CASCADE COUNTY. 



Cascade county is the second in population in the state having the city of Great 

 Falls as its metropolis. Within the last few years it has forged ahead until it is 

 now one of the principal counties within the boundaries of the Treasure State. 

 Rapid settlement of the rural districts is noted, resulting in a stimulation ana 

 general improvement of farming methods. Dairying, too, has been found profitable 

 is Cascade county as conditions for this vocation are almost ideal. Crop production 

 throughout the county for the most part exceed the expectations of the casual 

 inquirer, as on non-irrigated lands there is an average yield of from 20 to 60 

 bushels of wheat, 40 to 100 bushels of oats, 20 to 60 bushels of barley per acre and 

 other crops in proportion. In the irrigated districts crop production has been 

 stabilized to a larger extent and the yield is far greater. Some of the largest 

 irrigation projects in the country are within the county and they have proven 

 eminently satisfactory. 



The raising of livestock, wool-growing, mining and smelting are among the 

 important industries of Cascade county. As an indication of the diversity of 

 mineral wealth alone, cne has but to refer to the fact that coal, lead, silver, 

 copper, zinc, gold and gypsum are mined in large quantities within the county. 

 Practically all of the industries mentioned are practiced on a large scale and all 

 contribute toward making the county one of the most prosperous in the northwest. 



The principal cities of the county are Great Falls, Cascade, Belt and Stockett. 



Belt, with a population of 1,000 and Cascade, with 700 people, are located in 

 the heart of a prosperous agricultural community. Some of the largest coal 

 mines in the state are located at Belt and both cities boast of modern municipal 

 improvements with good schools, elevators, churches, banks, opera houses, large 

 mercantile establishments and weekly newspapers. Large coal mines and a rich 

 agricultural community make Stockett a prosperous place that is enjoying a 

 steady, healthy growth. 



Great Falls, the county seat, is the largest city in northern Montana and the 

 clearing house for the majority of business transacted in the northwest. One of 

 the largest copper and zinc plants in the world is located in the outskirts of the 

 city and it boasts of having the only copper-wire plant west of the Mississippi. Civic 

 beauty is enhanced through the establishment of a system of natural parks of 

 which there are eighteen, embracing 640 acres of land. Great Falls owes its growth 

 largely to the development of the available water-power. Situated on the Missouri 

 river at a point where in a distance of seven and one-half miles, with a mean low 

 water flow of 3,500 feet, a second drop of 535 feet occurs over a series of falls 

 and rapids, it has presented an ideal location for great manufacturing plants 

 because of the available power. 



Already 165,000 horsepower of electrical energy has been developed and there 

 is yet 200,000 horsepower in reserve. This current not only supplies local plants and 

 concerns throughout the state with power, but also is utilized in moving trains 

 over the electrified portion of the Milwaukee road. 



Great Falls has a population of 40.000 and this is steadily increasing. The 

 marvelous growth of the city is well illustrated in the bank deposits which have 

 grown from $3,649,503 in 1910 to $12,427,761, the latter figures representing de- 

 posits on March 4, 1918, and a gain of 23S per cent. There are eight banks in 

 Great Falls and on the above date these institutions showed a combined capital, sur- 

 plus and profit of $1,S36,950, and total resources of $14,864,930. 



In addition to the industries already named, Great Falls boasts of the largest 

 packing plant between St. Paul and the coast and two large flouring mills with a 

 daily capacity of 5,100 barrels, all these serving to furnish employment to a great 

 many men. With street cars, electric lights, sewers, paved streets, parked avenues 

 and two daily newspapers the city is a pleasant place of residence. 



Cascade county has an area of 3,411 square miles and an assessed valuation of 

 $42,051,076. There are 513,136 acres of grain land, 837,991 acres of other land. 

 A total of 1,380,046 acres were assessed. There are 87,416 acres of state land and 

 424,208 acres of National forests in the county. The estimated population of the 

 county is 50,000. 



For further information regarding Cascade county write R. S. Skinner, Secretary 

 of the Commercial Club, Great Falls, Montana. 



