The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-14
ILLUSTRATION OF WHAT LITTLE|
PLUCK WILL DO.
ASKED NO OUTSIDE HELP
Portland Men Who Are Getting Re-
ward for Their Enterprise
and Grit.

Once upon time much talk
was heard of establishing a wOolen
mill at Billings. Matters even pro-
gressed to stage where considerable
money was subscribed for the purpose
OF building and equipping such an
institution. Then the proposition was
allowed to drop and as far as indi.
cations may be accepted the thing is|
as dead as Adam and beyond hope
of resurrection. And all because ln-I
cal men with means ample for allI
purposes seemingly lack confidence in|
the success of such an institution or
rather lack confidence in their own
ability to make it successful, for they
expressed willingness to become part
ners. in the venture, provided some
one else would invest equally with
them and assume the responsibility
of management.
Just to show what might be expect
ed here should somebody with nerve
and capital enough undertake to en-
gage in the business, the following|
is reprinted from the Portland (Ore.)
Telegram:
1.-TWO years ago the Portland WOOL
en- mills was started by private en-
terprise. 1t was largely in the naturel
Of an experiment, and the little group
of business men whose capital and
energy put it in operation have now
enlarged it to 40 looms, with $50 Oper-
atives, in perfect assurance of dtS
success. II is running to it's full capa-
city, and even then is unable, so its
managers say, to keep up with the or
ders. 1t uses from half million t0l
a million pounds of wool a year, and
by the process of manufacture en-
riches Portland to the extent Of ap-
proximately one dollar to every pound
worked up.
Gorgeous wool product is about Pol
100000 pounds annually. This is a|
staple, not only because it is steadily
profitable, but because the character
of a part of the land in the state
makes it of little value for anythingI
but grazing. Given demand for wool
en- clothing that will never decrease.
but will steadily grow as the popula-
tion grows, a supply OF the raw ma
terial that may be considered unlim-|
tied, and it will be seen that this
Portland Woolen mills in it's success
full operation has opened the way for
a manufacture of immense profit to-
Portland and to Oregon.
According to the managers Of th6I
mills at Sellwood less than half oil
their manufacture is sold here. Ors|
ders from the east more than keep
the looms busy. They say that there
is sure return for capital invested 1nI
more mills of the same type They
point to the fact that there is mar
ket for woolens from the center OIL
California to the Arctic Circle and
eastward to the Atlantic.
"It is unnecessary to call attention
to the advantage to Portland of en-I
couraging Oregon capitalists to invest
in a manner so profitable to all com
cerned The woolgrower will find p
market here for a large part OF his
clip; the skilled laborers in the mills
will form a valuable addition to the
populatlon the difference in the price
between the raw material and the
finished product will all go to Portland
with decreased cost to the consumer@
Here is a thing that our own mend
should take up. It is not needful tel
ask for eastern aid. The way haS
been opened, and it only takes enerGX
and determination to bring returns
from the manufacture of Oregon W00&
into Oregon woolens that will di
count any other manufacture p0oG
BILE. The sheep swill not, like tlf
forests, cease to yield through
haustion. Nothing can supplant w0o
as the staple clothing Of many a.
lions of people The success Of tle
Portland Woolen mills invites furth4
investment, and it is to be- hoped III
it will not be long till similar min
occupy this large field Of domestic
dustry."