Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-07-12

Busipess has been slow for the months just past though the
trend should now be upward. Each year between the time OF
seeding and harvest there is a period Of expectancy when the
hopes of the farming population are centered upon the wheat crop
and the amount of rainfall is the barometer by which you may
read the rise or fall of their spirits. BY this same barometer you
may also gauge the retail trade of the merchants.
Rainfall has been abundant this year and, barring accidents,
such as hail or c~loudbursts, a bountiful crop of winter wheat is
assured with oats and spring wheat making a splendid growth.
Difficulty has been encountered saving the first crop OF alfalfa
with the second crop crowding the heels of the first. The hay
crop will undoubtedly be below normal yet will still be far from a
failure.
Cattle are fat and only want the finishing process to be prime
in the fall. The cattle market is low compared to wartime prices
but high as compared with previous years.
Butterfat is high as compared at this season to late years for
which we can give no reason unless the entry of a Pondera county
creamery into the market has prevented the usual slump. Eggs
are low and nothing but the establishment of a cold storage plant
in our midst can remedy this condition for future years.
Merchants have anticipated this season of short buying and
have allowed their stocks to become low but the next few weeks
will see a continuous line of cases of merchandise being unloaded at
their stores and warehouses and buyers will find them bountifuly
prepared for the late summer and fall trade.
III a failing of humanity to imagine that prices are better In
any other town than their own, to believe that the quality of mer-
chandise is of higher grade. -
Not long ago two ladies in our city compared hats. One hat
was purchased in Belt at a reasonable price. The other worn by a
woman from another city was bought in that city and she proudly
announced that it had cost her 1895. A mere man is not sup
posed to know anything about ladies hats, but we wondered where
the SIS difference between the hats lay. To our eyes they were
very similar and the more expensive hat looked not one whit better
than the other. Possibly a high overhead expense accounted for.
the difference.
having looked over the millinery stock of another city she had re-
turned to buy a hat at home.
We have called this particular case to your attention to illus
trate this point: that oftentimes we appreciate our local mer-
chants too little and that we are somewhat inoculated with the
germ of the idea which was apty expressed in this way, that the
grass in another pasture looked greener. Some of our merchants
have articles in stock and prices about which you know nothing
Be that as it may, be loyal to the home town and if there is any
thing that you need, give them an opportunity to supply your
wants and you will find that you have saved money. 1t costs five
cents a mile to run a Ford, more to run a heavier car. Add your
expenses to the price of the goods you buy elsewhere and you will
find that you are considerably out of pocket. Mail order stuff is
cheaper in quality and price but by the time you have returned ar
ticles that do not fiji, substituted articles, and inferior quality, you
haven't even saved your temper.
This season will be a prosperous one. If all our merchants
would advertise their wares and prices and allow their customers
an opportunity to compare their prices with others, many dollars
would be diverted to Belt which are headed outside.
Country and town people have grown accustomed to looking for
bargains in this paper before doing their Saturday shopping.