Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-06-23
have THEIR EYES
ON INLAND empire
THOUSANDS COMING TO JU-
DITH BASIN THIS YEAR
SAYS HILGER.

er and real estate man, returned
Thursday evening from Chicago
where he spent two weeks looking
after business for his firm. The trip
from Chicago to Lewistown was
made on the St. Paul road in exact
ly three days with one day in Minne-
apolis. The new road is operating
a good diner and sleeper as far west
as Miles City and expect to establish
the same sort Of service as far as
Butte by the first Of August.
To the Democrat, Mr.. Hilger
spoke interestingly Of political and
financial matters as he found them
in the east.
mot for long time has there
been as much idle money in the coun-
try as right at the present time.'
said the Lewistown man. "About
all effects Of the recent slump have
passed away and millions Of dollars
are being brought out Of its hiding
place and opportunities to invest this
money are now being sought.
Eastern hnanciers believe that
the currency bill passed by the last
congress, will have the effect Of COM
plctely restoring confidence. While
it is not thought likely that there
will be any call to put into effect
the emergency provisions Of the new
law, nevertheless, it is there as
guarantee against such condition of
stringency as prevailed last winter
"The present outlook is made bet
ter by the fact that crop conditions
throughout the central and western
states could not be more fattering
Estimating from present conditions,
the wheat crop this year will exceed
that of last year by fully one hun
drcd million bushels. The price Of
cattle is soaring on the Chicago mar
ket and this will be most beneficial
to the cattle growers Of this state.
81 spent several days around the
headquarters Of the Chicago, Mil
waukce & ST Paul Railroad company
which they are advertising the coun-
extension passes. They have spent
not less than $4,000 for advertising
matter and the stupcndous part of it
to me was the fact that over $4,000
Of this money has been spent in ad-
vertising the Judith Basin. Never in
the history Of this country, wa,
told, has one county been SO thor
oughly advertised by railroad COM
pany as has Fergus county by the
St. Paul people.
"Thcre can be but one explanation
of this action on the part of the rail-
road company. They have had their
people out here for the last two
years looking into conditions and
believe that the finland Empire" Of
fers unrivaled opportunities for de-
velopment; that it offers homes for
thousands of new people and that
when developed up to its possibilities
it will provide an enormous amount
of business for the transportation
company.
"The results Of this advertising
campaign will commence to show up
within the next thirty days. The
first excursion trains directly to Lew
istown will be run about the middle
of July and from that time until De-
cember, there will be hundreds if nor
thousands of people coming into this
county. One can run across any
number of people who are carrying
Judith Basin advertising folders in
their pockets and the railroad COM
pany has assurances that thousands
of people from all parts of the
Mississippi valley are planning on
making the trip Out to Fergus county
during the summer and autumn.
"Of these new people, the larger
number are men who have some
money to invest; men who want
cheaper land than they own back
there. 1t is my opinion that the rush
to the Basin will be almost unpre-
cedented and that the benefits which
will be derived by those who already
live here will be most substantial.
Thinks Democrat Will Win.
Naturally, ! heard great deal Of
political talk while in Chicago said
Mr.. Hilger. "And from the way
that the people whom | met talked,
it is my firm conviction that the
democrats will triumph at the next
election. There are thousands of
men who have been identified with
the republican party during the last
twelve years who will switch back
into the democratic ranks this year.
The Chicago convention delegates
were beginning to arrive before
left the Windy City and about nine
tenths of them were office holders.
Among them one could hear nu-
merous expressions of keen dissatis-
faction with the steam roller"
methods by which President Roose-
welt forced Taft on the party. They
openly said that while such methods
might prevail at the convention, they
will not be so successful at the polls
This is certainly the opportunity of
life time for the democrats and it
is the general belief that they will