The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-07-26
MONTANA STAGING
A QUICK RECOVERY
GAIL OF BILLINGS PROPHET OF
GOOD TIMES; SAYS PROS
PERITY COMING.
Quotes Campbell, Bonanza Farmer,
as Saying Montana Is Best Winter
Wheat State in Union; Talks Of
Achievements.


Urging his hearers to have conf.
dence in Montana and declaring that
leading industries in the state were
staging a sensational comeback, w.
w. Gail, advertising agent, Billings,
sounded a keynote of optimism at the
concluding session in Great Falls of
the Montana Laundry Owners asso-
citation. Asserting that all business
was on the upgrade in Montana, Mr..
Gail said it was important to let
the world know that the Treasure
State is at the dawning of a great
industrial activity.
Stabilizing of mining, revivals in
livestock and wool, new railway con-
struction, opening up of coal fields,
capitalization of scenic resources, i'm
proved agricultural conditions and
oil development were some of the
reasons cited by the Billings speaker
for improved confidence in Montana
Agricultural Outlook
Mr.. Gail referred in detail to the
agricultural outlook of the state, de-
claring conditions we're greatly i'm
proved this year over past seasons
and that the prospects were excellent
for bumper yields not only in 1923
but in years to come because of this
years abundance of moisture.
Quoting opinions as to Montana's
agricultural future, Mr. Gail referred
to the statement of James j. Hill,
late railway king of the west, who
said Montana will be the greatest
wheat state in the Union" The
speaker also quoted Thomas d. Camp
bell, said to be the largest wheat
grower in the world, now farming
that Montana was the best winter
wheat state of all and that recent
adverse conditions were not normal
and not likely to be repeated again
in another 40 years. Mr.. Gail also
referred to a statement of Hardy w.
non-irrigation farming ex-
pert, who said: Montana is capable
producing and will produce. with
right methods, four bushels of wheat
to every one produced now"
Montana is the last state in the
Union with large areas of cheap
Mr.. Gail said. 1.-THE average
interest rate on Montana farm land
IS $2.46 per acre. On land in typical
western states it is SLABS
and in the United States as a whole
t is more than Sc.
According to Frank e. Holton,
broker, two of the biggest
md most successful Illinois farmers
recently figured up and found they
made bigger profits on their Montana
arms than on their Illinois land. And
What is more, this was true even dur
ng so-called poor years in Mon
Farmers in eastern states and in
he middle west have more difficult
roblems to meet to make farming
ay than those in Montana, Mr.. Gail
aid.
In every district in Montana in
asst years where the moisture has
cen light, some farmers have raised
lccessful crops, the speaker pointed
ut.
Referring to the hog industry, Mr..
all said that 100 carloads of hogs
re now going through Montana
,eekly to the Pacific coast, which
light just as well be grown in Mon
ina.
Drought and grasshoppers are
OF new" said Mr.. Gail, land they
re not confined to Montana. Hail
not as bad as floods, tornadoes and
such as other sections of
lie country must contend with, year
ter year.
can exhaustive first hand investi-
alton by the extension department
the state agricultural college into
,nditions in the section of Montana
'nsidered to have been hardest hit
the drought disclosed these sig
ficant facts:
"Of SO settlers in a typical town
lip, only 23 had previously farmed.
remaining As included two cir
Is musicians, two carpenters, two
ltchers, three COW hands, n sea-
engineer, three blacksmiths,
10 deep-sea divers, three bartend-
s, three elderly spinsters, ETC., none
who mhad had previous farming
perience.
"Of the % who had previously
rmed, Is moved on the land and
on farming operations. Four
en- of these Is had been successful
d we're still living on their farms
the end of the period of lean