Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-10-19

ysis of 1896, the last year of the Grow
er Cleveland administration, during
which the party had control of both
houses of congress and succeeded In
passing the infamous Wilson bill. The
business stagnation and disaster
which followed that legislation will
not be forgotten by the American peo-
pie for many years to come-citizens
of montana having special cause to re-
member what happened to themselves.
That experience should be lifelong
lesson.
There are many voters, however,
upon whose memory the conditions OF
10 years ago are not so indelibly i'm
pressed, for the reason that they had
no personal experiences of the ruin.
Gus results of the Democratic legisla-
tion that had recently gone into ef-
feet. For the benefit of such voters.
and as reminder to Others a brief
reference of business conditions in
northern Montana in October, 1896,
may be presented.
The files of the River Press show
/ that 10 years ago the beef market was
Improbable TO Montana shippers. Tho
! top price of the season for northern
I Montana beef was 81, while as high
as $5.75 has been paid this season.
/ The prices paid for northern Mon
tana wool in 1896 ranged from 8 TO
9la cents very few clips selling high
er than s cents. The general range OF
wool prices in northern Montana
markets the past season was l6 to %
4 cents.
/ In October 1896, shipments of north
ern Montana mutton sold in the Chi
caso market at $2.40 to $3.50 per
I hundred while shipments made this
season have commanded prices rang
ing from $475 to $3.50 per hundred.
Local items in the River Press of 10
years ago report sales of 3-year-old
wethers at 81 go to $1.75, and of lambs
at S5 cents to $1.25 per head.
Another news item OF 10 years ago
states that Tom McTague, of Deer
Lodge purchased 20 head of horses,
many weighing 1850 pounds, at less
than $4 per head. Similar stock COM
mands 10 times that price today.
An item reprinted from the BOze-
man Chronicle in October, 1896, report
ed the following prices for Gallatin
valley farm products: Oats 65 to 70
cents; wheat 45 to SO cents; barley
) 80 TO 5S cents; potatoes 35 cents; eggs
t II cents; butter % cents.
In presenting this comparison be-
tween the conditions of 10 years ago
+, and now, it is not the intention of this
.. newspaper to claim that all the i'm
provement that has taken place IS
: due to Republican policies and legisla-
tion 1t is submitted, however, that at
. least part of it should be credited
! to that cause. Ten years ago the earth
yielded bountiful crops, equal in many
: instances to the production of the
present season, but consumers were
, unable to pay prices that were prof
! liable to the producers. The fOcks and
u herds of Montana stockmen produced
: wool, mutton and beef of quality
y fully equal to that of the present time,
!, but their market value was affected
4 by the lack of purchasing power
!, |, among the people.
The encouragement of American en-
ii terprise and industry by Republican
legislation has brought revival II
:, business conditions throughout thu
~ land-the extent of the improvement
q being demonstrated by comparing cor
y, ditions of 10 years ago with those nov
u prevailing.