The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-11-21
The River Press.
Published erery' Wednesday Morning
by the Rirer Press Publish
ing Company.
FOR A GREATER MONTANA.

In acknowledging the receipt of
sample of the first Montana sugar
produced at the new Billings factory
the Helena Independents says the pro
duct derived from beets raised BY
Montana farmers who are NEW" a
the business is better In quality, den
sity and value than any that has as
yet been produced under similar con
ditions. 1t is found that the sugar
beet of Montana is more productivity
saccharine than the sugar beet Of
Michigan,
If Montana will look to its agricul.
tural opportunities it will become the
banner beet sugar producer of the
world. The land is here and it has
been pronounced by all experts as
singularly adaptable to the raising OF
the saccharine root. Beet raising
land in Montana can be had for half
the price that similar land can be
bought in other western states and at
about one.fourth the price which is
bid and paid for Michigan sugar
lands.
The history Of states with reference
to their commercial development is
singularly suggestive of the wide
spread neglect OF agriculture. Ask
the average man, for instance, what
is the chiefest source of Colorado's
wealth and he will say "mines." Time
was when this was true. But carefal
statistics made within the past five
years show that in Colorado agricul.
ture ranks mines as q wealth pro.
ducer. The same tables show that the
manufactures of Colorado also rank
mines as producers of net wealth to
the Centennial state.
The best informed mining statisti.
clans of the world have shown by
facts and figures that more money has
been sunk in mining enterprises, risks,
chances and "fakes,' than has been
taken out of the ground in real pro-
fits. The basis of Montana's fame as
a field of adventure and investment
has been its mines. But the day Is at
hand when the world will know that
the agricultural possibilities Of the
Treasure state are quite in keeping
with its mineral wealth.
The geologists and intercollegiate
who have even cursorily investigated
this mountain empire andl agreed that
our mining wealth is in only the in
itial stage Of development.
Our agricultural remain
practically untouched. The wealth of
our native coal fields has not been SO
much as prospected. We have coal
to burn and to sell. We have oil that
has not been exploited or advertised.
Our prestige as a great copperproduc-
ing state is largely the result of acct.
dent. W. have the greatest, the richest
and the most singular mining camp in
the world. We don't know what we
have in the line of agricultural wealth.
1t so happens that our small crop of
barley is recognized as the most per.
feet, the most fructile and the finest
the world can show. But, as yet, VT
have not gone forward in the promo.
ton Of barley culture.
1t is time for Montana to realize
upon its agricultural possibilities. 1t
is time that the world should be ad.
vised that in Montana can be found
the best grain lands, the finest fodder
fields and the richest ranch lands that
were ever developed. Montana is the
least advertised of our states. Our
railroads have not advertised us,
They have used US but they have not
made US celebrated.
1t is time for the whole state to
wake mp and project before the world
its own inherent advantages. Kansas
did it. Colorado did it. Oregon did it
Washington did it. Oklahoma is do,
ing it.
What will Montana do in its owr
haha1f.