The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-01-15
A, 900 MONTANA JOBS NEEDED

BASIN.
A, 900 MONTANA JOBS NEEDED
| mentioned earlier how this re-
source development work could relate
to the need for more jobs which Pro-
fessor Chambers foresees. In a speech
to the Missoula Advertising Club last
| November he reported that the in
crease in Montana's per capita in
come from 1850 to 1858 was the low
est of any state, only 20 per cent,
just enough to offset the declining
purchasing power of the dollar in that
period.
The reasons for this economic de-
cline, he said, were the declining rela-
tive Importance of agriculture and
the relatively poor growth perform
ance of the private non-farm segment
of the economy. Government income
payments in the state increased SUBJ
stantially during the decade. most
of them being related to the air bases
in the state.
Chambers said the Bureau of the
Census foresees a population growth
of 13 per cent during the decade,
from 100000 to $4,000.
Experience in Montana shows that
approximately 40 per cent of the
total population is in the labor force.
This means that during the COS the
number of workers will increase by
$4,000, from 268,0OO to 100000.
Then add another painful fact-if
past experience is any guide. there
will be 10000 fewer agricultural
workers needed in Montana by 1870.
One new job in basic industry Gre
ates the need for one additional serv-
ice job-teaching school, practicing
law, running stores and the like. Thus
the challenge. as Chambers puts 1T
bluntly, is to develop $4,000 more
jobs in the next decade, one half of
them in the basic industries.
WOODS AND WATER
Let's look now at how development |
of two of Montana's basic and abund-
ant resources, water and wood, could |
help provide those jobs.
In big dam construction, according
to Bureau of Reclamation studies, al
most half the cost of the dam goes
for on-site costs, Apply that to Vel
lowtail and you've got $40 million
payroll and 5000 man~years of en-
ployment. Apply it to Paradise and
you have a 5000 million payroll and
33, 900 man-years of employment.
Yellowtail would require about
$4,000 man-years of employment in
service industries and Paradise 65,-
900 man-years.
The total for these two projects,
in terms only of payrolls and jobs,
would thus approximate $40 million
N payroll and 10000 man-years of
work, decade of gainful employ
nent for more than 1000 men. In
lustries might decide to locate near
;hese dams.
Full development of Montana's
forests could provide additional thou
sands of jobs. In 1858 Senator Muir
'ay and Mansfield and Congressman
Metcalf and Anderson asked the For
est Service to prepare a study out
lining statewide program to develop
'ully the potential of Montana's for
,st resources. II
Regional Forester Charles Tebbe
estimated that full forest develop
nent in the state might contribute Ii
$4,000 jobs and $3.50 million in an
lual wages. That would be an in
rease of $1,000 jobs and STA mil
ion in annual forest payroll from
he 1857 level.
Also to be considered, he pointed
'ut, is the employment income aft
orded by businesses which supply
nd service forest product industries
nd their dependent communities. The
1ost conservative estimate. reported
he regional forester, is that full de-
elopment would create another 72,-
90 jobs and $3.50 million annual pay
oil in these service industries in the
'reasure State.
Thus achievable wood and water
evelopment in Montana could create
bout 100000 new jobs.
Full development of Montana's re-
ources, to provide Montana jobs for
[ontana people, will take a lot of
Ding.
I