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: 176 MONTANA-1916 ; 



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The estimated population of Stillwater county is 9,185 and the assessed valuation of 

 the county, in 1915, was $6,028,429. 



LAND AREA — Stillwater county, which is in the Bozeman and Billings land 

 districts, embraces an area of 1,684 square miles, including 47,914 acres of un- 

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

 50,539 acres of state land and 99,200 acres of national forests. Of the total area of the 

 county, 522,280 acres are privately owned. 



CROP PRODUCTION— The following gives the estimated crop production for 

 1915: wheat, 943,000 bushels; oats, 407,000 bushels; barley, 50,000 bushels; flax, 40,000 

 bushels; potatoes, 125,000 bushels; hay, 20,000 tons; sugar beets, 3,000 tons. 



In 1915, the assessor's rolls showed the following livestock: horses, 5,844 

 head; milch cows, 1,739 head; other cattle, 9,514 head; sheep, 58, (o^ neaa; swine, 

 3,095 head. 



SWEET GRASS COUNTY. 



Sweetgrass county, which was organized in 1895, is situated in the southern 

 part of the state. The Yellowstone river runs from west to east nearly through its 

 center. On the south the land rises from the level of the river to a high range of 

 mountains in which head the Boulder and Stillwater rivers; and on the north the land 

 rises to the Crazy mountains. Big Timber and Sweet Grass creeks are large streams 

 that enter the Yellowstone river from the north. The northern part of the county 

 is drained by tributaries of the Musselshell river. 



In the southern part, much of which is in a forest reserve, are tracts of mer- 

 chantable timber and a highly mineralized district containing ores of gold, silver, lead 

 and copper. Coal has also been found. This region is one of remarkable scenic 

 beauty. Many visitors come each year to fish in the Boulder river, a beautiful mountain 

 stream in which trout abound. One of the most wonderful natural objects in the 

 state is the Natural Bridge over the Boulder river. On several streams are cas- 

 cades of rare beauty. 



The county is well watered and there are many valleys. The Yellowstone valley, 

 about 55 miles long by 2 wide, the valleys of the Boulder, Big Timber, Sweet 

 Grass, American Fork and Otter creek, of varying length and width, are the chief 

 agricultural districts. Private irrigation ditches have brought water to the lands in 

 the valleys where hay is the chief crop and is raised in connection with stock 

 raising. The county is noted for the excellence of the native grasses and stock 

 growing is an important and profitable industry. Sheep are owned in large numbers 

 and great quantities of wool are shipped from Big Timber. 



Farming is on irrigated and unirrigated land, the latter a recent development. 

 Many acres are under private irrigation ditches, and a great impulse has been given 

 to the agricultural development of the county by the completion of the Big Timber 

 Carey Act project. Many new settlers on these lands have raised excellent crops, 

 and more land is being cultivated each year, and a large and prosperous community 

 of farmers and fruit growers will occupy many acres that a few years ago were 

 used only for grazing. Oats 162 bushels to the acre, barley showing a cash return of 

 $48 an acre, wheat from 20 to 40 bushels, flax running to 25 bushels an acre, and 

 potatoes remarkable for size and quality are reported as having been raised on 

 lands in this project. Alfalfa is the chief crop on irrigated lands and yields about 

 four tons per acre. 



Farming without irrigation is succeeding because the soil is fertile and the 

 rainfall averages about 20 inches annually. Many settlers have come into the 

 northern and eastern parts of the county and are transforming what used to be 

 a noted range country into a region of productive farms. 



