The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-09
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1908.
THE YEARS PROSPECTS.

OAiSoo 1IulSdClOlO dIC uC-
ceptive the people of Montana have
every reason for feeling comfortable
at the prospects held out by the new
year. With a continuation of normal
climatic and natural conditions they
have good cause of anticipating one
of the most prosperous and happy
years in the history of the common
wealth. To the miner the news that
ONE from the east of prospects for
a speedy advance in price of the
states greatest mineral product is
certainly cheering and cheerful.
Peace is to be made between the diff
ferent factions that have been war
ring for years for supremacy in the
mining field and copper is to be ad-
vanced to a basis where it's produc-
ton will be more profitable than ever
before. New mines are opening in
the different parts of the state where
minerals are found and the output of
precious and semi-precious metals
promises to show an immense in
crease before the yea shall have
ended.
The agriculturalist, the flockmaster
and the herdsman can also look with
complacency at the incoming months.
A generous home market is assured
to the former, while the sheepman
has the satisfaction that ONE from
the knowledge that his wool and NUT
ton will be required and at prices
even better than those he received
last year. The era of good times
and prosperity that has marked the
history of the country during the last
few years gives every promise of con-
tinuing indefinitely and the money
which is finding it's way into the pos
session of the consumer shows nc
sign of lessening in volume and
thereby decreasing his ability to buy
and to crafty his desire for the com
forts and luxuries. The amount of
wool on hand in the large depots of
the country has never been SO small
at the incoming of a new year, while
the demand has never been so large
at the same time. Only a short time
more and the present stock will have
become exhausted and when the new
clip makes it's appearance on the
market it will be eagerly sought, and
because of the increased competition
tionate rise in prices. Twenty cent
wool is not now SO much among the
impossibilities as it may have been
considered earlier in the season.
When buyers offer to contract so far
in advance as some of them have al
ready offered to do this winter the
producer need not worry I'M
duly as to the prospects for the sea-
son ahead of him. He may accept
the situation with every assurance of
good things and times in store for
him..
While it may be possible that cat
tie will not attain the high prices for
which some were sold at the begin
ming of the past season, conservative,
reasonable men yet expect no such a
lowering next year as to make the
business of the range cattlemen any
thing but a profitable one. The de-
mand for their product is v in
creasing, keeping pace with the coun-
try's growth and development, while
they have the satisfaction of know
ing that the limit of production of
range cattle has about been reached.
The vast free ranges are rapidly be-
coming a thing of the past and those
who are still so fortunate as to be
able to raise stock at an expense no
greater than is incurred by the man
who has the privilege of immense
areas in which nature provides for his
herds without his aid can count on
ever increasing profits. Much OF this
range is yet in Montana and will al
ways remain, some by reason of the
Typographical conditions that make
reclamation of vast sections impossi-
BILE and some by reason of the large
purchases of railroad and other land
made during the last few years by
men having the means, and the leas-
ing system instituted by the state.
Bright as are the prospects for the
principal industries, the outlook for
the lesser is equally good and promis-
ing. AS the greater thrive so thrive