The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-05-16
BIG BUSINESS IN THE WEST

Tom Stout, the long-headed owner and editor of Lewistown's
excellent daily newspaper, thinks Montana is not yet getting her
share of about the biggest business in the West. He discusses at
some length the methods by which California, Arizona, New Mexico
and Colorado attracted a flood of travel and gained new wealth and
more people. California had climate, Arizona, health giving sun
shine, New Mexico, Indians and Colorado, Mountains With these
as a starter they expanded their attractions and lured the fasteners
who were weary with their old routine and with packing around
wealth gained largely by lending money and selling manufactures
to the West Now the tourist business with these four states reaches
into hundreds of millions of dollars, and the gain from new, per
manent residents is a important item.
Montana has summer climate that is unbeaten, a per cent of
sunshine that is the envy Of lower, more humid regious, numerous
tribes of Indians who offer a new and interesting study to the thrill
seeking East, and mountain scenery, wide in expanse and variety
e beauty and grandeur to compel the admiration of worldwide
travellers. Montana also still holds to the traditions and the sprt.
of the Old West the West of the big ranches, the rodeo, the cowboy
and cowgirl, the squawman. the trappers and the old forts and
trading posts. The old wild West has an appeal that never wears
out. They try to initiate it from Chicago to London. Montana has
the real stuff But Montana underestimate many of her assets.
Probably there are no two western states so much alike S to
natural features as Wyoming and Montana. Wyoming has rapidly
developed the art of selling herself to the rest of the world and
there are well beaten paths to her numerous doors. But to return
to Editor Stout, he thinks Montana is neglecting of her best
opportunities and concludes his editorial thus:
"The point is that California and Arizona and New Mexico and
Colorado are collecting from the tourists of this country at least
a billion dollars every year. They are participating very hand
somely in about the greatest business in the country today, the tour
ist business, and al we recently travelled up and down and across
mand, W could not help wondering how long it will be before Mon
tana wakes up and begins to demand her share of this very excellent
cash business. Although Dan Milestone of Cut Bank and others
assume a sort Of supercilious attitude when this particular business
is mentioned in connection with Montanas development we are
inclined to insist that thars gold in them jitneys and their larger
prothers OF the limousine las that W e here in Montana, where
We have more honesttogoodness scenic attractions than all of these
states combined and a more luxurious summer climate than any oil
them ever dreamed of + simply foolish if we any longer neglect
ten million automobiles will be m the road headed for some place
different-for cooler nights and anuing lakes and inviting glens
places beside rolicking streams. all of which we have in vast meas
ue right here in Montana But at the risk of being called a /
booster" a term which We dislike above most others. by Dan
MILESTONE and other skeptcs. we are going to touch up this subject
again and often, and at length"