Montana oil and mining journal., 1938-06-18

II moisture conditions continue
favorable 100000 acres sOwed 70
spring and winter wheat in north
ern and northeastern Montana
NAV produce anywhere from b.
OO0,O00 TO 35,O00,00O bushels, as
compared with last years ship
ments Of around 100000 bushels
from the same area
This Is the belief OF y. r. DIXON,
superintendent of the 1,500-mile Butte
division of the Great Northern rail-
way. following an intensive survey OF
the great wheat belt served by ms
division. extending from Havre to the
North Dakota line with all connecting
branches, and taking in the lines pc
tween Butte and Hayre, Great FalS
and Sweet Grass, and branch lines out
of Great Falls to Augusta, LeW1StoWn
While the wheat crop outlook is
better throughout the division than
AT anv time within the past 10 years,
the weather of the next few weeks VIII
ten the story, Dixon emphasized.
Record Yield Possible
There is no question at tllls Time
that a good winter wheat y1eld VIII
he had. almost regardless OF weather
Conditions. The spring wheat, except
in areas where excess moisture pre-
edvanced To insure some kind of a
crop. The spring wheat has everything
in its favor now, with subsoil moisture
restored throughout the region, ana II
perfect conditions continue TO prevail,
a 35,O00,OO0 bushel yield IS entirely pos
sible. Hot winds and lack OF moisture
would force a drastic downward re-
vision of this estimate, OF course,
Dixon pointed out
IN making his survey, Dixon drove
from Glasgow to Opheim, cutting |
across wheat growing sections adjacent |
TO the Great Northern main line, then I
travelled from Ophein to Bainvllle, |
from Bainville to Watford City, n; D.,
then doubled back to Richey. From I
Richey he drove across country to
Wolf Point by way of Vida.
In one year, Dixon said, this region
has been transformed by abundant
rainfall from a desert-like area to one
where waving wheat fields and green
range meet the eye on every hand.
Il talked with farmers along the
road, with business men, with bankers,
and evervwhere found renewed op-
tinism, based on the return OF subsol
moisture by the abundant rains OF
fall and spring" he said.
Landowners Return
In the district, an almost phenom-
email return Of landowners occurred
this spring when news OF cIlangeo Gull
ditions reached them.
They came from Washington, from
Oregon. and from other sections, put
their land in shape and sowed it to
wheat, with the aid Of federal seed
loans, all in the space of a few weeks.
The migration back to the wheat belt,
following the rains, almost deserves
the rating of modern miracle" Dixon
said.
"There is a new feeling throughout
the whole country, and it is shared in
oy men who have been there for years, /
through the ups and downs of the .
irouth. At Richey talked with Banker
Foley. with Merchants Hansen and
PETERSON. At Bainville with Merchant
Art Caulston; at Plentywood with
Aessrs. Ford, Lewis and Jackson, to
Mention only a few. Some have been :
esidents of the area for 20 years, some 4
onger. All feel the same optimism, and
III base it upon the restoration OF sub
oil moisture" he said.
On the entire trip, Dixon said, ne
aw no evidence Of soil blowing Of any
and saw no barren range
and. A noticeable feature, he said, and
me which may continue TO be an inn
,ortant factor in guaranteeing inn
is the evidence on every
land of concerted efforts-to save soil
-alues by conservation measures, such
g strip farming and contourtng.