The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-12-22
THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
a Wool sorting and Securing Pant
Needed.

NCeueu.
EpIToR TRIBUNE: From time to tim
we hear it suggested that Great Fall
would be a good place for a wool sorting
and securing establishment, also for
wooden mill. In the American Wool an
Cotton Reporter for Oct. %, 1891, there
was an article upon this very point. The
correspondent of this trade journal II
speaking of our mighty water power
says: This power is already being util'
lied by large smelters and electric plants
but it's application in wool securing and
wooden manufacturing, it would seem to
me, is one Of the most practical and con-
sistant propositions that is offered by
any locality l have yet seen. 1t is not
only a proposition, but an opportunity
The water itself is soft, pure, and clean
and admirably adapted to the purpose OF
securing wool and of putting it in prime
condition.
'Great Falls is now the most c%onspicu-
GUS wool center in the state. During
the wool marketing season great num-
bers of wagon freight trains bear the
heavy clip from the hundreds of interior
ranches to this point for sale and ship
ment. The great clips which are brought
to othei railroad points in this section
are, as a rule, brought to Great Falls for
final shipment, so that there are an
nually shipped from here from 100000
to 100000 pounds Of wool. Further
more, Great Falls is accessible by means
Of her railway facilities to territory that
could easily supply her 100000 pounds
annually.
".All wool-buyers will attest to the good
quality of Montana woods. | have heard
the suggestion made by woolmen here,
and it seems a practical one, that cour-
ing works and a sorting establishment
at this place, which should have the ca
pacity to handle all the wool grown in
this section of the country. would oper-
ate greatly in the interest of the grower
and become a successful and paying in
dusty The wool thus bought up.
sorted and secured, if it were then nee.
essary to ship it, the clean, classified ar
ticle only would have to go east. instead
ot GO per cent dirt and waste.
a sorting and securing establishment
here in the center Of this great wool
growing country would stimulate the
practic among growers of putting their
wool in the best marketable condition.
But the manufacture of blankets. ordi-
nary wooden goods and knit fabrics, such
as are used a great deal by stockmen,
miners, and others in this and adjoining
is as practical and consistent an
enterprise as are the securing and sort
ing projects or any other enterprise.
Montana and adjoining states raise the
wool, and OF a superior grade, the waters
the natural power for the manu-
of the fabric, and the people Of
those states wear the goods. Then
there exists a local pride among the PEG.
pie Of the great northwest which would
assure any worthy home industry their
liberal patronage. Usually when man
lfacturing enterprises are talked of
this country the fuel question is
preached. 1t rs no unsol ied problem in
his locality. | am surprised al the
abundance and cheapness Of native coal, I
being mined within twelve miles Of the 6
on the line Of the railroad. So ia [
'orable are freight rates ard so %accessi- |
Die are the great veins of coal that the
uel is laid down here as cheaply as can
)e done at any point in the United G
States. At the beginning skilled labor {
Employed in the enterprises mentioned S
would undoubtedly be a little more ex- 6
than in the east, but the superb
'rity Of the water and its power. and the |
terms on which Great Falls {
would undoubtedly offer such '
'ower for the purposes mentioned would, |
ogether with the home supply of the
gool and local demand for the goods.
realty overbalance the difference in the /
rice OF labor. Then the labor question
'ould sooner adjust itself than some
light suppose, i
The open propositions are simply t
hese: Shall Montana continue to raise
!er heavy clips of wool, ship them to the
l~tlantic coast in the dirt, pay the
on both wool and dirt, and pay c
be freight again on the goods when /
hey are shipped out here: or will she s
lake a successful effort to manufacture II
be goods where the raw material is pro- S
uced, where the motor power is unex- p
elled, and where the manufactured ar /
is in demand?' CITIZEN. G
The Evening Muscular of Missoula f.
as been received. 1t will be published il