This date in Mineral County history
Historical issues of the Mineral Independent are now available online at Montana newspapers.org, thanks to the efforts of the Mineral County Historical Society. Issues dating back to 1883 can be found and these are just a few headlines which appeared on the front pages of The Mineral Independent during this time period.
July 18, 1918
‘Your Sugar Supply’
The Federal Food Administration writes that the United States is in the midst of its most serious sugar shortage. Americans are asked to materially reduce sugar consumption, although this reduction will not cut our consumption to as low a point as the allowance in France, Belgium or Italy.
Home canning and preserving must be taken care of this summer. It is vital that summer fruits and vegetables be placed in shape for winter use. It is the safest means of providing against a winter food shortage. Sugar must e provided for this preserving and canning.
Hence, the U.S. Food Administration in Montana, under orders from Washington, has asked Montana people to reduce their sugar consumption to two pounds per capita per month for all needs except canning and preserving. It has been ruled that sugar is to be sold in five and ten pound lots only for home use.
Sugar and wheat, the most vital war foods, cannot be supplied in the quantities of normal times. War conditions call for war methods of food distribution. Success in equitable distribution is possible only through the efforts of the American People.
July 27, 1922
With the primary election on Aug. 29, 1922 and the general election coming up on Nov. 7 this issue of the Mineral Independent was full of candidate information. Including this paid advertisement by Byron E. Cooney who was running for Congress:
Cooney was the editor and owner of the newspaper “Montana American of Butte” and ran for the democratic nomination for the First Congressional District. In his ad he says is “is for”: An ample and simplified soldiers’ bonus shorn of excessive red tape. For an amendment of the Volstead Act permitting the manufacture, sale and use of light wines and beers.
For continued Federal aid to communities for good roads and irrigation projects. For government control of radio-telephony, keeping it in the hands of the people. For elevating the standard of foreign immigration, compelling aliens to appreciate and pay for the boon of American citizenship.
He was also for any and all forms of tariff regulation designed to relieve the present disadvantages hampering agricultural interests.
He was “against”: The Esch-Cummins law in its present form and against all forms of tax exempt securities. He was also against any return to old boss ridden system of political convention as well as against chronic encroachment on the liberties of American citizens under the guise of reform.
He was also against that form of veiled sedition which transform American government into a “Soviet”. And he was against conservation of natural resources which, while withholding them from corporate absorption does not withhold them from public use.
July 16, 1931
‘Autogiro Will Come to Fair’
As part of the entertainment at the North Montana fair in Great Falls, fair commissioners had Charles E. Haines from Seattle bring an autogiro airplane for the five days of exposition. The article stated that, “This will be the first autogiro ship even seen in Montana and in many other states of the Northwest and is the 21st plane manufactured by the Pitcairn Aircraft, Inc., Willow Grove, Pa.”
The fair board felt fortunate in bringing the airship for the fair, “believing it to be one of the greatest entertainment features that could be obtained for the initial North Montana show…a space of 400 feet square is sufficient for the plane to land and take off. This size field will give the plane a four-way port. The plane will take off in 75 feet, gaining altitude at a 30 degree angle. It lands in practically a vertical position….The autogiro will fly a full load and maintain a regular altitude at 24 miles an hour.”