The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-16
THEY ARE WELL OFF
Bitter Rooters Get IS Cents for Grain
This Season.
ON THE EAST SIDE 50 CENTS
Ranchers Are In Snug Shape for
the Winter-The Curlew Mine
Creamery Plants idle-Will
Have Electric Lights.

Hamilton. Nov 15.-One thing Is GER
tain. The Bitter Root farmers do not
appreciate the fact that they are well
of. Washington farmers are selling
oats at IS and 40 cents and Eastern
Montana ranchmen are marketing
their crops at As and so cents, while
the Bitter Rooter is receiving rs and
IS cents for his. Still he thinks that
ne ought to get 80 cents and bemoans
his fate. The same rule applies to all
other farm products. The prices that
prevail in this valley this fall are all
relatively higher than those which are
paid in other agricultural districts. 1t
Is true that oats and potatoes COM
manded higher prices five years ago
than they do now. but there is now
much larger production than there was
at that time and the decline in values
has been much less in this section than
1t has elsewhere. Reports come from
Washington that farmers are selling
potatoes at 20 cents Some are even
allowing their crop to rot. as the price
will not pay for gathering it. Surely.
the Bitter Root farmer has no cause
for COMPLAINT.
The valleys apple crop is being dis
posed of in good shape and at prices
which compare favorably with the fig-
ures quoted in other orchard districts.
The crop this year was larger than
ever before, despite the poor weather,
and the revenue from fruit shipments
will probably exceed that of former
years. notwithstanding the lower price.
There is no sign of disbursement
among fruit growers and there will be
numerous new orchards planted this
fall and in the spring. The larger por-
ton of the new trees will, of course.
be apple, but there Is a good sprink-
ling Of pear trees among them and
there will be. as we'll. several peach
orchards started In the spring. This
season has demonstrated that peaches
will thrive IN MANY parts of the val
ley and the excellence Of the crop of
this year has induced a number of or
chardists to enter more extensively in
to the culture of this fruit.
Ranchmen have generally completed
their preparations for winter and the
valley is in snug shape. The visitor TO
the valley notices one change that has
been made this season and that Is still
in progress. In all parts of the valley
there Is a better class of fences being
constructed to replace the old rail and
log affairs and wire fences are being
rebuilt. The result Is that the appear
ance Of the valley is much improved
and the ranches are given an appear
ance of thrift and prosperity which
nothing else could produce.
1t seems like a sure thing that the
old Curlew mine Is to prosper again
and those who have been trying to get
rid of blocks of stock for the past two
or three years are glad that they didn't
succeed. while those who refused to
buy II are kicking themselves. The
former NAV vet be rich in spite of
themselves. while the latter seem to
have rejected the proffered hand of
Fortune. Eph Hackett Is superintend-
ing the sinking of the double compart-
ment shaft on the new discovery, and
reports from the mine are to the ef-
feet that the outlook is very promising
The Whip-poor-will. the neighboring
claim of the Curlew. Is being worked
under lease with good results.
There Is one thing that exists as a
shame to the Bitter Root valley. This
creamery plants at Victor and Stevens
VILE are lying idle after a brave at
tempt by their owners to keep then
going. simply because ranchmen will
not take enough interest in the matter
TO furnish milk. AS result of THU
money is sent out of the valley for
eastern creamery butter. when 1t Nigh
be kept in local circulation. The farm
ers of the valley certainly ought L
get together and see IL they canno
make some arrangements to keep thes'
plants in operation. Several farmer,
who last spring furnished milk to th'
creamery at Stevensville have inform
ed a Standard reporter that they mad'
a fair profit on the cost of feeding
eight or 10 cows. II this is so. II is |
disgrace to the valley that two sucl
good creamery plants should be idle II
the heart OF the valley.
Hamilton will be lighted by electric
ity in a few weeks The big plan
down near the river is being put int
shape as rapidly as possible and vii
be a model one when II Is completed
The growth OF the town has made tn
need of street lights imperative an
the new plant will be appreciates
when IL Is once in operation