The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-10-04
Territory Has
Possibilities
For Future.
Montana Study Meeting
Discusses Future Of
County's Farms, Etc.
DR.. KAUFMAN LEADS
TIMELY DISCUSSION

That there are possibilities for
further moderate expansion of agri-
cultural development in Lincoln
county and that the natural re-
sources of the county also make
possible a greater development of
an industrial nature were two con-
illusions coming out of roundta-
BILE discussion held in the commun-
ity room, Libby last Thursday ev-
ening.
The meeting was sponsored by
DR.. Harold Kaufman, who is in the
county conducting the Montana
Study here, along social and indus
trial lines. 1t was called primarily
to consider local agricultural prob
lens but also took I'D discussion
of related subjects The meeting was
opened NV Miss Inez Ratekin, coun-
ty librarian, who has been cooperat-
ing with DR.. Kaufman in the work
in the county. She stated the pur-
nose of the meeting and introduced
DR.. Kaufman who acted as chair
man. DR. Kaufman IN turn intro
duced Prof. r. G. Bolster. agricu1-
tural economist of the Montana
State Cnllepe Pn7aman. who was
present Prof Polcter called atten-
ton to the need for wise local
PLANNING 50 as better To nrovide
Jobs and nnnortunitiee for the re-
turning soldiers. DR.. Kaufman then
led those present into general
discussion which rortinued for
about two hours Out of it one could
gather the following pertinent
points
More Farm Development
In the Libbv-Trov district the
limit has about been reached in beef
cattle DEVELOPMENT because of graz
ing limitations. Howard Ahlskop Of
the forest service estimated that
probably thefeaare thousand head
Of beef cattle in the district There
are possibilities for a somewhat
greater DEVELOPMENT of dairying
depending on larger production of
f1av and other feeds. This could be
augmented by irrigation either by
pumping plants or bv gravity svs-
TENS from the manv streams of the
district No great success, except on
special acreages, could be obtained
without irrigation. The idea was ex-
pressed that there ought to be more
individual pumping plants taking
water from the river for lands adj
joining the Kootenai
While overall AGRICULTURAL de-
velopment in the district is limited.
it was brought out that better liv-
ing conditions could be provided
through the nresent trend of de-
velopjng further the rural home
idea. This is where workers in the
towns and cities purchase tracts Of
few acres within few rifles of
the city and develop homes thereon.
On such tracts, few chickens
could be kept, possibly COW or
two, and there could be berries and
other fruits and garden truck raised.
1t was mentioned during this dis
cussion by Mrs. Slice of Troy that
grower in that district had real
lied $500 from an acre of raspber-
ries this wear.
Christmas Tree Industry
Considerable discussion of the
Christmas tree industry was had
A. H. Sheldon asked if it would be
feasible for a private individual to
plant an area to Christmas trees
and wait for their development. Mr..
Ahlskog answered that such plan
would be practical but would re-
quire about 20 years for the trees
to become marketable. Irrigation
would hurry the growth of the
trees but would make them insult