Fergus County Democrat

DEMAND FOR SILVER

The prophets of evil who did so much evil to Montana in times gone by predicting a tidal wave of silver bullion that would swamp the market of the world and ruin the value of the white metal, are meeting wholesale rebukes in the trend of events.

It has become necessary to close down the coinage department and the melting room of the United States mint at Philadelphia, and throw two hundred men out of employment, on account of the inability of the government to secure enough silver bullion to keep things going.

There is an apparent famine in silver bullion, the production having dropped far below the demand.

The republic of Panama has commenced coining silver into pesos, to meet the new conditions of business caused by the construction of the canal, while the war in Asia has developed a strong and constant demand for silver bullion—a demand that will not cease until the wreck and ruin of the conflict shall have been repaired and the business and industrial conditions have resumed their normal form long after peace shall have been declared.

It would seem that the white metal is about to enjoy its day of triumph again; for the demand for bullion will not only stimulate prices but cause an increased output in the near future.

This means everything to the silver districts of Montana, which will take on new life in response to the demand for the white metal and the prosperity it will bring to the state.—Miner.