Belt Valley times. [volume], December 22, 1921, Page Page 2, Image 2

About Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
- ;
Although no direct allusion to the reopening of the copper
mines of Montana was contained in the news given to the press last,
Friday of the purchase of a controlling interest in the American
Brass company by the Anaconda Copper Mining company, the ex
pressions of men high in the affairs of the latter company in this
state are such that there is a general confidence that it actually
means an early resumption of copper mining on a scale of perman
àncÿ BüBerîo unknown. Facts were made known in the press ac
counts regarding the deal which makes it the most important and
far reaching piece of news in the history of the state. The Ameri
can Brass company is a concern of huge proportions, which in nor
mal times uses more copper and zinc than the mines of Montana
can produce. The owners of the greatest copper mines in Mon
tana by the purchase of this vast concern have created a market
for their product apparently for all time.
It is a big thing, one that could only be done by big men in a
big way, and with big capital behind them. It is one of the ac
complishments of a "soulless" corporation, composed of men with
souls and a conscientious sense of responsibility. It is not to say
that the motives actuating the promoters of this big deal are alto
gether humanitarian. They are looking to the interests of the
corporation no doubt, but to one who has watched the trend of qf
BELT VALLEY TIMES
J. B. L)«imiior«, Manager
$2 a Y ear ia Advance
Amené» Free» Amo . Foreign
Ad.tni.in« Reiw*««u«iv«
isatared in the Poetottec ac Belt.
Moat., u Second CUn M«l
Published Each Thursday by The Belt Valley Timea Company
GOOD NEWS FOR MONTANA
fairs in Butte it has another significance.
For several months since the shutdown of the mines there,
Butte has
charity has been busy alleviating suffering and want.
taken care of its own, but for every dollar raised in that city by its
citizens, one dollar and a half was guaranteed by the mining cor
porations. The citizens' fund was also swelled by more than lib
eral contributions from non-resident officials and stockholders in
the various mining corporations of that city. In consequence, al
though thousands have been out of work for many months, there
has been no suffering or actual want from that cause. '
The big corporation in Montana in past years has been the
target for attacks that has exhausted the vindictive vocabulary of
ranting demagogues. There are still publications edited by pea
nut-brained blather-skites who pour out invective and abuse in an
expiring wail against things as they are, while they vision the van
ishing job of the professional labor leader as we have known him
and tolerated him in past years. The people of Montana have a
much clearer conception of the value of capital, when directed by
men of human syspathy, than they ever had before, and it is a
better thing all around, better for the people, better for capital and
better for Montana.
According to the annual report of the general land office,
there is yet much government land open for entry in the Great
Falls land district, which includes eleven counties or parts of coun
ties, to put it exactly there are over 97,000 acres available to home
steaders in this district.' To avoid any undue rush to the land of
fice, it might be well to explain, however, that there are some dif
ficulties ahead for one who has ambitions toward carving a home;,.
out of the land that Unde Sam has to offer in this district. To
those familiar with the conditions of land settlement in Montana,
there is much of truth in the jest that has had currency ever since
the homestead law came into being, which described the home
steader as one who had the nerve to bet $16 against 160 acres of
LOTS OF FREE LAND YET, BUT—
land that he could make a liviug on it for five years. Uncle Sam
has raised the ante and is even willing now to put up 640 acres.
Naturally in a state which has had several booms in land set
tlement during the last 40 or 50 years, the desirability of the land
now remaining for homestead use is questionable. For the most
part, in fact, practically all the land now open to settlement in this
land district is suited for grazing purposes only. Eventually, no
doubt, it will be acquired by private interests, but there will be no
wild rush by the land hungry for anything in the shape of open
land now remaining in this land district,
in much of this land classified as grazing,
in Montana pasturage will become a problem with the overcrowd
ing of the range, and stockmen will be compelled to acquire acreage
for summer pasture for their herds. The compliance with the law
in grazing homesteads is not onerous, and entails few hardships,
and anyone irt possession of their homestead rights can acquire
title to 640 acres, which in a few years would bring an income that
would pay good interest on the investment of time and effort in
securing the title.
The vacant land in the Great Falls land district does not in
clude any, or at least very little, land with valuable timber, as near
ly all timber land is included in the national forests, and is not sus
ceptible to homestead or settlement.
However, there ia value
As the cattle increase
a
v
HOLIDAY HAPPINESS
In approaching the subject of a holiday editorial, it has just
occurred to us to ask a question of the reader: Haven't we beerr
kidding ourselves into the belief that America has been suffering
from hard times? And then one more question: What consti
tutes hard times? As a matter of absolute fact, during the past
year there is not an authenticated instance of a single person in
America dying of starvation, and so far as we know, there is not
a single person in Montana suffering from real hunger. The fact
is, there is plenty in America tq feed and clothe everybody, and
furthermore, there appears a surplus sufficient to save the lives of
millions in sections of the world where people really understand
and know the literal meaning of the expression "hard times.
Just a little thought, and you who happen to read this wiii un
derstand and admit that our conception of hard times is a joke.
In a country that has always fed its own and a large share of the
rest of the world, a creditor nation, with resources illimitable,
where the laborer of today is the capitalist of tomorrow, where
opportunity knocks with sledgehammer blows, the cry of "hard
times" is a silly phantasy that has no place In the minds of those
who have given a thought to the realities of life as lived in less
favored parts of the world.
Holiday happiness is not altogether dependent upon the
timental or religions exaltation with which we are taught to
gard it. Material welfare is a usual necessity, and though to
many at this holiday season in Montana the sense of concrete pros
parity may be absent, we feel that the news published last week
conveys a h«g>e for the immediate future of Montana that will
•muse alt of us to forget for the time being the imaginary ills that
we have been nursing. The certainty of a revival of Montana's
chief industry ia a message that will make for the right kind of
enjoyment of the coming holidays. It was the one thing needed to
insure the holiday spirit, and it came at the opportune time.
"Hard times r Forget it!.
Merry Christmas!
sen
re
TO VOTE ON CONSOLIDATION
Every general election seems to bring a crop of referendum
m e asu res, and (he general state election next fall will probably
have its fuU quota for the electors to struggle with. One of the i
first to be brought to the attention of citizens comes out of Butte
and relates to the question of an amendment to the state constitu-1
! tion permitting a change in the governments of counties and cities. !
I The amendment will provide the means by which city and county
governments may consolidate under one head. As the provisions
I for consolidation are not compulsory, the measure should and prob- i
i ahlv will naaa
aoiy wm pass. . .... I
fora long time now, under certain conditions of political dom
ination of populous centers over the rural districts, there has been
a feeling among those who dwell in counties dominated politically
by a city, that there is a great waste in the duplication of govern
ment expense. For instance, the city of Butte, which for all prac
tical purposes, is the county of Silver Bow, has been staggering
for years under the weight of a dual government; in fact, is peril
0 usly near to bankruptcy in both branches of its official existence,
an d it requires no great exhibition of common sense to realize the
direct benefit accruing through a consolidation,
There are other counties in Montana where a rural vote is
practically valueless, and where consolidation would without ques
tion solve a great many problems of finance that appear under
present conditions almost unsurmountable. The cutting down of
counties for the creation of new ones would become a voluntary
proceeding, instead of a battle as at present, and compact economi
cal government a possibility, at least, and eliminating very largely
the clash of interests inseparable from the political domination of
urban districts over the rural. The idea is at least worthy of care
f u | study, as it has been tried out successfully in several states and
found practical and economical.
The taxpayers of Montana have awakened to the necessity of
more economy in government. The several leagues and associa
tions now organized in many counties appear to have had influence
enough to promote a great many small savings in the various of- 4
fices of county and city governments, and this consolidation move
ment looks to us like a matter where savings can be made on a
scale of magnitude really worth while.
A student of history announces that women ruled the world
2500 years before the birth of Christ. As a news item that is a
dud. We discovered it years ago.
The clock sets a good example for anyone to follow. It passes
the time by keeping its hands busy,
—
Twenty Years floo
Items Taken at Random From
the Files of the Times of 1901
■
<
Miss Neillie Rice of Riceville will
spend the holidays with Great Falls
friends.
Jos. Lavoie has established a saw
mill near Barker and is working on a
lumber contract.
Irving Greenslit of Evans has gone
to Butte, where he will work in the
mines during the winter. |
Chas. Stephens of Highwood has re
^™hhorhr?d of rhb.o!k V,8,t *" thc j
Dave Ledbetter deputy sheriff, and
j Hank Tegtmeier of Neihart were in
1 Belt the first of the week.
Wm. T Ridgley has made apphea
elaVm located on^ora creek. * ' eSerl
| Sam Purdy and Will Heron, who arc i
attending the Montana Wesleyan um- j
''ersity at Helena, are home for the j
'"-There will be a big Christmas enter
tainment at the Upper Highwood hall
Christmas eve, with a big Christmas
tree followed by a dance.
Lew Clergy and Fred Chapin con
1,000 Stitches a Minute—If You Want 'am
»
a# f
I
3
On a Wastam Electric Sawing Machina
Usually Soli far nat lass fhai $60.00
Oatil December 24 Paly $ 35.00
I
•X
FREE
DiMIms Era Only:
WhMt
a DaiveML"
H
Umfkt
Until
a <•*
Pvrthatars:
$M Royal mr Apax Vaesraun Gaaaar
#19 Dnhwwl Percolator - - -
99 Universal Toaster - - - - •
Paroslatar and Toaster far • • ■
916 Universal Waffle Iren - - •
91969 Majestic Electric
91160 Unhrereal Radiant GrtU
Pretty
KEQULAK flQCS $ 6.78,
14 taly -
9.49
..$4.45
A
Until
4.99
Twfai
I960
1969
Saclnt
Plat
«
' f
Attakmat
JQnti Falls Nmr
.
THESE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES ARE DISPLAYED AND SOLD AT KIERSTEAD'S ELECTRIC SHOP AT PRICES GOV
ERNING IN ÀROVE ADVERTISEMENT. CUSTOMERS ARE INVITED TO CALL AND PLACE THEIR ORDERS EAR}. Y IN
THE MONTH IN ORDER THAT THE APPLIANCES MAY BE SHIPPED FROM GREAT FALLS IF NECESSARY TO ORDER
ADDITIONAL STOCK 1
GREAT FALLS POWER COMPANY - v
v J. A. KIBRSTEAD, Agent
ducted "open house" to 20 or more
quests all day Christmas at their
bachelor quarters near the bridge.
J. E. Epperson has returned from a
trip to Havre. He expects to return
there next month and enter the rail
road shops to learn the machinist's j
trade.
Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Goodman en- J
tertained a large number of their
friends Saturday evening at the ranch
above Armington. The severe storm
prevented many others from attend
ing. j
Paul Marcure, one of the first pros-1
pectors of the Neihart district, was 1
!a * <t '. n to Great Falls this week fori
medical treatment. Mr Marcure is ;
-I**,,™"* J^e prospecting^ AUska
during the past few years!
The gtate wil] Dresent Christmasi
»rifts of freedom to 13 prisoners in the 1
Mont f. r ' a Rt ? te I? enit * n t> ar y. accordin *
Î." "^ t j l " n i . , - a ' " ï* oar 1 of
paro]e the men f 0 n 0w i n p the^recom
mend «tion of Warden Potter and the
DISCOURAGING WEATHER TO
TO LOOK FOR EMPLOYMENT
state parole commissioner.
. NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Non-Coal
Department of the Interior, U . S.
i Und Office at
'***• 10th > 1921
D Notice w hereby given tut Michael
! Jaly^lßth, Tais, Addition«"
Homestead Entry, No. 060167 for
SEKNWJ4, EttSWK, Section 32,
i Township 17 north. Range 9 east,
(Montana meridian, has filed notice of
I intention to make three-year proof, to
establish claim to the land above de-
scribed, before w. S. Hawk, U. S.
Commissioner, at Stanford, Mont., on
nami^T^eSa Mat
Salo of Geyser, Mont.; Tony Skites,
Peter Skit«» and John Bodner, all of
Rayneaford, Mont.
(First Pub ™ mi^16^22)
~ — 2 --—
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
4
-
+
Great Fall«, Moat.
Dr. J. S. Stewart
DENTIST
PERMANENTLY LOCATED
OVER STATE BANK
Dr. J. W. Gravbeal
*
Dr. E. R. touts
Physicians and Surgeons
Dr. Chamberlain's Former
Offices
«#
Horus: 10 to 12, 2 to 4
7 to 8
i
_
.
BELT, MONTANA
LEO C.QRAYBILL
«
f
I
+•
LAWYFB
Belt.
Mont.
DR. A. M. MACAULEY
Physician & Surgeon
Offices
602 First Nat. Bank Bldg
GREAT FALLS, MONT.
Dr. Gaarga H. ChasF
-DENTIST
Ollier in Conrad Bank B.nidlug
Montai,
Great Pal *,
i-t
Gulden Insurance
Agency
GENERAL INSURA N C E
Belt, Montana
DR. HOSSBEIN
OPTICIAN
Sead Your Broken Glasses
to me for Repairing
The Mas who (triad* Veer Lease*
While Vee Walt
37 Tod Block. Great Fails
I CHAS. E. PETERSON
UNDERTAKER
I lr a *> — d hmMlmdr (or »ha State ol Mooum
Canto er Street. •*- Belt« Moot*»-.
L. A. NUTTING
VETERINARY SURGEON
Residence 1104 4th Ave. No.
Phone 6380
GREAT FALLS, MONT.
Marry H. McCole
DRY
GLEANER
PHONE 9462
PARCEL POST ORDERS
EXPECTED
Montana
Great Falls.
Pure Fresh Milk
—and—
CREAM
For Sale at all Times.
RIVERSIDE DAIRY
Mr», D. w. BURNETT, Prop.
'Phone 53, Belt, Mont.