The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-02-09
By Sam S. Josephson

A few months ago Toole county
farmers were delinquent In their
taxes, owed mortgages and interest
and couldn't stand off the local
merchant for their grocery bills.
Now with proceeds of leases, roy
aIties, and sale of lands, about
S15O,OOO In delinquent taxes have
been paid into the county treasur-
or. County officials were hardly
able to collect enough taxes for
their own salaries, and property
was going begging.
Since the striking of oil, all that
is changed. Leases in the north coun-
try have been sold for cash, in some
cases as high as 500 to $3.50 per
acre and in many cases for $40 to
S25, which is higher than the land
was held a few months ago. Royalty
interests in oil bearing lands are
yielding steady income to many for
tunate owners.
In the past three months not less
than 100 shacks and houses of var
ious kinds have been moved into
Shelby. Owners have received from
500 to 5000 for them, and the pur-
from 10 to 80 miles to Shelby where
they are set up on lot, leveled, the
chimneys rebuilt and rented for $50
to $40 a month or sold, netting the
operator SO per cent to 100 per cent
on his venture. AS many as five in
a single day have passed through the
streets of Shelby. One story goes that
a homesteader on his way home pass
ed a house moving in which seemed
strangely familiar On reaching his
ranch he looked in vain for the house
he had been living in.
Business and Shelter
One large store in Shelby contem
plated going out of business few
months ago. Business was dead and
his book accounts caused the owner
sleepless nights. Overnight the stu
alton changed. He is charging his
stock and quarters, putting in new
lines, and can hardly get goods in
fast enough. Hotels cannot accom-
modate the influx of visitors and
permanent residents. Two in bed
is the regular thing, and in some
cases the guest is wakened at to
make room for others who have been
up all night and are ready to take
a part of the daytime to get some
rest.
One basement under a business
block is being floored, and so cots
will be installed to care for people |
who cannot find a place to sleep. A
church which proved too small for
the congregation is being moved into
larger quarters and the enterprising |
minister Immediately installed parti-
lions and beds and is renting them /
to full capacity every night, adding
materially to the income of the
church.
The floor of the railroad waiting
rooms accommodates dozen or more
every night, while a chair in the
lobby of warm hotel is not to be
despised. The New Rainbow, a pre-
tentious pressed brick structure is
nearing completion, and will relieve
the housing situation somewhat. Two
other hotels are being promoted 6Hd
will no doubt be ready for patrons
within three months, and dozens of
residences are in course of construc-
ton. Two apartment houses are be-
ing erected, while the building pro-
gram as outlined for 1923 calls for
about 100000 worth of construc-
ton.
Real Estate Active
Real estate values are jumping
overnight, and transfers of business
and residence property are of daily
occurrence. Those who have started
businesses here in the past few
months have prospered almost be-
yond belief. One man put $4,000 in
to restaurant which he promptly
sold for $4,000. The new owner was
making $50 day clear profit and
sold for $4,000 within a few weeks.
Another business man erected
building on lot which cost him in
all $4,000. He cleared it in three
months and holds his property at
$4,000 today.
There are now 81 oil wells and six
gas wells in the Shelby Kevin-Sun-
burst field. Latest reports from field
men show that there are in addition