The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-12-16
In His Description of the Possible
ties Afforded Men and Women
WITH CAPITAL AND ENERGY
And the Future in Store for the
Grand Commonwealth Justly Named
the Treasure State"-From the
Day of the Louisiana Purchase IN
til NoW.


of J.. A. Ferguson, commissioner of |
Agriculture, labor an industry, soon
to be issued, will be the most credit |
able publication of the kind ever
printed in this state. The advance
sheets of the report, which is now in
the hands of the state printer, indi- |
cate that it will be particularly val
liable publication.
The report aims to give detailed
and accurate information concerning
1t will have chapters on state and
federal lands that will be especially
valuable to intending settlers. Per-
haps the most important chapter of
the work, however, is that devoted
to the opportunities afforded by Mon
tana to men and women with capital
and energy. Few people in this state
know the possibilities of Montana,
but certainly a good knowledge of
what the future has in store for the
commonwealth may be had by peru
sal of the commissioners report
Mr.. Ferguson introduces his report
with brief, but very readable his
tory of Montana. The commissioner
approaches the poetical in his intro
duction, in which he says:
From the days of the Louisiana
purchase of buffaloes, savage beasts
and still more savage Indians; from
the primeval forests and unexplored
rivers, plains and gigantic mountains
to Montana, as it is known today, is
wonderful pilgrimage fraught with
untold hardships, heartbreaking dis
appointments and heroic struggles.
In the present day peaceful security
frontier dangers, and absorbed in the
accumulation of things material for
the sake of personal aggrandizement
the great majority Of people are too
apt to overlook not alone the condi-
tons which prevailed during the So
called early days, but the highest
and noblest ultimate development
which should be the aim and object
of all progressive efforts.
Rendered habitable and secure
through the sacrifice of the pioneers;
her mountains stored with countless
treasures by the omnipotent; forest,
stream and plain vieing with each
other in their willingness to yield
their wealth to labor; blest with a
matchless northern climate and en-
bracing in it's vast expanse of terri
tory bewildering variety of oppor-
tunity for successful enterprise, Mon
tana stands today unmatched in rapid
development, eminent in golden
promise, and unparalleled in the in
ducements she is enabled to offer
to those with the nerve and brain and
capital necessary to success. The
foundation has been laid broad and
deep; the superstructure now being
raised is massive and substantial and
future years will witnesses the compile
ton and adornment of the noble
work, made glorious and lasting by
the efforts of prosperous and con-
tented people enjoying the fruits of
their toll amid the countless bless
ings of this great commonwealth"
In the course of the first chapter of
the report, the commissioner says:
"The nightmare of over-production
has never disturbed the people of
Montana. Outside of surfeit of
labor in the trades and clerkships
there has never been such a thing as
the overcrowding of wealth produc
ers in any direction. We have the
the largest per capita of wealth pro
uction of any state in the union with
one exception. Cities are growing
with astonishing rapidity, at the
same time there is not the semblance
of boom anywhere. Railroads are
doing the largest business in theil
history and conditions in all lines are
apparently satisfactory. Land is
rapidly rising in value and thousands
of acres are changing hands daily
Montaa lumber has recently invaded
the eastern markets and meets with
ready sale. The farmers have hat
abundant harvests and the stockmer
are realizing banner prices for cat
tie, The wool crop of the past sea
son was the greatest ever known ant
brought good price, and while cop
per is lower than for some years be
fore, the total mineral output for
the year last past has exceeded $50,
100000"
In the course of his introduction
to his chapter on Opportunities il
Montana the commissioner says
''The field is a large one. Montan;
is not q mauufa ct11rinO state pu
few of the commodities of life arr
produced here, and large percent
age of the hay, grain fruit and vege
tables consumed are shipped in from
other states. Lack of water is tn,
only limit to the possibilities il
agricultural pursuits and there is nj
limit at all to the openings in manu-