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: THE TREASURE ST A Till 165 * 



• • 



both sides of Deer Lodge valley are quartz mines and mineral claims. Some 

 of the best mining opportunities in any district of the state are to be found in 

 the several mining districts in the upper Ophir and Snow Shoe districts. Near 

 Helmville and Ovando several gold and copper properties have been developed, and 

 in the neighborhood of Elliston there is much activity in mining. On Dry 

 Cottonwood creek, 14 miles southeast of Deer Lodge, many sapphires have been 

 mined. 



Powell county is well timbered, especially in the northern part, and lumbering 

 is an industry of importance. A large part of the land is mountainous and 

 where it is not covered by timber is a luxuriant growth of native grasses. Much 

 attention has been paid to improving the breeds of live stock and Powell county is 

 noted for the excellence of its horses, cattle and sheep. Many car loads of beef 

 cattle and wool are annually shipped. 



The Deer Lodge valley where irrigation is practiced contains many productive 

 farms. A number of large ranches in the vicinity of Deer Lodge have recently 

 changed hands and will be sold in farms of moderate size with the result of adding 

 greatly to the number of farms in the valley. The valley of the Little Blackfoot is 

 not extensive but contains many good farms. Nevada creek valley is larger 

 and in it are raised large crops of hay and grain. The Big Blackfoot valley 

 is a fine stock country which will change in part to a farming district when 

 railroads are built into it. The soil is fertile, all grains do well, and in few 

 sections can such profuse yields of timothy be secured. 



On some of the large ranches in the Big Blackfoot valley farming has been 

 successfully conducted on a large scale and on many small farms and homestead 

 claim excellent crops have been raised. The arable area is extensive, but its agri- 

 cultural development has been held back by the lack of railroads. The northern part 

 of Powell county is now almost exclusively a stock raising district, but when it is 

 made possible to transport farm products to market by rail the fertile plough lands 

 in the valleys, on the benches and foothills, will be devoted to farming and the 

 higher and rougher lands will be used for grazing live stock. Cultivated grasses 

 make large yields and the native grasses are abundant and nutritious; water is 

 plentyful; the climate is good and the soil fertile; wood for fuel is abundant; as 

 soon as a railroad reaches this district it should attract a large population to engage 

 in diversified farming for which the country has so many advantages. 



The location of Powell county close to the cities of Butte, Anaconda, Missoula, 

 and Helena insures convenient markets for all products. Truck gardening, raising 

 poultry and eggs are profitable, and the county has unusual advantages for the 

 dairyman. 



The main line of the Northern Pacific, after crossing the main divide, 

 follows the course of the Little Blackfoot river and at Garrison is joined by the 

 line extending from Butte through the Deer Lodge valley. Through the latter 

 valley the Milwaukee railroad runs. 



Deer Lodge, the county seat, w^as prominent in the history of Montana in 

 territorial days. It is a city of homes, is beautifully located, has well laid out 

 streets bordered by shade trees, has many churches, fine graded schools, is the seat 

 of St. Mary's Academy for girls and of the College of Montana, an old, well 

 equipped and well endowed institution of higher learning. The town has many 

 handsome public and private buildings, banks, newspapers, and commercial estab- 

 lishments. About 200 new buildings were erected in 1910 and 1911 and large 

 sums were spent in public improvements including a new sewer system and 

 several miles of sidewalks. The Montana State Prison is located at Deer Lodge, 

 and the furnishing of supplies to the inmates and the guards is a considerable item 

 in the town's business. 



