The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-01-14
BUREAU OF CENSUS
FIGURES HELD LOW
U. s. ESTIMATES POPULATION
457 ,o0o-ScHOOL FIGURES IN
DIcATE $4,000 IN STATE.
FARMERS TO HEAR EXPERTS
Many Expected to Take Advantage of
Program Arranged for Week of
January "a to 29 at Bozeman-
To Emphasize Stock Industry.

reau which claims it had them from
the government bureau of census that
the population of this state is 457 900,
school statistics collected in the Office
of State Superintendent H. A. Davee
show that there are $4,000.
The figures of the Washington news
bureau give Montana an increase of
only 81 900 people over the census of
1910, which is regarded as ridicul-
ously low estimate, in view of the
great number of new settlers who have
filed on homesteads during that time,
not to mention the numbers of people
who have been attracted to the state
by the unusual prosperity here. 1t is
the claim of the news bureau that the
growth this year was only 10000.
In 1910, when the government CEN
sus was taken, Montana had a popu-
lation of 376,O53. The census of
school children the same year showed
there were S8,S05 pupils attending the
public schools. This would be an av-
erage of 43 members in every family
in the state.
While the figures on the school CEN
| sus have not been received at the state
| SUPERINTENDENT Office, q sufficient |
number of counties have filed their |
school census figures to indicate that |
there were 10000 pupils in Montana's |
schools during 1915.
X X X
Farmers to Hear Experts.
Helena.-In accordance with the
plan announced some time ago by DR..
]. NJ. Hamilton, president of the state /
agricultural college at Bozeman, stock
raising will be emphasized in the
talks to be given by farm experts dur
ing farmers week, January "a to 20.
The tentative program for the week
has just been received at the office of
Seth Maxwell, commissioner of agri-
culture and publicity
The meeting will be the third an
nual one. the first having been such
a success that it was decided to make
it yearly affair. In the past, no par
ticular effort has been made to en-
phasize stock raising, all departments
of farm work having been given about
the same share of attention.
DIR. Hamilton announced here re-
Gently, however, that, in view of the
rapidly developing dairy and stock
raising industries, and that Montana
would become more and more a stock
raising state, that subject should be
given the lions share of attention at
these annual gatherings.
Some of the best known experts On
farming in the country will deliver ad-
dresses, including men in the employ
of the agricultural department in
Washington, heads of departments at |
the big state agricultural colleges
throughout the country, and railroad
men.
Scarcity of Spring Beef Seen.
There will be scarcity of spring
beef and Montana feeders should make
nice profits this month and next, &C
cording to D. w. Raymond, secretary
of the state board of stock commits ,
sioners, who has just returned from ,
Chicago. Because of the soft corn in
most of the feeding districts, thous-
ands of head of cattle have been
rushed to market, the feed not being
available to fatten them. Hogs were
also shipped. This accounts for the
decentralization of the market at pres ,
ent.
Mr.. Raymond says spring beef will
be mighty scarce, and that even In
Montana not more than from one-half
to two-thirds the usual number of cat
tie are being fed this winter. The
reason for this is because stockmen
lost money the past two years, banks
last fall in many instances refused to
loan money for the purchase of cattle
costing more than 6 cents a pound,
and in some sections the hay crop was :
ruined by spring rains and early frosts
and the feed was not available to
carry the stuff over until spring.
X X
Program for Butter Makers {
AS a means of stimulating interest
In the dairy and butter industry in
Montana, plans are being made for &
the annual convention of the State t
Butter Makers association which will {
be held at Townsend February 8, 4 c
and 5. State Dairy Commissioner A.
G. Scholes has begun work on the pro- =
gram which is being arranged with
special reference to the industry Mr..
Scholes is in communication with
some of the best known dairy experts 8
In the country.
X X X I
Oppose Rate Increase.
Application of the railroads operat-
ing in Montana for an increase in
stock rates to eastern markets is be- .
ing fesisted by the members Of the
state Eailroad commission, who have
Joined with South Dakota in a fight
to prevent any boost in tariffs, in the t
belief that the stock industry of the .
state Will suffer. 1t will be remem-
bered thatAall western railroads cou-
Pile of years ago made application for !
an increase in stock rates, which was
denied by the interstate commerce
commission. :