The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-04-06
GREAT FALLS MARKETS.
A Paper Referring to Markets-Farm-
ing Crops in Sections Ada
cent TO Great Falls.
Read by c. J. StOrk Of Red Butte Be-
fore the Farmers Convention
at Great Falls. March "a.

~
Some twelve miles south of Great Falls
there is a tract of fine country settled
by industrious farmers who have come
to Montana to make permanent homes.
These men are making beautiful homes,
breaking up and cultivating large tracts
Of land, some having as much as $50
acres in cultivation, on which will be
produced the various products Of the
farm.
These people are a highly intelligent,
industrious, and honest class of people.
They have already organized church and
school privileges and a farmers debat-
ing club and literary society, where all
questions, not only those pertaining to
farming, but religious, moral, and polit-
ical questions, are discussed.
Recently at M of the meetings it was
decided to send this convention Of farm.
ers five delegates, that we might become
identified with the farmers here as
sembled, and make known some of our
grievances. Being, as we are engaged 10
farming and stock raising quite ex-
tensively, and living in a rich farming
country in close proximity to this beau
tiful city, we feel that our interests are
mutual. that the city's prosperity is ours
also, and that the prosperity of the
farmer, also contributes to that of this
city. The business men of Great Fapn
who look to US for much of their pat
ropage, should also think somewhat of
our interests, knowing we are equally
responsible and interested in the up
building of a fine city and great country.
We feel that we have not been fairly
dealt with by the merchants Of Great
Falls in as much as they have shipped
into her markets large quantities of old
and stale produce, which they have rlac-
ed on this market in competition with
our fresh products, especially is this so
with butter, eggs, and vegetables, and
we as an organized body Of farmers feel
determined in the future to patronize
only those men of business who in the
future show the most respect for the
general future welfare of the country,
for we assert that the sending out of the
country large sums of money for the
various products that can be raised here
only tends to mako hard times at home,
and also discourages the production and
development of the country.
We will take, for instance, the dairy
products. We think the merchants
should have cold storage for butter,
eggs, etc, or the butter be made by a
creamery with all the modern conven
fences Of not only manufacturing a fine
article, but of keeping it 80 after being
once manufactured. There are large
quantities Of nearly all kinds Of prod.
uce shipped into this market that would
be supplied by home production were
proper preparation made for a continu-
Gus market at all times. In summeI
butter and eggs 60 30 low in price that
farmers become discouraged and do moi
make an effort to market them, and in
winter when they get carce and the
market is bare an unreasonable price is
attached. Now we claim IL provisions
were made for properly handling these
products, the prices could be made more
uniform and thus more satisfactory to
producer and We feel that
the country needs a good creamery very
badly and think it would be we'll sup
ported.
There is another great question in
which we all feel deeply interested. A
year ago a large sum of money was ex.
pended by the Royal Milling company to
build one of the finest Touring mills in
the United States. That mill is here to
stay; the farmers are here to stay for
all time to. come. Wheat will be pro-
dAced according as it is made profitable,
and will be put into -four according to
the demand there may be for the flour.
This mill, like all other industries, will
lp operated according to its patronage.
But to help retard the progress of this
enterprises, what do we see right here in
our midst? Why, we see a few of our
merchants sending east for t%iour-four
proven to be a much poorer article Il
know, for / have tried both)-when our
mill is able to furnish better flour just as
cheap. Those merchants are sending
their money east, where it will not re-
turn to them or their customers, killing
the demand for producing when wheat
can be raised in quantities enough to
keep that fine mill going night and day
the year around.
l speak from actual experience, l
raised on my farm IN the bench near
Goodwin coulee, three years ago, fifty
bushels Of No. l hard fife wheat to the
acre, two years ago twenty-five bushels,
and last year although ploughed in the
spring, and sowed very late. / got twelve
bushels to the acre, eighty-seven
bushels per acre in three years, or
Twenty-Five bushels yearly average for
three years. Now l have bought grain
in the east for fifteen years, and in sew
eral states, and I cannot produce evil
dence Of 90 grand a comparison.
When we take into consideration that
the average of the wheat crops in the
United States is less than twelve bushels
to the acre, and that of the Dakotas and
Minnesota but little more, and when we
realize that the wheat belt is gradually
going north, we must see that Montana
must sooner or later be looked to, to fill
up her portion OF this deficiency.
Farmers produce more wheat, the
signs OF the times point to higher prices
in the fnture-I shall SOW one hundred
acres in wheat this spring. Trusting
that the farmers will think we'll Of these
suggestions presented. l will close thank
ing you for your attention.
C.. +, SToRK,