The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-03-29
CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAIN
STATES
BabsOn Lists Assets of the
Rugged West

Wellesley Hills, Mass, March %
1928: Today Roger w. Babson issued
his report on conditions in that sec.
ton of the country which extends
from the Agricultural States thru to
the Pacific Coast States. This group
consists of Montana, Wyoming, Colo
RADIO, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, New
Mexico, Arizona and part of Texas
and Oklahoma.
81 am very fond of this mountain
section" says Mr. Babson. at is the
section which develops those manly
and robust qualities which are the
backbone of American Civilization.
This is the West, which developed
Roosevelt spiritually, mentally and
physically. Rugged character of both
country and people, freedom from
artificial conventionality and the GUS
tom Of Judging men solely by what
they are; characterizes these Noun
tain States. This was very forcibly
brought to my mind last month when,
on my way south, / stopped in Phila-
delphia to call upon George Horace
Lorimer, editor of the Saturday Eve
ming Post, man who it is said has
the greatest political influence Of any
man in America. When urging Mr..
Lorimer to visit me in the South he
replied: 'Babson, the South is all
right for those who want to live in
big hotels and play golf, but give me
the Gran dCanyon Of Colorado where
/ can ride up and don thetrai 1928
l can ride up and down the trails.
There is something about that noun
famous country that inspires me as
well as rests me- Similar statements
have been made to me by many of
Americas greatest captains of In
dustry. They may go to- other Sec
tions of the country for amusement
and diversion but when they desire
real recreation to be rebuilt and re-
created, they go out into the Rocky
Mountains.
"Yet," continues Mr.. Babson, "this
mountain section has its struggles.
The same difficulties, which meet the
traveller when climbing the hills and
crossing the deserts, seem to con-
front those who have settled down
to develop the country. Not only has
this section suffered more than any
other, but it's problems are more diff
ficult of solution. The chief indus
tries are cattle and sheep raising,
mining, numbering and certain
amount of agriculture including the
raising of very fine fruit in certain
irrigated sections. All of these lines
have suffered during the past few
years and are only now beginning to
look better.
REIMBURSEMENT in this section has
been severe and prolonged, but l be-
live that 1923 will go down in history
as year Of local improvement. Altho
no sharp upturn is likely, those doing
business in these states will note a
broadening of purchasing activities
and diminishing volume of overdue
accounts. From a mining standpoint
1922 was one of the worst years on
record. Poor market conditions and the
unusually low prices for copper, zinc
lead resulted in the closing of many
mines. The value Of the leading min
eral products taken out of the ground
in Montana in 1921 was only $751;
$4,000 compared with $65, 573, 900 in
1920 Greatest activity was noted in
the mining of silver and silver-lead
ores. The market for all of the non.
ferrous metals is quiet, but the fun
damental tendency is toward a bet
ter demand and strengthening prices
Already number Of the larger mines
and refining plants have resumed OPP
erations. Progress along these lines
may be slow for some months, but il
will be in the right direction. Per-
sonally, l am distinctly bullish on the
copper situation and believe that Mon
tana and the other copper districts
will show the greatest percentage of
increase in 1923, over 1921 and 1922
of any section of the country. The
same things, only to lesser extent,
should apply to the cattle and sheep
business"
In discussing some of the cities of
of the mountain section, Mr.. Babson
reports as follows: Denver, a city
approaching 100000 in population,
shows sales to be 1850 of what they
were year ago. Car shops, pack
ing and miscellaneous industries are
about normal today. l am sure, how
ever, that Denver and the entire state
Of Colorado will have better year
in 1923 than it had in 1922. Salt
Lake City, Utah, with population
of about $4,000, reports greater ac-
tivity in mining and smelling with an
improved condition of those industries
catering to the farmers. Pueblo, Col
orado, with $1,000 is not yet back
IN lid L