Foreword 



/Jl^ HIS PUBLICATION is issued by authority of the State of 

 %r| ^ Montana by the State Department of Agriculture and PubHcity 

 for the purpose of acquainting prospective settlers and investors 

 with conditions as they exist in Montana. 



This Department represents no private interest; it has nothing to 

 sell. Its aim and ambition is merely to give to the earnest inquirer the 

 truth regarding Montana. This State wants settlers for the millions of 

 acres of good agricultural land waiting for the plow, and it also seeks 

 legitimate investors who will assist in the development of the many and 

 varied natural resources with which this commonwealth is endowed. For 

 the energetic and ambitious, it is confidently believed that there exist 

 in Montana opportunities for advancement which cannot be duplicated; 

 opportunities which, even here, will not long be available. It is to acquaint 

 this class of people with what Montana has to offer that this publica- 

 tion is issued. 



This is the fifth "Montana Book" and it is a distinct pleasure and 

 inspiration to realize that these publications have come to be regarded 

 as the standard authority on Montana; that they are in demand in 

 libraries, colleges, schools, newspaper offices and legislative and admin- 

 istrative bodies throughout the world; and that they have served to cor- 

 rect not only erroneous ideas concerning this State, but have also 

 attracted to Montana a tide of desirable immigration unequalled in the 

 marvelous development history of the northwest. 



The State of Montana invites the closest investigation of the claim 

 that farming pays better here than in any other state; and that living 

 conditions are more nearly ideal here than can be found elsewhere. 



In a book of this size, it is very difficult to give more than passing 

 reference to many industries which, of themselves, are of immense 

 importance. It has been the aim to merely set forth in these pages 

 information which will be of practical value to the average Americaf^ 

 of moderate means who seeks to better his condition, and to give to his 

 children a better chance than can be found in some of the more crowded 

 portions of the Republic. 



SETH MAXWELL, Commissioner. 



