Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-04-17
AGRICULTURAL MARK ETS.

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AGRICULTURAL Markets.
Figures Which Show the Amount of Farm
Products Used in Cascade County.
"The Agricultural Markets of Cascade
County" is the subject assigned for this
paper. 1t is one on which much might
be said, and great deal must remain
unsaid in order to keep within the limits
of space prescribed. 1t is a proposition
which is true, not only of agricultural
products, but of most other products,
speaking, the best market. BY reason
of the fact that very large number of
wage earners find employment in the
turing industries in this county at
tains in most sections of the United
States, and the further fact that the
agricultural development of this section
Of the state is yet in it's infancy, the pro-
duction of agricultural products in most
lines being only small fraction of the
amount consumed, it has come to pass
that Cascade county offers one of the best
markets in the United States for such
agricultural products as it needs. Until
such time as the local production equals
or exceeds the local demand, this state
of affairs must continue. The out
side sources of supply are located
SC far away, and ruling prices for freight
in the Rocky Mountain region so high,
that the local producer enjoys a protect
i've tariff on his production such as is to
be had in very few sections of the
country In order to show just what
margiu for production exists at present
and how large gap must be filled before
the Agriculturist must lose the high
priced market at present existing for
agricultural products in this county, and
be compelled to market his surplus in
com petition with producers in other
sections Of the state or the northwestern
states, let us take up the leading agri-
cultural products separately, and con-
slider the local demand, the amount pro-
duced at home, the deficit in supply
covered by outside shipments, and the
ruling prices.
Commencing with the king of cereals,
wheat, the home market provided by the
Royal Milling company alone is one Of
very large proportions. That company
purchased last year about 100000 bush
els of wheat. which averaged to cost
them about GO cents per buehel. This
means an expenditure of about $500, 600
in spot cash for wheat. OF this vast
amount of wheat all but some 10000
bushels was shipped in from Dakota or
outside points. The freight paid on
these shipments amounts to natural
protection to the home grower of some
thing over Is cents bushel on the
price, and till the local production ex-
ceeds the demand the grower of wheat
in Cascade county can safely reckon on
getting at least Ii cents bushel more
for his wheat than the market price pre-
vailing in Dakota or other outlying
sources of supply.
Counting an average crop to amount
to 23l bushels to the acre, it will be seen
that it would require the seeding of
10000 acres more than at present, to pro.
duce enough wheat to supply the deficit
in the local market for wheat in this
county caused by the demand of the
Royal Milling company alone. Divided
into farms Of 100 acres of wheat land
each, this would mean 200 additional
families added to the population of Cas-
Cade county, patrons of our merchants,
and furnishing direct employment to no
inconsiderable amount of labor Ii each
farm averaged to employ one farm
laborer during the year it would be
equivalent regarded solely from Il labor
employing stand point 70 new factory
with pay roll of 200 names. 1t does
not come within the province of this
paper to discuss the practicab,llty Of the
realization of this state of things, but it
is tact we'll know to every person here
that all is required to bring it aboutis to
convince practical farmers of the truth
| of the statements made above, regarding
our markets and the suitability of our
soil both facts are easily demonstrated.
Regarding barley it is difficult at this
| writing to say much about the local
market, AS there is practically none at
present. But, nevertheless, it is sub
ject that may we'll occupy the consdera-
lion Of this convention, The Montana
Brewing company is making every etf"rt
to bring about the erection of $4,000
mailing plant this fall in connection with
their brewery. Last year this company
alone used over 100000 pounds of malt,
equivalent to 200, 900 pounds of barley.
The other two breWeries use large
amount of malt. Mr.. Joseph Trlmborn,
practical brewer and chemist, assures
me that the samples Of barley grown in
this county and in his possession are
not only equal to, but, in his opinion, su-
perior to that grown in the Gallatin val.
ley for mailing purposes. He finds that
the soil here is better adapted to produc-
ing starch in the grain than the black
soil o! the Gallatin valley which has a
tendency to reduce starch and increase
albumen. The Gallatin valley mailing
plant uses more than 100000
bushels of barley annually and
finds market for its malt, so
readily that it is behind on its orders all
the time Mr.. ]. j. Hill has agreed to
give the Montana Brewing Company
rates on malt that will allow it to lay
malt down in Buffalo, n Y, at rates to
compete with sastern manufacturers.
All that stands, therefore, in the way Of
practically unlimited local market for
barley is the completion Of the plans of
the Montana Brewing Company for the
erection of a malt plant. 1t should be
borne in mind that by reason of the fact
that barley natures about three weeks
earlier than any other cerea! crop it is