Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-09-09

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Of the greatest migratory movements
of lar Missionary priest was fol.
lowed by eager gold-seeker, who
blazed the trails and cut the first
pathway across mountain chains that
formed seemingly impossible bar.
riers to the treasured store-houses
within their slopes. In sequence came
the covered wagon of the settler am
bilious to establish a home, till the
fertile valley lands and establish set
Elements that since have grown to
prosperous communities. Then the
iron horse, destroying distances that
had been vast, transporting a popula-
tion required for development, bring
ing distant markets within ready
reach, and establishing connection to
and communication with the outside
world.
"A bountiful Creator had smiled
with benign indulgence upon the land
that was destined to become u state.
An empire in extent, favored by a sa-
luxurious climate; within its hills
there had been placed a store of prec-
ious metals then and now unmatched
in any similar area upon this globe.
From its surface grew %succulent
grasses upon which livestock multi
piled and fattened. It's valleys, wat
cred by crystal streams, yielded an
abundant harvest to those who titled
it. Upon its mountains stood an in
eyhaustible supply of timber. Coal
measures of vast extent ~underlay its
surface. Majestic rivers flowed from
melting SHOWS down tumbling cas-
cades, and waterfalls eagerly awaited
to be harnessed to the service of man,
while pooled in subterranean depths
were reservoirs of oil that one day
were to gush forth to add a quota to
the productive wealth Of this blessed
land.
Attracted by the potentialities
thus offered by it, there came from
distant chimes men and women of
sturdy stock and Godfearing character
who, knowing full the difficulties of
their task, entered into the solemn
undertaking of here founding and es-
tablishing a commonwealth that
should be perpetuated and endure In
to the remotest time.
1.-THE narrative Of that effort. and
it's successful accomplishment, con-
stitutes one of the epic chapters Of
our development as a nation. No need
is there to weary you with never end
ing statistics and the minutia of dry
detail.
I'm mining and metallurgy its in
dustry has become and is recognized
as establishing a standard for the
world to follow. In agriculture and
husbandry its harvests and the char
acter of its produce place it. high
among the contributors to the food
supply of the nation. Its forests, as
yet scarcely touched. contribute to
the building requirements of the coun-
try. Its water power development
has brought to the instant service of
mine. mill, factory and household that
marvellous agency that has helped not
only to lift the burden from the back
Of man and make possible the mech
anization of vast enterprises. but has
also lightened the household toll of her
whose work was never done.
Agencies of transportation have
penetrated into practically every Sec
tion of this vast domain and. through
unsurpassed service, have placed at
the disposal of our people the markets
of the world. But why enumerate ?
This, all this. has been accomplished
within the memory of men still living,
largely by one generation of men,
whose immediate successors still in
sist that they are young.
This is the background of our past
accomplishment. What has been
achieved is a matter of commonplace
knowledge to you all. You know the
position of industrial Importance that
has been attained and that has given
fame to the name of our state through
out the world. Certain it is that our
past is secure in the industrial record
of the nation. But What about our
future?
This is the subject assigned, and
after all the one that is Of most in
terest to US all. The trite common
place that it is not what you have
been but what you are and what you
are to be that is of Importance is as
true of states as it is of men, for. af-
ter all, states are but an aggregation
Of individuals.
Il do not pose as a prophet, nor do
| know of any way of judging the
possibilities of the future save by a
realization of what has been accom-
plished in the past, and an endeavor
to make an intelligent appraisal of
existing factors the development of
which will make for the industrial
prosperity of those who are to come.
ut is a long step since Father De-
Smet opened that first furrow in
Montana's soil to the present product
i've output of this state, which this
year will far outstrip any prior yield.
1t would have been beyond the limits
of mans imagination to have visual
lied the transition that has taken
place since Father Ravalli's first wa
ter-power turned his tiny prist mill