The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-26
WHAT MONTANA NEEDS.

Judging by the sentiments expressed by a
majority in attendance ut the late irriga-
tion convention, the prevailing opinion
among the people in the agricultural dis
tricts is: First. That farming is not profit
able in Montana. Second, That we need
consumers rather than producers.
II these propositions are correct the
question to be solved is, how can We get
more consumers? and looking at it from
the standpoint named. the solution of the
problem is Il very difficult one, but it seems
evident that these conclusions are erro-
neous.
1t may be true that some farm products
cannot be raised with pr~oft-mo7e partlcu-
larly wheat-until experience has taught US
what varieties to grow, and our millers, if
they do not know, learn how to manufac-
ture it properly, and the consumer how to
use it.
The wheat raised in Montana, when prop
erly manufactured, should make the very
best and most desirable flour, md should
bring the highest price in the market. This
statement is made from q long experience
under similar circumstances in Colorado,
the farmers claiming the same as they do
here at the present time, that it could not
be raised with profit, and the millets claim
ing that it did not make good flour; but
after considerable EXPERIMENTING they
found it became necessary to wet the wheat
and to use a different process in manufac-
turing, aad the result ia that Colorado -four
not only brings tho highest price in the
Colorado ma ket, but hundreds and thous-
ms of barrels are shipie cd every year to
the best caterers and confectioners in the
large caste, cities to supply the choice
trade. There is no reason why Montana
flour, when we have learned how to manu-
facture and use it. should not become
equally as popular, as the soil and condi-
tons of Montana and Colorado are quite
simila
Returning again to the second PROPOSE
ton, to wit: That we need more consum-
ers. this proposition seems fallacious.
First, we do not now produce as much as
we consume. Second, what we need is to
put a good quality of -four on the market
and havs the people learn how to use it.
The difficulty about the increased cost of
raising wheat-owing TO high price of labor
lis q matter that will speedily regulate
itsc+i. Va tli1 INN bAO iila man u tlc
committee on manufacturing at Denver, in
his report to the chamber OF commerce.,
says: The class O, labor working in west
ern factories is abundant at eastern prices"
In this respect our farm labor question will
settle Itself. And it seems to me that the
best way for US to get more consumers ia
to use every means possible to encourage
the growing of agricultural products here.
80 that there will DO demand for labor to
raise these products, md n chance for CON
sumers to support themselves at a living
rate; then the law of supply and demand
will settle that part. In order to have
moro ~Con6umer+, we must have more labor
for the consumer and abundance of prod
ucts for him 10 consumes; again, one will
readily see that if the money he pays for
the articles he consumes is kept at home
there will be more wealth in the country
than If it ia sent to some other state.
1t is important thnt our people should be
Impressed with the significance of making
a mnrket AT horne for what we produce:
First, by making a good article; second. by
encouraging III every waY the uss OF the
same. We ars surrounded by a country
rich in agricultural RESOURCES as we'll as in
its mineral productions, and hen the mer-
ITS of our agricultural products are prop
erly made known and appreciated. We will
not only be able to make all branches of
farming profitable. but to increase the mum
Der Of consumer. Every citizen of Helena
and the entire state ought to be greatly in
tesested in encouraging and promoting the
agricultural interests of the entire state, as
the growth of this industry will benefit the
state very materially: first. by keeping the
money at home; second. these products will
enable US to support more consumers and
thus make 1t possible TO work low grade
mines prohtably that are now idle, and tc
increase our manufacturing industries.
In order to give u practical illustration
will refer to the growth of Den yer, al
shown by au article In the Denvec Repub-
lisan of Jan. l last, whe Elm a chart wa,
published showing the remarkable deyel-