The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-07-02
A Big SURPRISE
Valley County II . Revelation to
the Business flen Of
st Paul.

facturers Association arrived here
in body on their special Of nine
Pullman coaches at 9 o'clock last
Thursday evening and spent about
an hour looking over the town.
They all declared that CuIbertson
presented the appearance Of about
the liveliest aud most up-to-date
city Of its size that they had visited
on their trip through Dakota, Min
nesota and the Treasure State, and
that it undoubtedly had bright
future.
Paul N Meyers, vice president
Of the wholesale paper house OF
Wright, Barrett & Stillwell Co.,
called at the Searchlight Office and
IN the course OF conversation said:
"Our firm has large and growing
business in Montana and we
thought we knew something about
the development. Of the country,
but this visit has certainly been
pleasant surprise to US, as the de-
velopment has far exceeded our
expectations. The fact that Cul.
bertson has four large grain ele-
vators and SO many enterprising
and prosperous business men
shows something OF what the
future will bring when the farmers
now settled here have had time to
properly cultivate their holdings" :"
"Many OF us have been frequent
visitors in Montana aud we believed
that we were fairly we'll acquainted
with the progress which has been
made in its development in the
past year or two," said Kenneth
Clark, president of the Merchants
National bank OF St. Paul, to X
O. Slette of the First National
Bank OF Cnlber,son.
"This trip has opened our eyes.
Rapidly as we believed the state
has gone forward, its actual devel-
opment has been infinitely greater,
and judged by the strides which
have been made in the past two
years, during the next five years
the states population will be easi-
ly trebled; its natural resources
will be developed and exploited; /;
manufacturing will follow to take
care Of the growing trade and in
stead of being known in vague
way as a large state where there are
big mines and stock ranches, its
true character will be realized as
one OF the most favorable common
wealth. in the union. Montana
today is one OF the NEST pros
porous states IN the country and
this prosperity is founded upon the
upon the most substantial basis
agriculture. Say what you will,
the agricultural states are the most
favored and there the greatest
possibilities lie. But in addition,
Montana has mineral, coal and
water power; raw products, If you
please, and the means with which
to turn them into the market in
their finished states. ! know oi
no other place where the future is
so brilliant as right here in this
state"
"What is the feature Of our TRIP
through Montana which has i'm
pressed US most9" queried George
w. Koehler. senior member of the
firm Of Koehler and Hinrichs, i'm,
porters, wholesale dealers and
manufacturers of fancy groceries,
and butchers and packers supplies.
hotel and restaurant supplies, and
other departments. ''Astonish
ment at our ignorance Of what has
has been done and is still being
done by you Montanians," he con-
tinued. 1--WE had an idea that
stockraising and mining were Your
chief industries. but every place we
have been so far, with the excep-
ton Of Butte, We have found the
small farmer and fruit grower dom.