Imperial Valley press., 1923-03-26
Babson Reports on Mountain States
Reimbursement, SO Percent Completed

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass,
March 2G.-Today Roger w. Babson
issued his report on conditions in
that section of the country which
extends from the agricultural states
through to the Pacific coast states
This group consists Of Montana,
Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Utah,
Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and
4 part Of Texas and Oklahoma.
~ am very fond of this noun
tain scction,' says Mr. Babson.
cit is the section which develops
those manly and robust qualities
which are the backbone of Ameri.
can civilization. This is the West,
which developed Roosevelt spiritu.
ally, mentally and physically. Rug
ged character Of both country and
people, freedom from artificial con
vcntionality and the custom of .judg-
ing men solely by what they are;
characterize these Mountain States.
This was forcibly brought to my
mind last month when, on my way
south, l stopped in Philadelphia to
call upon George Horace Lorimer,
editor of the Saturday Evening
Post, 4 man who it is said has tho
greatest potential influence of any
man in America.
"Whcn urging Mr.. Lorimpr to Wis
it me in the south he replied. Bah
son, the south is all right for those
who want to live in big hotels and
play golf, but give the Grand Can
yon of Colorado where | can ride
up and down the trails. There is
something about that mountainous
country that inspires me as we'll as
rests me-. Similar statements have
been made to me by many of Ameri-
ca greatest captains of industry.
They may go to other sections of
the country for amusement and di-
version but when they desire real
recreation, to be rebuilt and re-crc.
ated, they go out into the Rocky
Mountains.
Has It's Difficulties
"Yet,'' continues Mr.. Babson--
"this mountain section has it's
struggles. The same difficulties,
which met the traveller when climb
ing the hills and crossing the des
erts, seem to confront those who
have settled down to develop the
country. Not only has this section
suffered more than any other, but
its problems are more difficult of
solution. The chief industries are
cattle and sheep raising, mining,
numbering and II certain amount of
agriculture, including thd raising
of very fine fruit in certain irrigat
cd sections. All of these lines have
suffered during the past few years
and are only now beginning to look
better.
"Read justment in this section has
been severe and prolonged, but !
believe that 1928 will go down in
history as year of local improve
ment. Altho no sharp. upturn is
likely, those doing business in these
states will note a gradual broaden
ing of purchasing activities and a
diminishing volume of overdue ac-
counts. From mining standpoint
1922 was one of the worst years on
record. Poor market conditions and
the unusually low prices for copper,
lead and zinc resulted in the closing
of many mines. The value of the
leading mineral products taken out
of the ground i'm Montana in 1927
was only $l6,2l2, 900 compared with
$65, $4,000 in 1920. Greatest activ-
ity was noted in the mining of sill
YER and silvcr-lead ores. The mar
ket for all of the non-ferrous metals
is quiet, but the fundamental ten
dency is toward better demand
and strengthening of prices.
" Already n number of the
larger mines and refining plants
have resumed operations. Progress
along these lines may be slow for Il
few months, but it will be in the
right direction. Personally, | am
distinctly bullish on the copper stu
alton and believe that Montana and
the other copper districts will show
the greatest percentage of increase
in 1928, over 1927 and 1929, of any
sections of the country. The same
thing, only to a lesser extent, should
apply to the cattle and sheep bust
ness.
Report on Cities
In discussing some of the
cities of the mountain section, Mr..
Babson reports as follows: "Den
YER, city approaching 100000 pop
ulation, shows sales to be 105 por
cent of what they were a year ago.
Car shops, packing and miscellan-
eous industries are about normal
today. l am sure, however, that
Denver and the entire state of Col
orado will have a better year in
1923 than it had i'll 1922. Salt
Lake City, Utah, with popula-
ton of about $4,000, reports
greater activity in mining and
smelling with an improved condi-
ton of those industries catering to
the farmers. Pueblo, Colorado,
with $4,000 is not yet back to
normal; but / believe the tariff
will help this section. 1t has al
ready begun to feel the effects of
a greater demand for steel and
iron products. AS the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Companies become
more prosperous, the entire country
always prOspers with it.
"Phoenix, Arizona, center of
$4,000 people shows the best condi-