The people's voice., 1959-06-05
Montana's Personal Income Lags Behind
Need For Expanded Job Base Again
Pointed Up


but unless there substantial uptun June, that dip
be only temporary for MIN points out the states abo
months with the thousands of additional
tental workers from schools and colleges immigration
transient workers. and housewives and other family worker
seeking summer employment only"
The nut of the situation that Montanas economy
expanding rapidly enough to provide employment opporune
for its increasing population of approximately 10000
year,.
The inadequacy of Montanas base, reflected
yet another be by the degree of recovery
Treasure State has experienced from the recent recession
compared with the 10 other western states and the nation
a whole.
The current issue of u s. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
carrying latest u S. Dept of Commerce figures
states finds
bottom the pile among the western states
and third from the bottom nation Ony the
stand between and the cear The NEWS figures
that estimated personal income gain in our State for over
1858 will considerably half the national personal
income gain.
In fact the estimated 23 per income increase
Montanans will have in 1859 compared with 1858 barely
keeping abreast of population growth On national level
personal income gain of So cent running than
double population growth Montanas estimated per capita
income for 1859 is $194O for the nation whole $2088
Stacking Montana's gain alongside the
western states we find: Arizona 84 cent California
60 cent? Colorado 61; Idaho, 61; Nevada,
o.; New Mexico, 9.0 Oregon, 6.1 Utah. SO; Wash
ington, up "a; and Wyoming, up IL per cent
While Montana has only had moderate employment re-
covery mining industry two major mining states
Arizona and Idaho according to the NEWS find much of their
major personal directly attributable to that
dustry.
In Washington Oregon public power continues
irresistible magnet industry That, along with
covey of the lumber industry has placed both states above
the national personal income growth great influx
industry into California and the other western states
the principal why personal those states
soaring
Monanas tagging behind the other western states and the
nation whole in personal income is not something must
inevitable heritage Our state does not lack the
basic ingredients keep western neghbos We
wealth of both human and physical What
needed the mechanism to both types of gain
full
Key to all is the development of water
with emphasis primarily production of abundant
supply of low cost AS Hungry Horse has amply
low cost will draw industry, will create jobs will
business enterprise and will greatly broaden the tax base
Yelowta Paradise Libby representing millions of poten
ta kowatt hours the three main tumberS in the lock-
which, when the right key fashioned will
pandng horizons of improvement for State
These three constructed will provide jobs where jobs
short supply today will bring improved business climate
throughout will broaden the base that the
property tax will be less burdensome
development of these three major prof
will bring Montana economic climate fully favor
able that which annually brings investment of additional
hundreds of millions of dollars into the economies of other
western states.
Congress this week took the first major step upseng
Eisenhower Administrators "no starts" policy
development Members of delegation should be
urged strike out strongly support of dumping that
good policy altogether Montana future depends the
4 olOo11n I