The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-11-16
WHAT WE WANT.

A country that sends its raw material away
from heme t. be manufactured and pays the
cost of its transportation both ways does a
losing business. Montana is to-day engaged
in this kind of trade. 1t buys every thing it
uses from abroad, with the exception of its
CEREALS and vegetables. Its wool is shipped
10 the states, to be returned in the shape Of
blankets and wearing apparel. The cost of
transportation to the states and back, with
the profits of middle men added, raises the
purchasing price of this class of goods when
offered for sale in our home ma kets, to an
uncomfortable figure for the average purctas,
er. This manner of doing business, which is
IN direct violation of the well known laws of
domestic economy, impovrrishes 4 communi-
". To remedy this evil We should build
mills in the country, and manufacture all our
wooden goods. at least enough for our own
consumption. For this purpose there is no
state or territory in the Union that excrls
Montana in the availability and magnitude of
its water power. Some years ago our legisla-
ture offered a bonus of ST 900 to the company
that would first erect and run a WOODEN mill
in the territory. The bonus, We understand,
has never ben claimed, ami We believe the
offer still stands. A few wooden mills in the
country could obtain constant and remuner-
alive employment, and besides save to the
territory a large sum that now swells the vol
ume of money that leaves Montana for the
purchase CT its Necessary supplies. The cost
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greater than it was when California COM
mrnced the manufacture of wooden goods.
The expectation of wooden goods from that
state is now a large item placed to the credit
side OF its ledger, and Montana could reap
like benefits should some Of IFS enterprising
people engage in the manufacture Of WOODEN
goods.
The manufacture of wooden ware is anotl,-
er enterprise that may be probably opened
up Ia this territory. 1t is true we have only
soft woods-pine, spruce and cedar with
which to manufacture this class of goods, still
fair. selviceable ware can be made from cItll-
or. Oregon and California have been for
years making their own wooden ware. and
f"om trees of The above named variety. Tubs,
buckets, and many other Indispensable arti-
'les for house keeping purposes, could be
profitab)y made in Montana. and thus anotll-
er large item in our bill Of expenses for the
purchase Of these supplies abroad could he
saved 10 The territory.
Whether leather can be made in this coun-
try from the materials at hand is an unse.-
tied question. Ianneries have been erected,
we believe, at Spring Hill, Gallatin county,
and at Helena, but proved differently sue
cesstul in their first operations and were at
length discontinued. IL was claimed that no
bark suitable for the purpose of tanning
could be obtained in this country. How
true This is we know not, but we have been
assured Ivy those familiar with the business
that bal ks. or the active principle of tannin
contained in IIrmlock and other barks, can
be shipped here and probably used in the
manufacture of leather. Could this be done
a great saving to the territory would result in
the erection OF tanneries to make our own
leather. The boots, shoes and harness lcath-
er used in this territory are Large drafts upon
the factories OF the states. lfthe hides that
are annually shipped % .he cast could
be made up INTO the articles mentioned it
would be a saving to the territory of a large
sum Of money. besides furnishing employ
mrnt to thousands of ,aborers. 1t is only a
question Of time when WOODEN mills, wooden
wa q factories and tanneries will be built in
Montana. When this Shall be done our ter
rltory can furnish homes and employment fo-
a most desirable class of residents, and at the
same time gather to itself a stability and
wealth that will place it in the front rank of
prosperous countries.