Glacier County chief., 1939-07-07
Montana's Best Crop Outlook in Years Starts
Wheels of Prosperity Generally Over State

Prospects for substantial and
general prosperity are the best In
several years. This Is the opinion
of business leaders who base their
conclusions on the steady increase
in mercantile purchases in recent
months, reflecting increased pur-
chasing power.
Factors on which the forecast Of
greatly improved conditions are
based include:
The best agricultural outlook In
position of the livestock industry.
Employment of skilled labor on
public building projects and private
construction.
The volume of Industrial payrolls.
Activity in the oil fields and as
ISOLATED industries.
Business leaders who were inter-
viewed pointed out that new
wealth, represented by agricultural,
livestock, mineral, petroleum, gas
and like production, Is the founda-
ton of real prosperity and that the
prospects in these lines are highly
encouraging.
In the last month money has
gone into circulation through the
sale of government loan-StOred
wheat. The moving of this carry
over grain eliminates 1t as a pO-
tential price factor when the new
crop Is harvested. With compare
lively high yields apparently in the
making, farmers and others are
considering the market outlook. A
great majority of Montana's wheat
farmers are qualified to get gov
eminent loans which, with the
other federal subsidies, are expect
ed to guarantee a price above the
cost of production.
Recent figures show a better wool
price than last year. Stockmen
have plenty of grass and there Is
ample hay in the stack or in the
field for all needs. A lively de-
mand for cattle to build up herds
is anticipated.
Things are moving at a lively
pace in the oil fields. New oil and
gas wells are being brought in. In
some camps there is considerable
mining activity, especially in gold
small scale operations which In the
aggregate become important.
New wealth of whatever kind
gravitates into business channels
and accounts In no small degree,
merchants say, for the upturn In
mercantile lines. The employment
situation Is better than for a long
time.
In Great Falls there is school
construction, the civic center, the
airport, buildings at the North
Montana State fair, remodeling Of
business buildings and building and
improvement of residential prop
erty summarize the building pro-
gram there. Still to come is the
Great Falls housing authority
project. As an example Of what Is
going on, it is pointed out that In
one block on the PRINCIPAL business
street, improvements or remodel
business buildings this year and
another project of considerable
scope is scheduled for this summer.
A survey reveals that at least
so new houses are being built In
Great Falls and money is being
spent for the betterment of hum
dreds of others. Real estate men
report that dwellings of the kind
most in demand are virtually not
to be had for renting and that the
sale value Of homes in this city Is
far above the average.
In Billings, Helena, Butte, Mis-
soula, Bozeman, Livingston, Miles
City and smaller towns similar
situations prevail.
Industrial Employment Up
Industrial employment has held
up well this year, notably at the
Anaconda Copper Mining Co.
plants In Butte, Anaconda and
Great Falls. The Great Northern,
Northern Pacific and Milwaukee
railroad shops have big psyrolls.