Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-01-07
AGRICULT URE REACHED SUPREMACY IN
MONTANA in YEAR JUST ENDED

JamesJ. Hills prediction made five
years ago that within the period indi-
Gated residents of Montana would Oh
serve a greater valuation in the out
put of their agricultural than mineral
products, proved to be the case in
1909, says the Helena Record. At that
time, the mining industry was the
zenith OF its glory, nor has it fallen
in appreciate extent. but the pro-
gress made in agricultural develop
ment has been of the whirlwind order
and stands supreme today. The APP
parent slump in metallic production
is due father to a lesser price OBJ
tanned for copper, which is directly
traceable to the panic of 1907 and
from which Europe has not recovered
with the alacrity displayed by the
Cnited States.
From the very best obtainable au-
thorieties, both local and national,
the Record has secured data showing
the agricultural production of Mon
tana which found it's way to the
markets Of the world to have been
valued at $50, lO7 900. For strictly
home use and seeding purposes, it is
estimated that fully s36. O0O, 900 was
consumed. The value of the forest
products for the year is estimated at
S6,o0O,0OO with that of the precious
metals $s7, 100000 as estimated by
both state and government officials.
The market value of the coal pro-
duced at point Of origin was 81, 800, 600
1T the rate OF $3.50 ton, and that of
stone and granite 81, 800, 900, making
the grand total production for the
state $lsl, 900, or at the rate of
$3.50 for every resident of the state on
the basis Of 4oo. 600 population.
That these figures are not rash
estimates or rough guesses is evil
denced from the fact that so far at
least as agricultural products are con
cerned, they are considerably lower
than those published by the Saturday
Evening Post, which places the farm
value Of Montana's products at Sill
600, 900. And in this connection,
Montana is given one Of the best ad-
vertisements imaginable for compar-
ison is made with the yield Of every
state in the union, and Montana's
showing stands without a peer.
In other words. 10000 farms i'm
Montana produced crop yields valued
ut Sll5,OO 900. In Colorado a, 900
farms produced $99,OOO.OOO, while in
California l2s 900 farms yielded $780,
600, 900. In Iowa pa, 600 farms yield
ed 1921 900 900, and in Texas 433 900
farms produced $500, OOo, 900. Thus.
through the entire list Montana farms
are shown to have a far greater yield
ing capacity. While it is unuues
ttonably true that Montana farms in
many instances are larger, the fecun-
tlity of it's soils has played great part
IN achieving the results shown by the
great eastern magazine. Montana
farms thus produced at the rate of
5000 each on an average, as against
$4,000 in Colorado and nearly 81. 600
in California with its deciduous fruit
farms and semi-tropical climate.
All Industries Thrive
Ia many ways-in fact in every re-
spect with a single eXception-the
copper industry-the year just closed
has been the banner II months in the
history OF the state. And even this
is subject to qualification in that the
copper mines are producing more red
metal than ever, but the market price
has dropped to an average of Is cents,
which is considered unsatisfactory.
With tins possible exception. the
mineral industry of the state was
never at q higher tide; more gold has
been produced than for many years:
the silver output will exceed that of
last year, and in this respect Montana
led all states of the union; while lead