Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1906-05-18
months of 1905 there were 60.
121, 700 bushels.

On the Pacific coast. where so
years ago few gold mad ros
pectors, acting as an advance guard
for eastern civilization, carried on
desultory warfare with Indians,
there are today thriving, hustling
towns and thickly settled farming
communities. One OF the most i'm
portant factors in this prosperity is
the huge lumber traffic that
originates IN the vast forests Of
northern California, Oregon and
Washington. Annually for the last
three years more than billion feet
of redwood, pine and fir have been
taken from these almost inexhanst-
ible timber tracts and shipped to
California coast points. During the
year just past the arrivals at these
same points averaged more than
100, 900, ono feet a month, record
that no former year can surpass In
1904 lumber shipments from Wash
ington to Oregon reached a total of
COG, 900, 900 feet, 1876, 500, 900 feet
Of which went to foreign markets.
The completed figures for the lum
ber trade of 1905 from these two
states have not been issued as vet,
but as more than 100, 900, 600 feet
passed into domestic and foreign
trade from Tacoma alone, 1t is taken
for granted that in this industry, as
in all others, there has been the
same astounding gain.
Not only does the United States
contribute more than its share of
food stuff TO the world, but it fur
nishes large percentage of the coal
to cook 1t with. Americas coal re.
sources, anthracite and bituminous.
are among her greatest assets, ard
have contributed more than any
other single product to make the
United States the leading industrial
nation of the world. 1t needed
81, 100000 tons of anthracite to
keeps the wheels of American COM
merce spinning in 1905, while Only
81, 100000 tons were needed in
1904.
For many years raw cotton has
played a leading part in American
industrial affairs. Indeed, the in.
terest in this important crop is
worldwide, aid on it depends the
welfare of the cotton manufacturers
of England and Germany. Former
ly the commercial distribution of
this staple was along fixed lines,
from the cotton fields in the south,
north to the Atlantic coast. Within
comparatively few years, however,
the southern business men nave
awakened to the fact that cotton
can be manufactured in the south as
proftably az 1t can be grown, with
the result that cotton mills have
sprung up all over the south, espec-
tally in the Carolinas. These south
err mills have brought about de-
cided change IN the lines of com
mercial distribution and faie like
wise stimulated competition to such
an extent that cotton prices are
soaring, to the lntehse satisfaction
of the southern planter. The ill.,
creased activity of the gulf ports
within the last decade has been an
other large factor in contributing to
the present prosperity of ten south
ern states. OF last years cotton
crop of lo,271,6l9 bales, the gulf
ports received 6,e92,76I bales, or
two thirds, while the Atlantic ports
had to be content with only
3,57s,s5l bales.
Different factors have contributed
to this era of plenty. The first. u,'
doubtedly, Is the marvellous re-
sources with which this coun ry q
blessed. Next as factor in IN ius
trial greatness comes the business
ability of Americans. In inve tive.
ness and aptitude to adjust himself