Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-07-26
TWO BOYS MADE
RICH STAKE IN
MONTANA GRAIN
WORKED DAY AND NIGHT no
MAKE BIG CROPS ON
DRY LAND

The following story, WIN great
Montana wheat crop ready for hax-
vest, Is one which was written by
the late Ed H. Co0ney Of Great
Falls. The story is stiIl told when
wheat men gather.
When discussing the raising Of
wheat in Montana, and the possible
opportunity of making money in the
game, consider the Smith boys
The Smith boys, John, aged %, and
Albert. aged Is, formerly lived In this
section, their father having a ranch
10 miles west Of Great Falls upon the
Sun river bench. The family moved to
Glendale, Calf, because Of the fathers
health.
In the spring, early it was, John and
Albert saddled up their little jitney,
filled it with bedding and food and,
driving day and night-for the Smith
boys had no time to waste-arrived
on the ranch west Of Great Falls IN
six days John, aged %, hoped onto
a little Fordson tractor and started to
plough the morning after arrival, and
kept at it from daylight until very
dark until $50 acres were ploughed
good and deep.
Albert Did Cooking
Albert, aged 16, did the cooking, fed
the tractor gas and oil, kept the nuts
tight, sharpened the tools necessary.
narrowed, and made himself generally
useful. The 100 acres were seeded TO
spring Wheat-and the seeding was
finished before some farmers had
started to plough. The next day John
hit for Great Falls, and the next day
he was working as an auto mechanic
at So per day, going out to the ranch
each night after his days work and
coming In before starting time each
morning. 1t saved room rent, made eat
ing more economical, and took away
temptation to spend any Of his salary
money in unnecessary foolishness. Al
bert, In the meantime, didn't lose a
day coming to Great Falls, but hired
out to neighbortng farmers at So per
day and found, and never lost a day,
except that he and John met at the
ranch Sunday and worked all day at |
what might be necessary to the grow !
ing crop-and in getting things ready
for the harvest.
When the grain ripened John and
Albert quit their Jobs, hired a mar. |
bought cheap team Of horses and. |
working almost day and night, harvest !
ed the entire 260 acres, John cutting |
with the tractor and Albert and the |
man stacking the grain from 100 acres, !
The other 100 acres was left In the |
shock to be threshed from the field. |
When nearly finished, Albert sent q |
letter by the rural delivery man to |
mother IN Glendale, Calf, to come on |
the next train-and mother came q |
few days before the harvest was COM
pleted, and cooked for the threshinr
crew when the threshing followed right /
on the heels Of the harvest. Still doing
teamwork under pressure the Smith
boys sold their wheat before It was
fully threshed at 90 cents the busheI.
and the amount threshed ran over $500
bushels, or about 20 bushels to the
acre, meaning over $4,000.
Tin Lizzie and $4,000
And then John, aged %. and Al
bert, 16, were ready to 90 back to
Glendale, Calf, In the tin lizzie, tax
ng mother and the $4,000 with them
70 show to dad, for they had made
more than enough money at working
)ut during the summer to pay for
and threshing and other
expenses, and had a nice little bunch
eft for any other purpose.
Il only took a vacation from nv
lob In California and Albert has To
90 to school, so we have to hurry I'D
and get back home" said John.
So 1t might not be out Of place when
discussing Montana farming by dry
and method, also by method of solid
work and no foolishness. to consider
he Smith boys-John, %, and Al
bert, 10.