The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1912-03-21

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
SHOWS TREASURE STATE
HAS UNDERGONE REMARK-
ABLE TRANSPORTATION.

stattaticians in its evolution from :
stock raising state to an agrtcultur
al empire.
The transformation has been moth
Ing short of marvellous in the las
two years. when figures are compar
ed. They mark the rapid passing Of
the range era. The Montanan. oi
course. realizes this more than the
fastener because he is upon the
ground and sees the change that il
going on under the magical develop
ment OF soil cultivation. Still, even
the Oldest resident Of the state
would be astonished by a careful
perusal OF the census figures just
published by the bureau of statistics
of the United States agricultural de-
partment. A striking stride in Mon
tanas progress since 1910 is shown
by the increase Of s6,218.9O in the
total valuation of the states food
domestic animals.
There ts reason for this
enormous addition to the wealth OF
the Treasure state. The unusually
large number Of settlers that have
poured into the tillable sections
tells the story. especially the influx
in to the northern part of the state.
along the line of the Great. Northern
railway. In Chouteau county alone
nearly 5000 homeseekers have set
tied during the last two years This
was an immigration record-breaking
period. The United States land
office figures show Choteau county
was the banner magnetic spot of the
nation for settlers during 1910 and
1911. This section therefore
had been regarded merely as a
stock grazing country. Buffalo had
roamed the prairies ages before.
giving way to the western steer. It
was not until the Great Northern
soil experts made tests Of this vir-
GIN ground that its real productive
ity became known. When the virgin
sod was turned over tests showed
the land was ideally adapted to
grain growth. Some of the best
farms of the nation now are in the
process of making in Choteau coun-
ty.
Great Northern Railway exhibit
cars carrying the marvellous products
Of Montana have been great agent
in Transforming the state into a
farming country. Those expositions
on wheels have travelled through the
east and middle west showing to
thousands of people. with the result
that thousands Of weary eastern toll
ers have been beckoned to the
land Of promise" What is best OF
all Montana has proved to be all
that this novel means Of advertising
has argued for it.
& Since 1910 the number of horses
in Montana has increased 31.1O4
head. Uncle Sans figures show
the value Of Montana's horses has
increased 81 per head since 1910
indicating that the range horse has
given way to the farm work horse.
which brings more money In the
market With. the settlement Of
Montana land by the tiller Of the
soil the farm horse has come to be
In big demand. So the, Montanan Is
raising farm horses instead of the
range pony which he used to send
into the eastern markets. 1t is
more profitable. In the last two
years the total value Of Montana's
horses has increased from $25.276,-
480 to $30.1S9,0O
And, just as the farm workhorse
Is replacing the range cayuse so Is
the milch COW taking the place Of
range cattle. The total value of the
states milch cows has increased
nearly $11.0OO.O00 in two years.
There now are 113.473 more milch
cows In Montana than there were
in 1910, while the number. Of range
cattle has decreased from $4,000 in
1910 to $4,000 in 1912. Swine
have increased 43.73s head in those
two years. too.
Thus. in big round figures. dollars
and cents, the amazing story of
Montana's agricultural development
10 sorcibly told.
But. let not the fastener get the
impression that Montana is fast be-
coming overcrowded with people
milch COWS. swine and horses. Far
from it. Italy Is about one-fourth
smaller than Montana in area. Yet
Italy has something over $4,000. 900
mouths to feed while there il hardl,
half q million people within the
borders Of MontanG