The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-30
MONTANA SHOWS
GREAT PROGRESS
Mining, Agricultural and Range
Interests Share in Remarkable
Development.
Special to The Journal.

aas been the record Of 1905, it bids fair to be
eclipsed by those to come. This may seem
broad statement, yet 1t is more than warranted
Dy the facts.
Montana produced in precious metals during
1905 total Of practically three-fourths Of
S1O0, GOO, 900; it was the banner wool producer
Of the nation with clip of about "a, 900, 900 |
pounts, which yielded on an average between
20 and q cents pound; more than quarter
Of million head Of cattle were shipped out |
Of the state. 2,0O0,OGO sheep were marketed, |
and there are more than 100000 left, with a
big spring lamb crop to augment the figures;
the coal mines Of the state yielded a greater
tonnage than ever before, and new properties
are being opened up in Cascane, Gallatin and
Carbon counties; d. tin mine has been discov-
greatest of all have been the strides along
agricultural lines. =
The possibilities OF the state along these
lines lave heretofore been sadly neglected
Ranchmen owning thousands Of head Of cattle
have heretofore bought their butter in town;
chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys have been
shipped in with the buttel, flour, fruit, vege-
tables, and, in fact, practically everything that
WAS consumed. ~ ''' Co.. = r 3, Il. r. W.
Things assuming different phase. The
immigration from the eastern agricultural states
Is largely, responsible for this. They have led
the way and the natives were not slow to
follow cult. .., E &--..
Develop Beet Culture.
Denver and Colorado capitalists have proved
by actual experiments that the soil Of the yell
lowstorc and other valleys Of the state are
eEce'ns at aq Billings bee beet sugar factory at
cost Of 81 600, 600. Their agents are visiting
other sections, especially the Flathead valley
ing plants there. The Billings plant will be
in operation in less than a year.
Bee ause Of its boqntiful water supply Mon:
az as. any state in the union from irrigation un-
der sc vernment inauguration. Already work Is
progr essing on three government plans-the
Bufcrd. Huntley and Milk river projects. Thirty
mill Of thA former have already heen hNt1t:
tho second has q good start, and the thirc,
Important projects, chief among these the
Madison river project, which will reclaim
Prickly Pear valley and portions of the Mis-
souri, river valley Toston
And great as are the benefits to be de-
rived from these government irrigation pro-
teots, equally good results are anticipated from
by the state, Northern Pacific and Great North
ern railroads, under the direction Of Professc:
F. B. Linfeld of the experimental station at
Bozeman. -. -
Last year experimental farms were estab.
lished along the Northern Pacific, and the
crops raised thereon without water save the
natural rainfall. proved source of inestimable
Of the state, but to those conducting the
operations. D.. -.f-.s.
It is to the livestock interests that these
experiments have proved or will prove the
greatest value, as it has been demonstrated
that ample forage for feeding purposes can
be raised on these tracts. This becomes sig
nifcant when 1t is considered that the day Of
big or even limited ranges in Montana is prac-
tically over. stockmen are learning the lesson
and that they win fH derive FAR
profits by cutting up the range into smaller
tracts and cultivating them after the fashion
Of eastern and central stockraisers. .
| AS an Oil Producer.
! An exhibit at the state fair that attracted
no little attention was the oils from Teton
county wells. Right across the international
Canadian Pacific has discovered oil in paying
is practically the same as far as developments
lists in paying quantities In this state.
| Several companies conducting active
drilling operations, and in the deepest Of these,
struck in others, but as yet no "gushers''
have been found. That the state will soon have
paying oil wells admits Of no doubt in the
% MI, Of experts from Pennsylvania, Texas,
| examinations Of the properties.
The lumber industry 5of Montana is also as
Stunning formidable proportions. northwestern
and western Montana having for the first time
this year shipped any considerable portion OF
their product sawmills galore exist in Flat
head, Teton and Missoula counties and these
are producing large quantities. While the major
portion of their product has heretofore beer
! consumed by the mining industry, it has beer
found that It can be most probably shipped
prevalent in this state.
! Montana had population of about $50, COX
Inhabitants, is expected in 1910. Some regard
this as too conservative. But the population o.
! the state is steadily increasing, and as thu
state land board has adopted most liberia
policy toward intending settlers-S0 per cen
down on purchases OF state lands and pc
cent annually for fourteen years, it is expected
that as the fertility Of the states soil becomes
better known, greater influx than ever viii
DO seen.
Railroad Developments.
kee railway will extend its system from Eyarts
s. D., to the Pacific coast, touching at BUTT
and Helena Is Of great significance to Mon
tana, as it means that the state will be Tape,
from east to west for, distance Of 800 mile
by new transcontinental railroad system
The building of this road will mean the de
Of the present transcontinental lines, the Grea
Northern and Northern Pacific, a territor
splendidly adapted to agricultural pursuits An
slowly but surely the people are giving NOR
credence to the remark Of James j. Hill som
few years ago, that the present generation
would see the day when the agricultural prod
. the value Of Its mineral output Already tn
race is growing closer with agriculture gain
ing at rapid strides upon mining.
NOT is this the only railroad project Of whic
Northern will build joint line between Arm
ington and Billings, which will open up wha
Is known as lne '1nland' empire of Montana
Fergus county, one Of the richest sections Q
: the state, but whose progress has been re
tarded by lack of transportation facilities
4 NJ. L. Hewett, with English and America
capitalists, will build next year, it is mos
( emphatically declared, a line Of railroad fro1
Basin to Kalispell, which will cross the stat
t from south to NORTH thereby joining the Nortl
ern Pacific and Great Northern systems, pas,
g ling thru the Flathead valley, one of the rict
E lest in the state, and which is soon to be throw
4 open to settlement.
The opening of the Flathead and Grow India
reservat lions, which only await the approvs
of the plats and the presidents proclamation
0 viii throw open to settlement two of the bes
g agricultural sections of the state, and thes
s OPENINGS, it is expected. will attract many Sc
s tiers to the state. Congressman Dixon has ii
e trGduced bill for the opening of the Fo,
I Peck reservation, in northeastern Montana
q From official estimates, it is learned this
e Montana has of unappropriated an
unreserved surveyed lands aggregat1ng Is, 241
294 acres; unsurveyed, 38.b07 ,1O6 acres;
total of 55,7O8,4OO acres There is also q r.
a served area Of 10, 6e8,1S9 acres and an appr
9 priated area Of Is, 279,O12 acres.
: WAR ON LIQUOR TRAFFIC
e Vigilance Committee to Conduct Or,
q sada in Mining Districts.
q IsHPEMING, MICH.-Jacob Kaninen, se