The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1901-12-28
How Montana Fared in the
New Century's First Year

last year. an increase Of $l3,3S5,ySs. Inc
gain in valuations was almost wholly
upon the real and personal property of
/ the state. exclusive of the railroad val
uations. Every county reported to the
state board of equalization a gain in
valuations of real and personal prop
ertv. 1t is worthy of remark that while
the mining interests of the state fur
nished proDortionate share of the in
crease in valuations the bulk of the
gain is found in the products of the
ranch and farm and the sheep. cattle
and horse interests of the state.
The wool output of Montana this year
has been placed approximately at
30,000.000 pounds. The average price re-
ceived was Is cents. Nearly all of the
wool was sold outright very little hav-
ing been consigned. This is estimated
to have Welded TO the growers about
S4,000.000. The cattle have yielded
ABOUT S10.000000 The horses taken
from the ranges and shipped out of the
state. some to distant South Africa and
others TO the farming sections of the
east brought about So $50 600 into Mon
tana. d larger years sale than was ever
recorded. Large sums were received
from the sheep sold for mutton. as well
as from the farming products, fruit
poultry and the like 4 reliable esti
IldlG DldttS IIr tOldl NltlG VI lllC Nv e
stock and farming interests of the state
this year at $2S, OOO, 900. The farming
area of the state has increased about
10 per cent. This represents the gain
in new farmers. as we'll as the aCquisi~
ton of adjoining lands by established
farmers. The annual reports of the
state board of live stock commission
ers and the state board of sheep COM
miSSiOnerS are not vet prepared. The
prices. realized for cattle this year were
about % cents Der 100 weight better
than last wear. Cattle We're remarkably
free from disease this wear. and there
were few cases reported of cattle steal
ing. This winter thus far has been
verv favorable for cattle. the stock en-
terine the winter in fine condition.
In the work of railroad extension
Montana had. during 1901. a generous
share. 1t is an interesting fact that,
within a few DAYS. for the first time in
history. old Virginia CITY and the ia
nous Alder Gulch region have been
brought directly into railway connec-
ton with the world bv means of the
Northern Pacifc's extension in Madison
county. In Choteau and Cascade coun-
ties the Great Northern is rapidly APP
preaching the completion of the cut
off that will materially shorten the dis
lance and tighten the grade between
Fort Benton and Great Falls. This is
the most important piece of railroad
work in the state during several years.
The Burlington has completed its line
known as the Toluca branch, that runs
from q point in Montana to Cody, Wyo.,
opening uD a rich section of both Mon
tana and Wyoming that never before
had railroad connection. The Great
Northern has plans on foot for extern
hrtfi in 10 hn1
county. for the purpose of tapping the
Canadian coal fields to the north. The
Great Falls and Canada road, which
has passed into the control of the
Great Northern. is to be broadened to
standard gauge earlv next wear. There
is a strong probability that the much
talked-of line between Billings and
Great Falls will be built next year. The
plans said to have been decided upon
are TO extend the Burlington north
west from Huntlev. it's present connec-
ton with the Northern Pacific, to
junction with the Montana Central
near Monarch.
During this wear the condition of the
public funds was such as to permit of
generous appropriations for several OF
the states institutions of learning. One
of the results is that some of them
have been permitted to increase their
facilities in the wav of buildings or
equipments. One gratifying result of
the wears achievements is the practical
completion of Montana's new state
house. 1t is a handsome structure, am
pie in most of it's appointments, an
adornment for the citv OF Helena, and
a building creditable to the state. The
citv of Helena has been twice favored
during the year. preparations having
been we'll advanced for the erection in
that citv of federal building. for
which generous appropriations have al
ready been voted. These items are
part of the aggregate which has given
a new and cheering impetus to the
capital citv of Montana. The year has
brought the CITY of Helena fully into
the current of growth and advance and
prosperity. With apparent good rea-
SON. the citizens of Helena reckon that
the citv's DAYS of stress and of trial
are we'll behind them. and that the
prosperous present is the forerunner of
future abundant in promise. The
sentiment of good will and of we'll
wishing for the capital CITY is one in
which all loval citizens of Montana cor
diallv share.
Indeed Montana comes to Christmas
tide with abundant reason for good
cheer. So great is Buttes aggregate of
growth for the wear that. were the
city put in comparison with what it
was at former HOLIDAYS. it would hardly
recognize itself. Millions have been
spent in Anaconda since last Christmas
in permanent betterments. The regions
that centers in Missoula has garnered
thrifty harvests. Recently the presi-
dent of the United States has spoken
about irrigation in words which, were
they needed. would sDeedily bring
vast domain in Montana uD to splen-
did realization of an English econo-
mist's famous phraze about turning
sand to gold. In presence of these
months of healthful growth. of sub
stantial gains of favoring conditions,
of respite from political rancor, of shell
ter from adverse Dhvsical visitations
and of Astounding blessings. Montana
can enter the holiday season in hearty
accord with the sentiment that it is