Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-02-22
PRODUCERS IN THE BELT VALLEY.

The coal mines of Belt had a fairly prosperous winter season
and it is to be hoped that work viii continue to be good until spring
at least.
When other towns in the grain country are flat, the wheat
crop having been marketed, the last years bills paid, taxes liquid
ated, and a few necessities bought, they settle down to a humdrum
existence until the new crop is harvested, but to towns that in ad-
diion to their wheat crop have other industries, there is more
than one spout under which may be collected the grains of bust
ness, money is more plentiful, people are more contented and fl
: nancial reverses are less widely felt.
The Belt Valley raises 100000 bushels OF grain or more, the
ranches are stocked with a high grade of beef and dairy cattle. Al
have sheep. Eggs, sweet cream, butter, mutton, beef and pork all
find a ready market and on most ranches keep the family larder
supplied, the household clothed and oftlmes procure needed and de-
sirable articles for comfort or utility.
The wheat crop in general is used to pay interest or indebted
ness, to build, to buy land, or to add to the savings.
In addition to this the people of the Belt valley have a large
cash income from the digging and sale OF coal which finds its way
the vaults of the banks, into the pockets Of the farmers, in some
way through the fingers of each of us. When spring comes and
this work slackens, outside work opens up and thus throughout the
year the wheels of business are kept fabricated.
Many farmers, when work is scarce on the ranch, have sought
a few dollars to their incomes by digging coal Others have OBJ
tanned work in the mines of Neihart and Hughesvile, thus putting
Thus the mines of this vicinity may be considered a valuable
part of our wealth and the direct results of the production of coal
is felt throughout the whole valley, just as the production of sill
yer and lead is felt through the demands of the mines of the upper
Belt valley for labor and produce.
The coal miners are producers just as the silver miners are
and the farmers. A large part of their produce leaves the valley
for we believe that for the past two years the balance of trade has
been SLIGHTLY in ~ favor that more money has been received for
produce than has been paid out for supplies. We believe that the
valley as a whole is in considerably better financial condition than
it was two years ago and that should the productive period of 1923
be favorable, the return of prosperity will be definite and tangible.
For this return to normal conditions we shall have to thank e
quartz miners and operators, the coal miners and the coal opera e
as well as the farmers, for without their assistance during the \
dull months of winter our recovery would be appreciably less rap {
id. The sentiment of the valley should be to put out a product a
which shall be known for its quality. Our coal should be clean, our
should be Of uniform variety and size, our pork and beef =
should be carefully dressed, our fowls should be killed with empty a
crops, our butter should be well worked and when the buyers real q
ize that everything bought from the Belt valley is of high quality, tt
it will increase the price obtained for the products as well as the
market for the product itself. La