The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-22
MONTANA'S RICH SOIL
The Wonderful Possibilities Of Its
Agricultural Lands.
SUGGESTIONS OF A CITIZEN
Remarks Appropos of the Meeting
to Be Held In Helena Next
Month to Consider Mat
tiers OF Great Interest.
SUGGESTIONS OF A CITIZEN

and is the subject of conversation and
discussion in many places. In Butte IL
seems to be the impression that there
is a great field in this state for small
farmers. 1t is believed by many men
in all classes Of business here that
there is plenty of room for farmers
here and that they would succeed If
they did not try to get rich too fast and
would work on the same principles as
the eastern farmers.
An old citizen of Butte who has paid
much attention to agricultural mat
ters said yesterday:
1T is gratifying to observe some eff
fort among the agriculturists of Mon
tana to diversity their products more
than formerly and thus as fas as pos
sible supply the wants of our people
from our own soil One of the leading
articles OF consumption is butter and
doubt If many have estimated the
approximate amount OF this article of
food consumed in this state. The sta
tistician, Mulhall, gives the annual
consumption in the United states as 16
pounds per capita and l believe most
persons will agree that IL is more than
probable that here in Montana the
consumption is larger, as our people
average much larger incomes and their
tables are better supplied with the lux
uries than in many parts of the coun-
try. Besides il is a fact that in north
ern climates more fatty foods are con-
sumed than in warm sections, so in our
estimate of the consumption of butter
here IL is certainly safe to raise the
amount used by each individual con-
siderably above the average for this en-
tire county. Assuming that in Butte
there are about 10000 people and that
they consume 20 pounds each. the total
to 100000 pounds. and since the average
retail price of best creamery butter in
Butte is about 30 cents, IL is safe TO say
the creamery should find a market with
the dealers at zoe, or a grand total of
$4,000 per annum.
Suppose we try to estimate how
many cows of average grade II would
require to produce 100000 pounds of
butter in a year. There are no stalls
tics at hand to show exactly what an
average would be. but 200 pounds is a
pretty fair average for a large number
of cows. Assuming that as correct IL
would require 1000 cows to supply
Butte with butter and counting 25 cows
to each dairy, IL would require $50
dairies
Montana probably has a population
at this time of 100000 five times the
number in Butte. Multiplying the
above figures by five, we would have
demand for the butter product of 800
dairies of 25 cows each. Suppose the
labor would require two families to
each dairy and five TO a family, we
would have 5000 people directly de-
pendent on this one industry and there
would be distributed among them $780,
900 annually.
I'm addition to the butter used, there
are large quantities of cheese consumed
here which has to be freighted thou
sands of miles to reach this market,
but do not propose to quote statistics
on cheese, but wish to add a word con-
corning dairying in Montana.
I'VE have in the valleys of this state
the finest of water for all dairy pur-
poses The grasses of Montana are the
richest and sweetest to be found in any
country, so that all the conditions ex-
list for producing butter second to
none. A few small creameries have
been operated in the state for n year or
two which are now producing excellent
butter. but owing to lack OF interest on
the part of farmers the supply of milk
has not been large enough to make the
business profitable. That the farmers
of this state must either acquire more
business-like habits or make room for
those who will. is an absolute necessi-
ty before our agricultural interests can
ever attain the importance they should
we nave rev BOOu ana
wherever you find one. there you have
a man who is making money The
farmer who has a family OF several
boys old to work will find profitable
employment for them in the work of
dairy, and work which Is not heavy.
Besides. the production OF milk takes
but little OF the time usually devoted
to other farm work. so that the dairy
is only one factor In the many which
10 n a Ia n no IN
dustrious and careful manager on
farm. Farming. like any other bust
ness, means work, II one would sue
coed, and the poor results obtained by
the easy going shipshod agriculturist is
no evidence that farming cannot be
made profitable. In the East, the or
ganization of farmers clubs at which
the questions Of interest are discussed
have led to much better methods among
farmers, and no doubt they would do
so here.
Our farmers should wake up TO the
Importance of more diversified pro-
ducts and more intelligent methods.
producing the things which can be
consumed at home instead Of having
them shipped from other states. and 1t
will not be long till our fertile valleys
will be filled with a prosperous. happy
people.
II think one great mistake made by
our farmers is that of trying TO farm
too much land. Much OF the land &C.
cupied is only half farmed and the
money tied up in the surplus land
would enable the farmer TO work 10
much better advantage on the balance.
Instead Of devoting all energies 10 rails
ing a huge crop Of wheat. some time
should be devoted 10 the dairy. / agree
heartily with the Montana Fruit
Grower which favors cultivating the
dairy. the poultry. and the careful
breeding OF stock. and market garden
ing All the capital should not be tied
Up in land.
Everybody should take an interest
I'm that immigration convention. and
all these matters should be thoroughly
discussed at that time. There Is
great future for Montana. but wisdom
must guide our people in their deVel-
opment Of this states great re-
sources"