Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-02-24

HNONTANA'S total income as gagged
by the sales value of all her prod
4Vx ucts was about 1865 900, 900 in 1927,
probably the largest in the history OF the
state and certainly the largest income
since the years of the World war, accord
ing to data assembled by the division of
publicity, department of agriculture, la
Dor AM. industry. Montana's income for
1927 with similar figures OF
1881 900, 900 for 1926 and 1919 900, 900 for
1925. The divisions figures reveal a
steady increase in state income since
1924, the increase in the last two years
being s45, 705 .973. Some industries,
notably livestock sold. metal mining and
oil. show declines in value of output.
but these declines are more than offset
by the increased farm crop values and
production. Per capita production for
1927 is estimated at about 1868, at 5000
for 1926 and at $685. in 1925.
Increased Production
THE states increased income is not
the result of an increase in the price
level of her products, for a majority OF
Montana industries have had to contend
with lower prices during the last two
years. 1t is due to increased production,
to scientific agricultural methods COM
bined with favorable weather conditions
on the farms, and to lowering Of costs
in the other industries. The livestock
industry is an exception. prices in 1927
being much higher than in the previous
two years, but, generally speaking, farm
crops, the products OF mines and quar-
ries, lumber and petroleum carried the
handicap of falling markets in 1927" the
publicity office says.
TIL past year was clearly Montana's
greatest for farm crops the revised esti-
mate of the United States department of
agriculture giving a value of S149, 031 900
for crops for 1927 compared with Sl07,-
1873 900 for 1926 II $110. 190, 900 for 1925.
TIL value of the wheat crop for 1927
was s76,62 900, in 1926 only s50,123 900
and SAB, 243 900 for 1925.
Livestock sold is valued at S67,O49,O 600
in 1927. at ST., 001 900 in 1926 and at
S65, 173 900 in 1925.
In spite of q heavy decline in numbers
sold, cattle sales are estimated at $780,
298 900 in 1927. at S31 1876 900 in 1926 and
s26,477,o0 in 1925.
Wool marketed in 1925 was valued at
SO, l56. 900, declining to 1855, 900 in 1926
and again to S6,761 900 in 1927.
In general, livestock inventories are
being increased in the state and the out
look is promising.
Mines and Quarrles
The output of metal mines and quar-
ries has been declining, largely due to
lower metal prices, being valued at $685.
o0O, 900 in 1925, at SOL 500, 900 in 1926,
and at $50, o00. 900 in 1927. Copper pro-
duction was valued at S38, 600. 900 in 1925,
at s35, 752 900 in 1926 and at 500, 1913, 900
in 1927.
The difference in value is strikingly
shown by the following table of COM
parative prices received during 1926 n
1927 for copper, lead. silver n zinc, the
quotations from the Engineering and
Mining journal:
Average Prices 1926 1927
Copper. per pound. ........ 1879 1898
Zinc. per pound. .......... 1877 GA
Lead, per pound. ......... 8.41 CTS
Silver, per ounce. ......... 2.10 $685.
Prices at present are better han the
above figures and encourage an optimis-
SIC outlook for 1923.
Manufacturing
Montana's manufacturing plants show
q consistent increase over the three-year
period, values being placed at S51. SOC, 900
In 1925. at s57,000,000 in 1926 and at
sos 900, 900 in 1927. Smelters and refin-
cries made a considerable outlay in phys
zeal extensions and betterments during
the last year. adding to the / n plants
at Great Falls and Anaconda and equip