The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-01-14
WANT Low RATE
ON MONTANA HAY
CASCADE COUNTY FARM BUREAU
ASKS ROAD TO HELP FARM.
Frs TO CASH IN ON FEED
Tens Of Thousands Of Tons Are Now
Ready for Shipment to the big
Markets II Freight Expenses Can
be Cut to Lower Figure; No Mar.
ket Here.

AMACuA0e0 CVuv0I8lOu 1utO C8S0 OF
Montana's immense tonnage OF sur
plus hay is the ultimate objective Of
a movement now under way with the
Cascade County Farm Bureau and
the Great Falls Commercial club for
a SO per cent commodity rate ON hay
from all stations in the state to
points west Of the mountains and in
the middle west. Removal of one
half the present freight charges
would make 1t possible to place Mon
tana hay In the big market centers
at prices insuring reasonable returns
to the growers and II the request for
a reduced tariff IL granted the result
ing increase In the immediate cash
value of the 1920 crop will be i'm
portant according to Secretary Scott
Leavitt Of the Commercial club and
Agent r. E. MacSpadden Of the farm
bureau.
Petition for Reduction Flied
The bureau and the club have I'LL
ed with General Traffic Agent J. f.
Pewters Of the Great Northern rail-
way q petition for the desired reduc-
ed rate and the matter 10 now under
consideration at st. Paul with head.
quarters officials. A decision on the
request Is expected in time to permit
the loading Of hay early this month
II the rate Is allowed. No estimate
is made Of the tonnage of surplus hay
in the state. but Agent MacSpadden
states that the amount is extremely
large and that the influence of the
cash proceeds on financial conditions
would be marked.
Conditions affecting hay and live.
stock are closely related In Montana,
and both departments are peculiarly
situated this year." said MacSpadden
THE result is that with the present
range of prices and freight rates
there are now in the state huge
stores of potential wealth in the
form of hay, but which will not be
moved to any extent unless q way IL
found to make it more valuable. II
half the freight charges can be cut
off. l believe that tens of thousands
of tons of Montana hay would be al
once converted into money.
Hay Market Needed
There have been and will be nj
sales of hay or livestock within thu
state this winter. Farmers with cat
tie have enough hay to see then
through. and others with hay but NJ
cattle will not invest in livestock 81
long as market conditions and none!
remain as now. This leaves all o
the surplus hay seeking an outsid,
market, and there Is demand enough
for it both to the east and the ives
IL 1t can be delivered there at a fig
ure to permit the Montana grove
to compete with the grower from tn
other states.
Farmers Are Optimistic
"A pronounced note of optimism /
prevalent among farmers through
out the state, despite the slump Il
the wheat market and the price o
livestock. There is no whining an
no evidence of encouragement
Everywhere the farmers -ere sittin
tight, hitting the ball as hard as the
can and laying plans for extensiv
operations in the spring. fin
there is general belief that advers
conditions now obtaining will be o
short duration. and certainly Their
is no indication that the farmers In
tend to curtail their activities mex
year."
Agent MacSpadden stated that tn
best hay market is now found q
Kansas City, but that the demand
good at other mid-western points an
in Washington. Some inquiries hav
been received from west of the d
vide and there are indications tha
other markets would develop ono
the movement of hay is begun.