The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-06-01
Al OTHERS SEE Vs..

In our columns to-day We reproduc" from
the Chicago Tribune a description OIL the
whole truthful, but by no means rosc~colored'
of Montana. In some of Its details it might
be improved in the direction of accuracy, as
for instance the implication that there is an
almost entire cessation of Montana's primer
pal industries durin. the winter months
For a quartz mine to cease working, or to be
worked with a shortened force, is very rare,
while even of placers one large class-thc
drifting claim.--are worked winter and sum
mer alike. Again, the climate of Montana is
not "what might be expected from its latitude
and altitude" a fact the writer as much as
admits in the statement made further Oh that
seattle run at large on the range winter and
Summer and take care of themselves Com
pared with the New England States, Mime
sofa, or any OF the Northern States, Montana
has an exceptionally mild climate, as well as a
surprising light average snowfall. The full
force of the contrast would be understood if
stock raising Oh the Montana fashion of let
ting herds take care of themselves in winter
were attempted in any one of those States.
What. is said about over production, etc, is
true as far as it goes. The writer might have
added that twice as many are engaged in the
business of agriculture as the necessities Of
our home market would rightfully require,
and that owing to this overcrowding the price
of the best land is merely nominal. 1t is
doubtless true that no good land anywhere
near market remains open to preemption, but
when improved farms in such localities can
be purchased at cost of their improvements
III fences, houses, barns. etc, it amount to
very much the same thing as p~reGmption.
But the evils of over production are not the
worst that a country eau suffer. IL is better
to have milk aud honey in supe%rabundance
than to have none at all, or even to be put on
short allowance.
But we can forgive our passimist for taking
a Slightly gloomy view of Montana's indus
trial development, since he more than COM
pensates for his triliing errors in that direction
by the clealsightedness with which he points
out Monlana's great want. "Tile Territory
needs capital more than labor " is very true,
but it might also be improved upon by saying
that Moniana's Industries ale languislliRs, her
mines lying unworked for want of capital.
while as for labor, the supply on hand is am
pie for even a considerable advance on the
present development of her resources. It. can
rot be too often repeated that in the Territory
where money can be placed with good secur-
ity at one and one-half per cent. interest per
and profitable investment. Montana Graves
capital, offers it every Involvement if it will
only come but ~lAbor..is not wanted at all, at
least not 0 W and for ourselves we must deny
the soft impeachment charging the Territorial
papers generally with holding out unreal at
fractions to influence immigration from IT,.
laboring classes. Montana is the making of
a great State, at no distant day. either. It's
natural resources, mhel UdcquateIy dercioped,
will support Il busy population of millions,
but as yet those resources are IN the main un-
touched. 70 be made productive capital is
needed. The days when a pick, pan and
shovel were the only outfit required by the
miner have passed no. to return, AMI the man
who comes to Montana thinking himself am
ply QUILTED In he possession Of a pal. Of
strong arms and the capacity for work is apt
to discover lis mistake only when too late.
Montana's Industries are special in nature,
and they require special training Or expert
ence in those who would embark in them.
The stranger who cannot bring with him at
least money enough to provide for his sup
port until such time as he GETS into ''ihe ways
sf the country will choose the safer course
by not coming at al.