The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-01-01
THE MINES AND AGRICULTURE
OF MONTANA.

The Montana Mining Review, discuss
ing the paramount importance Of our
mining resources says:
That all the great mines of this Terri
tory have been discovered we do not for
q moment believe. As each successive
line of railway reaches the distant min
ing camp, two or three mines immediate-
ly spring into prominence as the direct
result. These in their turn have demanded
the construction of smelters, and during
the past year immense establishment
have been built, at Helena, Great Falls
and Castle, which will cost, when fully
completed, more than 10,O0O,O 900. These,
as railroads pierce our mining camps and
the mines become developed, will be fol-
and thus the precious metal output Of
the attention and admiration of the world,
will steadily 90 on increasing. All other
great mineral bearing sections, notably
California, Nevada and Colorado. where
thousands of dollars have been spent In
mining to one In Montana, have reached
the limit Of their greatness as precious
metal producers, while Montana has but
Just commenced to show Of what stuff she
Is made.
The truth of the foregoing will not be
questioned. While Montana is aud will
remain the greatest producer Of the pre-
cious metals on the globe, We maintain
that her agricultural resources are cor
respondingly great. This may not be the
case in many parts of the territory to the
south Of US; but in Northern Montana
are at least &c, 600 acres of frat-class
farming and grazing lands. This quantity
will be more than doubled when the pres
ent reservation shall bs declared open for
settlement, which undoubtedly will be
done within few years. Montana is ca
pable disappearing population Of at least
100000 souls. Shall they subsist on car
Donates of silver and copper, or must we
import bread-stuffs? The idea is prepos-
ferrous. With such population, allow
ing a pound of bread per day to each, at
three cents per pound, 1t would cost
$500, 900 per day for bread alone. I'm
ported from abroad, the subsistence of
the population would consume the pro-
ducts of the mines, and we should remain
Impoverished and dependent. Develop
the agricultural resources of Montana
and her wealth Of precious metals is at
home. 1t is clear, therefore. that, while
our mining interests are Of great import
ance, they cannot alone provide the bases
for great, wealthy and prosperous COM
monwealth.
Agriculture is the foundation Of all
permanent prosperity. While weexpend
millions in dragging from their hidden
recesses the precious ores, let us not for
get that the eternal fiat is, by the sweat O
thy face shalt thou eat bread" No
abating one jot of our vast mining en-
ergies, let us also have care for the
husbandry Of the rich land that God hat
given us. Let lis use our riches to re
plenish the earth and subdue it; that WI
and our posterity may continue to dwell
here, improving our farms, adorning ane
beautifying our homes until this goodl,
land shall become like the garden o
Eden; bearing in mind the ,naxium o
Washington, the father of our country
that, agriculture is the most healthful
most useful aud noblest employment O
man,,