CAltBOX COUNTY. 



Carbon county is one of the most diversified in topography and consequently in 

 its climate. These range widely from the fertile river bottoms where corn and 

 canteloupes are success. ully matured to the glaciers of the Bcartooth and Granite 

 mountains. The lowest altitude of the county is about 3,000 feet, at the confluence 

 of the Clarks Fork with the main stream of the Yellowstone; and the highest 

 is the summit of Granite Peak, 12,950 feet— the highest point in Montana. From 

 the Yellowstone and Clarks Fork valleys, the terrain slopes gradually upward in 

 level and rolling prairies, until it breaks abruptly against the wall of the Bear- 

 tooth mountains that traverse the southwestern quarter of the county from north- 

 west to southwest. Carbon is the central county of Montana's southernmost tier. 



Resources, developed and undeveloped, are mineral, agricultural and industrial. 

 Of the minerals, coal is first, the supply being practically inexhaustible and of a 

 high grade, semi-bituminous quality. The county's production for the year ending 

 October 31, 1917, was 1,G1S,5,9 tons, of which the mines at Red Lodge produced 

 1,042,005 tons. An annual payroll of aoout two million dollars is supplied by 

 the coal industry. Precious and semi-precious minerals are present in the moun- 

 tains, deposits of copper ores being heavy but in a backward stage of development 

 owing to inadequacy of transportation facilities. 



The Beartcoth National Forest contains, within Carbon county, largo stands of 

 soft timber, undeveloped commercially except for the business of supplying the 

 coal mines with prop timber. 



Oil development in the southern part of the county is passing the experimental 

 stage. Several wells are drilled and capped, and considerable capital, local and 

 eastern, is at work in the expectation of an important production of wealth from 

 this source. The best oil wells in the state are located here. 



Agriculturally, Carbon county is a rich district, mainly characterized by hay, 

 grain and stock. Natural range lands are still grazed, and cultivation of the soil 

 has been rapidly increasing of late years, the growth of the county, estimated 

 at twenty-five per cent in five years, being for the most part agricultural in 

 population and development. Farming is equally successful with and without irri- 

 gation. With a precipitation of eighteen to twenty-two inches, "dry" farming is 

 not really dry. 



Livestock standards are high, notable herds being the Herefords of Mrs. C. W. 

 Wright at Luther; the sheep of F. L. Clark and of John Tolman in the Clarks 

 Fork valley, where also Arthur Hunter specializes in fine Poland China hogs; the 

 Percherons of A. J. Kerber and the Percherons and mules of C. A. Whitlock, at 

 Joliet. 



Sugar beets are an important crop in the lower or northeastern section of 

 the county. The market is at Billings, where a sugar factory is located. This 

 furnished one of the most important sources for income of Carbon county farmers. 

 The beets are of good quality and good yield per acre. 



Prices of land are low in Carbon county, productiveness and markets con- 

 sidered. Relinquishments may te had for from three to ten dollars per acre; 

 deeded land, dry, fifteen to twenty-five dollars and deeded land, irrigated, twenty- 

 five to one hundred and twenty-five dollars. 



The assessed valuation of the county in 1918 is $10,121,091. This shows the 

 prosperity of the county and the thriving condition of its people. 



Red Lodge, the county seat, has a population of about 5,500. It is the seat 



of a coal mine that gives steady employment to over 1,000 men, and is one of the 

 busiest and most prosperous cities in the state. It has a high school, graded 

 schools, two hospitals, two newspapers, three banks, hotels, two wholesale and 

 thirty-five retail stores. Many new business houses have been recently erected and 

 much money has been spent in city improvements. Many miles of cement walks have 

 been laid and a sewer system costing $50,000 was installed a few years ago. The 

 city is lighted by electricity, has an elevator, a creamery and does a large trade with 

 the country tributary to it. 



The population of Carbon county is estimated at 22,000. 



Land Area — Carbon county, which is in the Billings land district, embraces an 

 area of 2,10S square miles, including 270, 45S acres of unreserved and unappropriated 

 land available for entry under the homestead law, 42,091 acres of state land, and 

 359,159 acres of national forests. 



For further information regarding Carbon county, address secretary of commer- 

 cial club, Red Lodge, Montana. 



