The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-13

No state In the union, in my opinion,
offers as attractive opportunities for
new settlement as Montana. 10 appears
70 me that the hard times IN this state
are, in reality. more mental condition
than q result Of any serious check u
the producing industries. IL Is true
that many Of your silver mines are idle,
but, as q counterpoise 90 this, there .s
greatly increased activity in gold min
ing. both on quartz leads and iu old ANA
new placer ground. The leading in-
duotries Of the state are producing gust
about as much wealth as they did IN
flush times. The total output % pre-
cious metals was, if am no, mistaken.
greater last year than ever before. The
cattle and wool products havsu dim.u-
ished. although the price 90 wool has
fallen heavily. 1--we could get at an
aggregate Of the grand tota. Of the
wealth produced by the people or Mon
tana, and should divide 10 by the census
population, think We would find that
the amount per capita is not much. lf
any, less than it was 90 the height of
the boom period. Nevertheless, every
body thinks times are hard. and couse-
queutly times are hard
What is needed in Montana is more
people 70 till the soil Vow and then
hear old-timers say, there are moro
farmers here now than can make o good
living, and why should We invite moro
to Gomez This is very ehort-siE GIFTED
view 70 take in a state which imports
most Of the flour, pork and bacon If
consumes, and nearly al. Of the dairy
products. / ndmit that tho outlook for
grain raising is not 40 all promising.
The world is producing too much wheat.
but It is not producing to- much meat
or too much butter or cheese or more
fruit than 1t needs The small farmer
from the east, who is accustomed, a8 all
farmers there are, 90 duyent work.
to close economy and 20 make the most
possible out Of his lanG. vii. 1s sure 20
succeed in Montana. lie can find plenty
Of free government land on tho foot
hills where he can irrga,o two or three
fields from a small stream and whore he
can have open range for his cattle. lie
may not make enough money to lie able
to come into town oace week and ask
his friends "What they Will take two or
three times before 10 goes home, but hs
will support his family 10 health. indie
pendence and comfort There ought -
be steady stream ~ immigrants of this
class coming into Montana Tor man.
years to come. The state 10 not going
to export food products over tie long
haul to the cast, but 10 has every uatu-
raj resource necessary 20 feed its own
people.
Montana ia now ] believe, in a better
condition than any western state. There
are very lew PEOPLE out OF employment
here, except miners who are accus toned
to only one form u labor and arc uaril-
ling 10 work Tor less than the odd wage
standard. The eastern states. which de-
pend largely on manufacture. arc Ger
tainly suffering more from hard times
than Montana. Silver has been pushed
far below It's normal value by uor.d-
wide panic, and Is sure 10 recover Vita
better prices FOR the wLlto metal. With
the greatly increased activity 30 gold
mining and With au mn1 grafton ~ sub
stantial small FARMERS. which think
cannot he muc. longer deferred. tho ~
ture Of Montana seeu. t9 NO O. be very
hopeful anu euc1urag.s.
T. F.ea.ItEY.