The Harlowton news., 1913-01-03
What Of the Future?

J. +
j. BY r. S. COOLEY, superintend- +
+ ent Of Montana Farmers In :
stitutes.
| = @ j.
i. j. i. r I. !. j. !. J. + + j. j. X !. +
! Montana has magnificent record
for the production of beef, mutton,
wool and horses. It's natural advantages
for the conduct of the live stock indus
try are unsurpassed by any state on
earth-environments, climate and food
considered. Both In economy OF pro-
duction and in quality Montana pre-
sents advantages to the prospective
stock grower that are exceedingly al
, Turing Upon the free range cost OF
production has been very low indeed
and profits have mounted up into re-
spectable fortunes for stockmen. To
morrow the cost of production will be
far greater than it has been. Already
the farmer is breaking up the best
ranges and sowing them to wheat and
fax and barley. Soon the drinking
places and sources Of water will be
] In the possession of the settler. To-
morrow the free range will be gone.
What is the significance of the
high cost of living" and the meat
! boycott" and other present difficulties
r of life? / have foreseen something
like this for half decade. Clear
across the continent five years ago it
l was almost impossible to get farm la
! Dor at q price justified by the price OF
farm commodities. Wages were high
- in all commercial and Industrial under
), takinEs High wages and advantages
Y OF life in town took away the incentive
to seek farm employment. Farmers
ceased to hire from sheer inability to
ind men or meet the wages paid in
other pursuits. Consumption has over
taken production. "N-
In spite of the investigation of the
e. "beef trust" and in spite of meat boy
;, colts" prices of beef and pork and
= mutton continue higher than fol
6 years. This is not because Of the
manipulations of the packing houses
!" Their cellars have not been so empty
for years as at the present moment
- They are buyers and would be glad tx
l see lower prices. They are livlnt
,h from hand to mouth. They canno
find the meat to replenish their stores
So long as wages continue high ant
st people continue to eat meat, mea
or prices must remain high. do no
look for an important lowering OF tn
prices of animal products unles
forced by some industrial calamit
and a period Of hard times. TIL
III movement to the land Is general an
justifable and comes as the natura
result of the peoples demand for fooc
Husbandry is coming to its own.
n The live stock industry was neve
on more prosperous footing tina
! now. With such climate and sue
potentialities for producing cheap fo
age and the present and prosperity
prices for horses, cattle, sheep an
hogs, Montana has never presented
more attractive future.
Our policy must not be fewer cattl,
but a greater number and of bette
quality. There ls not to be revolt
I LlOn OIL Lu0 luuuSLl cuLSIRl AGCb \
the state, but gradual evolution
the direction of more intensive worl
ing of our resources. Under the agr
cultural regime which is being ushere
in there must be more live stock KEEP
There must always be proper ba
ance. between the farm animals ar
farm crops. Grain may be produce
independent OF live stock for fe
years, but always to the detriment I
the agricultural value OF the regio
Nature soon puts a stop to that so
Of thing and compels obedience |
her laws,
III If the farm crops of Montana are
increase. then must the live stock i
crease proportionately. It would
an awful blunder to attempt to fostt
the one and neglect the other, Belle
ing as ! do that Montana will sure
come to her own as one of the gre
agricultural states of America, M
withstandlng failures and hard exp
riences which are inevitable in farl
ing lands with the handicap of lig
rainfall, cannot but feel sure that
live stock state her future will
far transcend the past as to make Il
past sink into insignificance by col
parison.