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?148 MONTANA-1916 • 



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section. The soil is alluvial, rich and deep, and convenient railroads transport grain, 

 grasses and vegetables to the market close at hand. Oats make large yields and 

 crops of 75 to 100 bushels per acre are not uncommon. In Rock creek valley are 

 many fine ranches. The average production of grain is high, but hay is the chief 

 crop. Hellgate valley has an easterly and westerly trend and a width, in places, 

 of more than a mile of rich alluvial soil. The Northern Pacific and the Chicago, 

 Milwaukee & Puget Sound railways run through it; and its productive lands offer 

 advantages that are equalled at few places. 



The advantages of the county for fruit growing are attracting attention. The 

 suitability of the soil and climate for the successful production of fruits on a com- 

 mercial scale is shown by several orchards. 



Phillipsburg, the county seat and principal town, is a terminus of a branch 

 line of the Northern Pacific railroad, had a population of 1,109 in 1910, occupies a 

 commanding position upon the terrace of Flint creek valley, has excellent drainage, 

 a good water system, an electric lighting plant, a court house, handsome homes, 

 good hotels, business houses, a bank, a creamery, a foundry, a brewery and a weekly 

 newspaper. 



The public schools of Philipsburg and the Granite county high school afford 

 excellent opportunities for obtaining a good education. Hall, in the Flint creek 

 valley, is in the center of a prolific farming section, has an up-to-date creamery, and 

 has a number of business establishments, is within easy reach of lignite coal mines, 

 and controls the trade of a populous farming district. Drummond, on the main line 

 of the Northern Pacific railroad where the Philipsburg branch starts, is the trading 

 place for the northern end of the county, has mercantile houses, a newspaper, and 

 men who will be glad to tell of the advantages the neighboring country has to offer 

 to the homeseeker. 



Granite county has an estimated population of 9,380 and an assessed valuation of 

 $3,681,090. 



LAND AREA — Granite county, which is in the Helena and Missoula land dis- 

 tricts, embraces an area of 1,728 square miles, including 198,948 acres of unreserved 

 and unappropriated public land available for entry under the homestead law, 17,202 

 acres of state land, and 718,094 acres of national forests. Of the total area of the 

 county, 257,490 acres are privately owned. 



CROP PRODUCTION — The following gives the estimated crop production for 

 1915: Wheat, 75,000 bushels; oats, 450,000 bushels; barley, 25,000 bushels; potatoes, 

 65,000 bushels; hay, 34,000 tons. 



In 1915, the assessor's rolls showed the following livestock: Horses, 4,077 

 head; milch cows, 906 head; other cattle, 11,817 head; sheep, 18,807 head; swine. 

 1,058 head. 



HILL COUNTY. 



Hill county was created, by vote of the people, March 6, 1911, being carved out 

 of a portion of old Chouteau county. 



This county is strikingly typical of eastern Montana in the rapid development 

 of its agricultural resources. Formerly regarded as fit only for grazing, it has fur- 

 nished homes for thousands of new settlers who have filed upon public land and 

 made good as farmers. An exceptionally large percentage of the land of the county 

 is tillable and it is rapidly taking its place as one of the most productive farming 

 counties of the state. 



Hill county is watered by the Milk River, which flows southeast from the Cana- 

 dian border through the eastern portion of the county, and by numerous creeks. 



