Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-06-24


at hand, and an unfailing supply of
raw material the conditions are es-
pecially favorable. The cities are now
awakening to the opportunities offered
and are pushing forward along this
line.
One great source of Montana
wealth lies in her mines. Butte is
known throughout the world as Il
mining camp. Copper is the basis of
Bntte's prosperity. Its mines hoist
$4,000 tons Of ore every twenty-four
hours. They employ directly more
than 10000 men at the highest wages
paid for that class of work in the
world. Indirectly they give employ
ment to more than that many in addi-
ton.
Butte produced in 1906, the last y.ar
for which exact figures are available,
29o, $50. 900 pounds Of copper, which
were sold at an average price OF 1928
cents Der pounl-a total of S57 sos, OS3.
In the same year it produced 10, $50:
600 fine ounces Of silver that brought
&C.. 70l cents per ounce, and g., 900 fine
ounces of gold.
The underground workings of
Butte's mines aggregate 900 miles.
The aggregate depth of the shafts
alone equals many miles. The deepest
shafts in the district is down $500
feet, vertical depth.
Montana has more than $4,000
square miles Of coal beds-the great
est in extent of any in the Union.
These vast deposits have scarcely
been touched. The production Of coal
from the mines the last year was less
than 2,5oO,OW tons.
The United States government has
been particularly lavish in setting
aside national forest reserves in the
state of Montana. Twenty different
forest reserves have been designated.
They are mostly in the mountain dis.
tricts, and may prove of great value
later.
The lumber business has been car
ried OH for the most part in the north
western portion Of the state. 1t
amounted to s3,o0O, 600 in 1907. There
is some very good timber in the state.
The tendency has been to conserve
these resources, and so the lumber
industry has not been pushed.
Montana S entire population is about
+0O, 900. At the rate at which settlers
are coming in the population will
no doubt double within the next two
wears, and may double again in the
following five years.
The success of irrigation in the west,
and the spreading broadcast of the
stories Of its work, has had Il marvel
GUS effect upon the arid regions.
Where only short time ago great
districts were utilized only for hraz-
not even for this, today there are
productive fields of fruit, alfalfa,
grain and other crops.
Railroads are being extended into
new areas, commercial enterprises are
springing up everywhere, villages and
cities are sprouting out of the desert
like mushrooms. All this is the result
Of the increase in business caused by
irrigation.
Millions of bushels Of cereals are
being produced today where but five
nc nm noA hnI
The west today is an exporter instead
Of an importer OF grain, and the same
is true of fruits Of a superior quality.
AS the farmers become better ac-
quainted with the conditions which
they must meet and overcome, the
crops grow greater each year. From
present indications it is safe to predict
that the region lying between the one
h,lndredth meridian on the east and
the Cascade range on the west will
within a few years became one of the
greatest wheat producing sections Of
the west. This vast region promises
not only to become famous for its
wheat, but the improved methods OF
dry farming are making possible the
growing the forage crops ON these dry
lands, and thus the already important
industry of livestock raising will be
greatly enhanced.
The production of fruit is as rapid
ly advancing III those sections favor
able to it, and the quality of it is
such as to set Il standard for the rest
of the country to work toward.
From a scenic standpoint Montana
has many attractions. Along the
southern part Of the state, in the vi
entity Of Yellowstone National park,
the mountain views are delight.
Through the vistas of the valleys and
on up to the top OF the continental
divide one views an impressive piano.
rama at every curve the train makes
rs it picks its way between the mOrn-
tain peaks.
The state is beginning to have en-
tensive railroad facilities. 1t is now
crossed from east to west by three
transcOntinental lines, and another