Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-10-28

One Of Montanz's least known
industries Is now ut the peak Of
urodmction-she Christmas tree m
dusarv, In western Montana, which
produces mmch of the volume OF
Christmas trees sold throughout
the United States, the harvest
az commercial cutting begins about
Oct. ne and the last shipments are
on their way by Dec. 10.
1t Is estimated that the United
States uses about 100000 Christmas
trees annually, but few Montanans
realize that this state produces about
one-sixth of the total output used IN
this country Almost all the trees pro
duced In this state are obtained In
western Montana, chiefly IN Lake,
Lincoln and Flathead counties, and
with the exception Of shipments TO
inland empire cities, the Montana
trees are sold almost entirely In the
unper Mississippi and the Ohio valleys.
Good markets for Montana Christmas
trees are found in such large cities as
Chicago, Cleveland, st. Louis and Min
neapolis, as well as In the great plains
regions where trees are a rarity.
Forest Service Figures
Figures prepared by the Northern
Rocky mountain forest and range ex-
UEIlUlCIkE SbtttNDll VI l14C OAAAbL0 01eNN~%P
forest service reveal that about 1875
900 trees were produced commercially
In western Montana during 1888. Rail
roads shipped $40 carloads of trees to
various markets, and truck shipments
took the remainder
with this production, the harvest Of
Christmas trees is an important in
dustry at this time of year. Douglas
fir, not a valuable lumber tree in this
section, Is the only species used COM
mercially in quantities, and thus Is
popular in the industry After the
trees are cut, they are inspected by
q representative of a Christmas tree
company-there are such companies
which turn their entire attentions TO
that btlsiness-and are judged for size,
business, aroma symmetry and other
features. At the shipping yards, the
trees are sorted by heights, baled com
pactly and loaded in cars for their
long Journey to the middle west. The
average load in a railroad car IS about
ALSO trees or / 200 bales.
Forest service officials point out that
the trees produced In western Mon
tana and In Idaho are preferred by
Christmas tree companies because OF
their size and stature. In those alt1-
taIdes, the trees are valuable because
they do not grow too quickly and thus
their branches are spaced close to-
gether, forming a compact, bushy as
pect. Trees in warmer temperatures
and lower climates grow too quickly
and their branches are so far apart
that the trees seem to be scraggly.
There's Another Angle
But there's another angle TO this
Christmas tree business. The harvest
Is started in October, but the rest Of
the year provides busy times for the
companies dealing in the trees. Prior
to october, orders must be solicited,
ARRANGEMENTS made for cutting areas,
cutters and truckers hired, credit es-
tablished and numerous other details
attended to. Christmas comes up once
a year, but for those who provide the
trees to brighten up home at Yule-
tide, it's an all-year business.
From an economic standpoint, the
industry is profitable TO the state. Pro
ducing a carload of trees provides EN-
ployment for two men for about two
months. and the seasons production OF
35O carloads provides / 400 man-months
of employment. Besides wages, the In
dustry makes expenditures for truck
hire, stumpage, office rental and other
expenses. Railroads estimated their
1888 revenue on shipments at about
100000.
IT'S a one-task industry with few
by-productS, but the annual harvest
OF Christmas trees Is becoming more
and more developed each year and Is
becoming a bigger economic item IN
the life of western Montana, especial
ly during the winter months.