The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-05-09
The River Press.
Published every Wednesday Morning
By the Rirer Press Publish-
ing Company.
GREAT IS

Charles 81. Boynton, secretary Of
the Helena Business Mems associa'
ton, in the current number of the
Pacific Monthly magazine, writes on
montana, the Treasure State.' 1t
is admirable in tone and treatment
and will attract the attention of all
into whose hands the magazine may
fall. The opening paragraph Is in it.
self sufficient to awaken interest.
"Occupying GAO square miles on both
sides Of the main range of the Rocky
Mountains, Montana, the land of the
shining mountains, as the first dis.
coverers and Indians called it, is a
magnificent empire, containing more
varied resources of wealth than any
similar territory in this, or, perhaps,
in any other country" is the way it
begins.
Mr.. Boynt0n traces the evolution of
Montana from the territorial days of
the mining camp to it's present splen.
did position. Quartz mining followed
placer and hundreds of millions from
ores have been added to the hundreds
OF millions in almost virgin purity
taken from the gravel beds. The min
eral production of the state has
reached the grand total of 81, $50, OOO,-
600, az almost incredible sum for one
state to add to the wealth of the world.
More men are employed in Montana
mines than ever before, new properties
are being developed, and abandoned
mines are being reopened owing to
improved processes for treating ores,
cheapening the cost of prod uction.
The second stage in evolution, Mr..
Boynton points out, was the recogni.
ton OF the fact that where but alo
could thrive cattle could, and the utli.
ization of the ranges began. The
stock industry has grown to mormon
proportions. The reclamation of arid
lands, winter feeding and general at.
tention paid to stock, necessary under
changed conditions, will increase
than diminish revenues from
the stock industry.
With irrigation enterprises pro.
posed or uuder way, Montana will in.
crease more in population during the
next decade than any section of the
country. The production of Montana
Is larger per capita than Of any other
state or territory. With q popula-
ton Of less than 100000 the annual
products Of the state amount 10 over
slOO, OO0, 600. During the year the
production Of metals by the official
reports was as follows:
Gold, S4,590, 5l6: copper, SIS, 200, Sol:
silver, 81. O97, 7O2: lead, $685.. 444: total,
$50, 276, 1856.
During tina year 1904, 22S, 775 head
of cattle were shipped out of Montana,
valued at u low estimate of %, 0O7 ,125:
number of horses shipped. 1884, val.
ued at s949, 500.
The wool clip Of the state amounted
to over $1,000. 600 pounds; some clips
sold as high as twenty-five cents per
pound, and it is safe to estimate that
the average a at least twenty-five
cents, making a total Of 81, 400, 900.
Here is q grand total Of go, 532. $50
for the output Of the year, without
taking into account the grain, lum-
Der, hay, alfalfa and horticultural
products, which make q showing for q
state with q population OF about 3OO,.
600 that cannot be equaled.
Increase ia acreage Of occupied
lands has been over 100 per cent.
from six and U half million acres in
1904. The value OF improvements has
increased nearly 80 per cent. during
the same period.
Value of city improvements has
increased owe so per cent. and total
real estate improvements have in
creased from sixty.ive and Il quarter
millions to nearly ninety.seven mil.
lions. The total value of the cattle in
the state has increased from $l1, 94O,.
600 in 1895 to $l5, 7O2, 900 in 1905:
horses from 1920, 900 to $5,247, 900:
sheep from 81, 100, 900 to $40. 2296, 900.
The writer says Montana's future
rests upon irrigation. Through pri.
vate und cooperative enterprises a
million acres have been reclaimed
and are in farms. Under the national
irrigation act six large enterprises
are under investigation. Mr.. Boyn.
toms article is a valuable coutribu.
ton to the output OF Montana litera'
ture of the kind and far superior te
any that has heretofore appeared il
print, for the reason it does no
boom, but recites.
WILL BUILD NEW TOWNS.