cost over
twenty-five cents laid down here, are
selling for forty cents in gold or fifty
cents in greenbacks. Syrups which can
be obtained East at a dollar and quar-
ter per gallon, are here bringing three
dollars and half In currency. And so
we could go through the entire list end
show that our merchants, so far from
selling for cost, with treights added, are
making good profits But while they
are making good profits, this report con-
corning their insolvent condition and
the ruinous aspect of their business
goes abroad through private letter to
Lewiston, AMI has already commenced
its travels through the newspapers of
the Territories and will eventually find
its way over the whole country. From
the simple fact that it contains an unex-
pected announcement it will be seized
upon by every paper in the land,
especially if published in those portions
of it which are jealous of our prosper
ity, and will be expatiated upon as proof
positive that Montana has proven a
failure Our readers will see what an
immense deal of mischief it may do to
our Territory and its people. Not only
will it discourage immigration, one OF
the least to be dreaded of its conse-
quences, but it will injure the credit OF
our merchants wherever it may be cir
culated. We have therefore felt called
upon to denounce it, and all similar re-
ports as falsehoods. We do not doubt
that the editor OF the Lewiston J0uraal
received the letter referred, for we have
known of such being written by that
class of malcontents who never tire oi
cursing the country. We have seen
these individuals, whose principal oc-
cupation consists in sponging drinks
biIking creditors, and paironizing free
lunch tables, as they have been attempt
ing TO navigate our streets with q toe
heavy cargo of liquor on board. In es'
saying to tack, they are thrown upon
their beam ends, and in their drunken
wrath spit out the most hostile male.
dictions upon the country, evidently re-
carding it as the fault of the Territory
that they are not enabled to be drunk
and walk straight at the same time
These are the men who are too lazy tc
work, and then curse the country be
cause they do not make money; thai
are the authors of such private letters
as that received by the editor of the
Journal All we have TO say to them
is, ~If YOU do not like Montana, quit
titl You are not desirable members o
society, and no one is anxious for you
to remain here. Go down to Walls
syYalla, where you can, if you are lucky
get two dollars per day for harvesting
instead OF FIVE or six dollars here; OF
go tolthe end of the railroad, where the
company will pay you three dollars
day, and board you for six dollars per
week leaving you two. dollars per day
in currency ne the result of your. la
'bors. stand not upon the order of your
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