The Ronan pioneer., 1917-03-02
THIS TO BE STATE
OF CEREAL FOOD
PRODUCING ENOUGH OATS TO
KEEP SUNNY JIM SNIIL-
ING FOREVER.
Passing of Law Preventing Manufac-
turers From Giving Premiums
With Their Products Has Done
Much to Protect the Interests of
Montana Concerns.

Montana is producing enough
oats to keep Sunny Jim smiling all
the time"
Such was the declaration made
during debate in the Montana state
senate on question of preventing
eastern cereal manufacturers from
giving premiums with their products,
a law designed to protect the cereal
manufacturing business in the Treas
sure state.
The discussion incident to the bill
gained for Hal Stewart, brother OF
the governor, the sobriquet of coat
meal Hal" Mr.. Stewart is extensive
ly interested in the Bozeman Milling
company, makers Of Cretana rolled
oats, and has been spending some
time in Helena boosting for Montana
made goods.
The discussion incident to this leg
islation has served to draw attention
to the Importance of the cereal man.
ufacturing business in the state.
Montana is now producing as break
fast foods, rolled oats, wheat flakes,
pCdl 1 val IVY duu pdlCdhS llOuI.
Two Plants in Business.
There are two plants engaged i11
the business, those of the Hamilton
Cereal and Flour Mill company. To-
Gated at Hamilton, and the Bozeman
Milling company, which has been op-
Grating for about seven years. The
combined output of these two plants
is just about sufficient to supply the
demands of the state if they have all
the business. Outside concerns, how
ever, through the attractiveness of
have been getting SO or so per cent
of the trade, and as result much of
the Montana product has been
shipped to Oregon, Washington, Ida
ho, Utah and California. Inquiries
have been received from several east
ern wholesale concerns but freight
rates have served to keep the Mon
tana goods out of that market.
With the growth and development
of the grain growing possibilities of
the state, it is expected that cereal
food manufacturing will become of
more and more Importance.
Sixty Flour Mills in State.
Already the flour industry has be-
come an important one. There are
60 flour mills operating in the state,
and from so to Is per cent of their
product is shipped beyond it's con-
fines. Montana made flour has
gained foothold in nearly every
section Of the nation and has been
found to be as good as any flour
made in the United States. The in
dustry has been built upon sub
stantial basis and the mill equip
ment, particularly in the large indus
tries, is the finest in the world. Mil
lions of dollars have been invested
in the industry and yet it is but in it's
infancy. Millers are learning, as
packers have learned in the past,
that it is far more profitable to util-
ize the raw product near the place Of
its production and ship the finest
product to market, than to ship the
raw product to market and bring
back the refined article
Holds Acre Yield Record.
Montana has already made a rec
ord for production per acre in all
of the cereals. Grain grown in Mon
ltlHi is NOT OHly DIS SOOu as Cnat pro-
duced in other states, but at the va
rious land shows in recent years it
has carried off most of the first
prizes, so that with modern facilities
the state will be able to produce both
flour and cereal foods unexcelled
anywhere. The climatic conditions
in the treasure state seem to pro-
duce grains of a flavor that work
into a manufactured product that
commands a premium over similar
products from other sections of the
country.
While the flour made in Montana
has long been boosted it is only re-
Gently that much has been said of the
cereal products, and yet the two