Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-08-02
THE A OF TRADE.

face bankruptcy.
Just so the community prospers or goes bankrupt, as its pro
auctions exceed or are inferior to its disbursements.
We often hear of one-crop towns and there are many in Mon
tana where after the wheat harvest there is considerable activity
but from that time until seeding in the spring the life of the COM
munity goes into eclipse and a large part of its population seeks
other quarters for the winter.
In case of crop failure the eclipse becomes total and extends
over that whole period until a crop is harvested.
Such places can have no great degree of permanency, nor will
their lands be looked upon with any great favor.
To be permanent, to be steady, to be stable, a land requires a
diversification of interest such as will over a term of years bring
to that community a steady income greater than the outlay.
The lines of chief expense are smoked meats, groceries, cloth
ing, shoes, movies, furniture, rugs, crockery, machinery, autos,
gasoline and accessories.
No part of the sum expended for these articles returns in any
way to this community, except in a small way for smoked meats,
all the rest is money which has been produced in this community,
but which has departed for good.
On the other hand, on the credit side of the sheet, we list beef
cattle, sheep and wool in comparatively small quantities, hogs
wheat, dairy products, poultry, COAL silver, lead, fire-clay and farm
produce.
We estimate that the wheat income of the Belt valley is
100000 per year, fat stock 100000. sheep and wool $4,000.
coal s25o,0OO, silver and lead %ssOO,OOO; other sources $4,000,
making a total income of s., $780, 900 for the valley.
How much of this remains as a balance in trade in our favor
depends upon the gross expenditures of the community for inn
ported necessities. In only one year, if our memory is correct,
has the balance of trade been against US and it requires no PEN
in each stockmans mind.
Years when the draft for farm machinery. tractors and auto
mobiles is small, the balance of trade is pre-eminently in our favor
and viii be reflected strongly in our bank deposits.
On the other hand when expenditures exceed receipts it Will
be noticed that bank deposits show a net loss.
Some beautiful fields of wheat are being harvested in the ter
ritory north and west of town. while on a thousand hills the
grain, some entirely green, some with the wavy luster of watered
silk, changing from green to gold, husks bursting open from the
full kernel, is rapidly nearing the time for harvest. Oats are lux
uriant and promise twenty bushels to the acre better than the
average. Corn looks as thrifty as that of Minnesota, and barley
is the best crop in years. s
Beef cattle are fat. The finishing process is going on. giving
promise of many carloads of fat beef to go out to market this
fall. There is abundant feed for hogs in the country and each
farm has its quota for home consumption or sale.
Gonna IF any poorln uho fho,rL+ +I,~ x-h~+ I-& - 4L~IV
dry hot weather of June have forgotten all about it and are count G
ing on a bountiful harvest. Those who lost their crop by hail viii o
at least get a crop of hay to repay them for seeding.
The slump in the price of silver and lead is having a depress- d
ing effect upon mining, but there has been a steady output of coal i
throughout the summer with certainty of a revival in that industry .
with the advent of cold weather.
VIII the balance of trade be on our side this year? The prices
received for our commodities has a bearing on the result. Wheat
low but it always is at this season of the year. Beef cattle are
steady. Pork is on a rising market and dairy products are higher "
than usual. The demand for poultry promises to be good. W
A fair and conservative estimate of the years income for the
valley, allowing for price, yield per acre, and acreage, is that the
income viii be twenty-five per cent greater than last year.
With the decreased outlay, because it is a noticeable fact that
all our people are economizing, there must be a considerable in
creased balance Of trade in our favor, which viii make itself felt
in increased bank deposits, better business for the merchants and
feeling of rest and security for the farmers. Co
When people are getting ahead, or can see their way out II
makes a tremendous difference with the temper of a community. Pl
times make people cynical and disconnected. Good times
the world look bright, the climate genial and the other fellow
pretty good sort after all.
We confidently believe that when the rival claims of receipts
md expenditures have been balanced, that the Belt Valley viii
nearly half a million as a balance in trade in its favor.
Among our people we are becoming aware of a gradual relax Ca
of the facial muscles which had grown taut under the strain
# financial stress.
Heads are up. steps are quick. A smile, a hand-clasp. Cant
top. This is GUS busy day, W e are cutting" And when the final
shall have been struck between the cost of our imported
rticles and the cash received from outside for what the valley has !.
exported, we confidently expect that half a million dollars will =
ave been added to the wealth of the Belt Valley. =
me fourth quarterly conference Most of the reports from outside :