The Bozeman courier., 1921-11-16
WEEKLY REVIEW Of
MONTANA INDUSTRY

HELENA, Nov. 13.-MOre signs
that some of Montana's basic indus
tries are on the up grade, in addi-
ton to those noted for the first time
a month ago, are seen in the monthly
industrial resume for October of the
division of labor and publicity of the
state department of agriculture. In
creased activity is noted in mining,
numbering, milling and railroading.
The turn for the better has not been
n operation long enough yet to be re-
Elected in retail lines, and as this is
the seasonal turn when unemploy-
ment is greatest, it is not to be ex-
pected that improvement will be re-
Elected generally until next spring.
New enterprises are starting op-
erations and others already estab- |
lished are expanding. This broaden
ing out at the beginning of winter is
considered a healthy indication OF
basic improvement.
Consumers in some Montana cities
are being benefited by lower costs Of
living, according to reports received
by the department. No increases IN
living costs are reported. Helena is
the only town which reports that
rents continue high. Other towns
report decline in rents, Great Falls
in fuel, and several report a decline
in the cost of clothing.
After a long period of partial or
complete idleness Montana flour mills
are for the most part again in opera
ton, many Of them running full "a
| hour shift. There is much more act
ivity in the milling business at pres
ent than there was at this time a
year ago. The president Of the Mon
tana Flour Mills Company is quoted
as saying that the volume Of orders
recently has exceeded the output Of
its plants to an extent that seems to
make certain continued operation at
maximum capacity. Small country
mills report the same condition.
While there is no word as to when
the Butte mines will resume, in
creased activity is noted in other dis
: tricts. The Boston Development
Company has just completed at Elk
2 horn, Beaverhead county, the second
: largest stamp mill of its kind in the
!, world, and it is announced that it will
S be in operation this month, meaning
e work for several hundred additional
n men.
). The Philipsburg Mining Company
has awarded contract for the con
struction of a new manganese mil
of the magnetic separator type, which
it is expected to have in operation
! next February. It's present mangan
d ese concentrator will be remodele
into q silver mill.
Considering general condition:
n there has been, more building in tn
h state this year than was anticipated
b Livingston reports that all previou
E records for construction of residence
B was broken this year, and Havre II
B ports that nine new building jot
n were started in October The prime
E pal building activity at present is {
3 state educational institutions. Heller
B is building two large school house
B A flour mill Of 600 barrels capaci-
B is being built at Sidney to replace
b 440O-barrel mill destroyed by fire.
? The Trident and Hanover plan
y of the Three Forks Portland Gene
= Company, which have been idle sin
g last March, will resume operatio
some time this winter, it is q
nounced. The surplus stock on ha
has been nearly all consumed, and
is stated that with the building a
yht ivity in sight for next season, we
me the plants to remain closed ur
the A2stIlg, it would be impossible
It manufacture enough cement for
'el- trade.
ess The plant near Eureka if the Int
- national Chemical Products Comps