• T II i: T It E A S U R E STAT E 127 • 



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BEAVERHEAD COUNTY. 



Beaverhead county, located in the southwestern corner of the state, contains 

 the source of the Missouri river and is well watered. The principal rivers 

 are the Beaverhead and the Big Hole and each has many tributaries. Along the 

 streams are valleys of varying sizes, from which rise bench lands and rolling hills 

 that extend to high mountains. 



The discovery of gold at Bannack in 1862 caused a stampede into what is now 

 Montana; other rich placer deposits were soon found; the territory of Montana was 

 created and Bannack made the capitol. Beaverhead county was created by act of 

 the first territorial legislature, approved February 2, 1865. Many of the most 

 interesting events in the early history of Montana occurred in this county. 



Beaverhead county embraces much picturesque scenery, is noted for the excel- 

 lence of the fishing and hunting, and several hot springs, and many residents 

 of the cities of Butte and Anaconda enjoy outings there in the summer. 



The industries are stock-growing, farming and mining. Large quantities of 

 gold, silver and lead have been mined, and many undeveloped mines and mining 

 districts offer attractive opportunities for the investment of capital. Near Melrose 

 large deposits of high grade phosphate rock have been discovered on public land and 

 many thousand acres have been withdrawn from the operation of the laws relating 

 to the acquisition of mining claims. 



Farming lands are irrigated and non-irrigated. The chief farming district 

 embraces land in the Beaverhead valley and the smaller connecting valleys of Black- 

 tail, Rattlesnake and Grasshopper creeks. Oats and hay are the principal crops. 

 Oats yield from 60 to 100 bushels per acre and are of a very high grade. Farming 

 without irrigation on bench lands is being rapidly developed. Good crops of wheat, 

 barley, flax, potatoes and other products have proved the adaptability of large 

 areas on bench lands for successful farming without irrigation. Thousands of 

 acres are planted to alfalfa and timothy and the native grasses yield good crops 

 of excellent hay. 



The leading industry is stock growing, which includes the raising of sheep, 

 cattle and horses. The numerous flocks of sheep flourish on the nutritious native 

 grasses and produce great quantities of wool. Large sums are annually realized from 

 the sale of horses. The cattle industry has two phases; one is the raising of cattle 

 bred in the county and the other is the fattening of beef steers bought outside the 

 county, and sometimes outside the state, and brought into Beaverhead county to be 

 fattened for the market. Annually more than 20,000 steers are fed in the winter 

 in the Big Hole Basin. 



Markets for all products are close at hand. Butte gets much of its farm pro- 

 ducts from this county. Transportation is provided by the Oregon Short Line 

 railroad which crosses the county from north to south. The Pittsburg and Gilmore 

 railroad, a subsidiary of the Northern Pacific, has been built from Armstead west 

 into Idaho and is expected to be part of a new transcontinental line. 



Dillon, the county seat, is a delightful place of residence and is the principal 

 business point in the county. It had a population of 1,835 in 1910, and it is esti- 

 mated that this has increased to about 2,500. In the city are two banks with 

 deposits of more than $2,700,000, and a good hotel, two wholesale and twelve 

 retail stores, a fine public library and public schools noted for their excellence. 

 Two weekly newspapers are published. Dillon has electric lights, water works and 

 sewers. There is a good opening here for a flour mill and a cheese factory. 



The Montana State Normal College, a branch of the University of Montana, 

 and a well equipped institution for the training of men and women to become 



