Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-21

Governor Norris Tolls Of the Great
Resources Of Eis st,t-.
MINING, GRAZING AND FARMING
Precious Metals, Fnt cattle and
shee.. Grains aud Fruits pro-
duced IN Abundance by the
Montana Men.
BY EDWARD q. NORRIS GOVERNOR
or MONTANA

belief In the Old stories about the Great
American Desert that barren country OF
great extent which was marked on old
maps and included some 81 whai is now
the most productive parts OF Kansas and
Nebraska. Old prejudiccs die slowly: II
was many years before the east awoke to
the value Of the territory embraced in
the Louisiana purchase and for o long
time the western limit OF farm lands was
supposed TO- be near the eastern border Of
Kansas. Scientific men and military eX-
plorers who hastily trayerscd the vast I'M
settled wilderness were responsible for this
belief that was once widespread.
But i'm course OF time the explorer OF
another kind csme alone and shattered the
old belief lie was the homeseeker. who
plowed and planted and cultivated the
land, and whose bountiful crops proved
that a vast region OF supposed desert was
destined to become the scat OF millions Of
productive farms settlements were
pushed west OF the Missouri river and
north along It's tributaries. In the noun.
tain region the precious metals were
found flourishing mining camps sprang up
and mining became the chief industry. The
live stock industry followed as lands were
opened up Markets were remote. land
plentiful. farms few and near local mar
kets; stock raising and mining engaged the
attention OF the pioneers
Lure OF Gold Brings settlers.
Montana was isolated IN the early days
by the presence on its eastern borders OF
large tribes Of hostile Indians. Its mineral
wealth was discovered BY prospectors who
entered from the west. and early immi-
grants came into the mining camps from
the slow and perious voyage on steam
boats up the Missouri river to an old fur
trading post. and thence by stage to the
scenes Of mining eXcitment. Large parties
were conducted through constant dangers
from the Platte to the Yellowstone and
thence to the mines. All sought the gilt
tering gold
The placer mines were wonderfully pro-
ductlve, and rich quartz mines OF gold and
silver were soon discovered and worked.
The wonderful deposits Of copper at Butte
were afterwards found and developed 70
the extent Of making It the greatest min
ing camp on earth. causing a great city
to grow up around the mines, helping to
build two other large cities through the
location in them of the shelters to treat
the copper ores giving employment to an
army Of men taking out timbers for the
mines, and furnishing a local market, only
in part supplied by home grown products,
for products og garden, and orchard, and
farm Hour by hour. day by day month
by month. year by year in an unending
stream. the mines of Butte Yield up their
riches, and the supply OF ore fails not and,
In the opinion of experts, will last for gen.
erations. Prices Of metals and quotations
on shares Of mining stock vary, but the
payroll is always working.
Placers are still turning out their treas
ures and there are mines of gold and silver
and lead. besides those of copper in other
camps than Butte, and mines of sapphires
and rubies and garnets Ores of iron and
manganese in large and rich deposits await
development. The coal fields of Montana
cover an area so extensive that a number
Of states could be lost in It,
The mining industry Of Montana. so
great, so long producing and so profitable.
promises TO wax greater as future years
shall witness increased prospecting dis
eovery and development.
Ideal for stock Raising.
The pure air and water and the nutritious
grasses everywhere abundant made Mon
tana an ideal stock growing country and
the industry prospered exceedingly. Live
stock bought in less favored regions are
fattened on native grasses and Montana
range stock bring top prices at the stock
yards. The industry Is in a flourishing
condition and will so continue owing to the
causes which built Il up-pure air and
water, climate unfriendly to diseases
the quality Of the native grasses and the
vast areas OF lands that will ever be de-
voted to grazing-but there will probably
be a change from ownership Of great herds
and flocks by one man or company tC
ownership by great numbers Of farmers Of
small herds and flocks, resulting in theil
being better cared for and IN an increas,
In the number and an Improvement of tn,
quality Of the live stock OF Montana
Montana gained great wealth and fam,
from its mines and cattle and sheep; 4
was not regarded as an agricultural coun
try was remote from the frontiers OF tn,
western extension OF settlements; anC
homeseekers passed through this wonder
land of mines and live stock not knowing
that II was also a wonderland Of fertil,
farm lands and filled up vacant lands I,
the west, some even leaving their nativ,
land and pushing far north into Canadian
provinces, BY the delay in the develop
ment OF its agricultural resources Montana
has paid for its reputation as premier min
ing state and premier stock country, 70
NV N'NAAN hN NAhSNANh " btlltNt AndN uhAuE
has made her also the premier farminJ
region OF the United States? Yet to thes
three gifts lavishly bestowed. are other
scarcely inferior In wealth OF timbe
Montana is surpassed by few states and il
water power for generating electricit
probably by none
Possibility Of Agriculture.
Here are all the natural resources for tn
building mp Of a rich and mighty common
wealth, and a climate bracing healthy an
energy-inspirinE. Montana has $1,000 81
acres OF land, $1,000 600 OF which are arab,
and the whole state has a population q
only S76O0o, one-third Of whom live in elite
and towns. Less than 100000 acres Of Ian
are In cultivation leaving Is 900 coo acres q
farm lands waiting for the pillow and prom
Using the most abundant Yields to thos
who will cultivate them
The Ignorance OF the farming posslblIiti,
Of the western country which has bee
referred to has disappeared and It is di
appearing with regard 20 Montana, thoug
for the particular reasons stated. IL hJ
fingered longer than n would have dor