SANDERS COUNTY. 



Sanders county is named after Col. Wilbur P. Sanders, a distinguished pioneer 

 of Montana. It lies in the extreme western end of the state, next to the Idaho line. 



The industries are farming, fruit growing, livestock, dairying, poultry raising, 

 lumbering and mining. Such parts of the county as are not covered with forest 

 are devoted to agriculture. 



In the western half of the county the land is either cut-over land or natural 

 meadow. Almost all of it is irrigable by private projects. Near Thompson Falls, 

 3,000 acres in one tract are irrigated frcm Thompson river. This section of the 

 county is admirably adapted to dairying — clover and other forage crops growing in 

 abundance. The vast area of national forest reserve furnishes cheap pasturage. 



The soil of Sanders county is of varying grades. The bottom lands are of 

 deep sandy loam, while a gravely loam predominates on the bench lands. The 

 rainfall varies from 15 inches at the east end to 30 inches at the west end. 



Crops grown include wheat, clover, timothy, alfal"a, oats, potatoes, peas, 

 barley. Fruit raising is extensive, seme of the best orchards of the state being 

 located in the Plains valley. Apples, plums, cherries, pears and strawberries do 

 exceptionally well in the main valley. 



The great forests are a valuable asset to the county. Along Thompson river 

 is one of the most valuable stands of white pine to be found in the United States 

 and the mountains elsewhere have valuable tracts of yellow pine, fir, ce^ar and 

 larch. The pole and post industry is a profitable one. While much lumbering has 

 been done in years past, the county's greatest woods are yet uncut. 



Mining is an industry that is rapidly growing. This year many copper, silver, 

 lead and gold producing properties in the territory around Trout Creek and White- 

 pine are being developed. 



As an outdoor land, Sanders county can compete with any section of the 

 United States. A score of wonderful trout fishing streams, great areas of virgin 

 forests inhabited by deer, elk, cougar, bear, wildcats, mountain lions, bighorn and 

 mountain goats offers the best hunting and fishing. Camp sites at beautiful moun- 

 tain lakes are easily accessible by National Forest trails. 



Lands in the cut-over section of the county sell at from $10 to $50 per acre, 

 according to development. In the prairie section the price ranges from $20 to 

 $75. 



Thompson Falls is the county seat. Excellent schools, churches, two banks, 

 two newspapers, a good hotel and fine stores are established. A system of water 

 works supplies the town from a mountain stream. Here is located the giant 

 power plant of the Thompson Falls Power Co. A dam across the Clark's Fork 

 river makes possible a development of 50,000 horsepower, all of which is used. Three 

 other projects for power development are in the 25 mile stretch of river immediately 

 below Thompson Falls. 



Other growing larming towns in the west end of the county are Heron, Noxon, 

 Trout Creek, Whitepine, Alger and Belknap. 



Plains, in the productive Plains valley, is the outlet for a large portion of the 

 fertile reservation country. It has a system of water works, electric lights, elevator, 

 a $25,000 public school building, four churches, two banks, a newspaper and 

 good stores. Some of the linest farms in the county are in the vicinity of Plains. 



Paradise is the railroad division point of the Northern Pacific. 



Hot Springs, twenty miles from Perma, on the Northern Pacific, on the Flathead 

 Indian reservation, is noted for its medicinal waters and mud baths. The springs, 

 located midway between the towns of Camas and Hot Springs, have been leased by 

 the interior department to a company, which is developing them as a health and 

 pleasure resort. The lease includes more than 100 acres. It is contemplated to 

 build an electric line connecting the springs with the railroad and extending beyond 

 the springs about forty miles. The mud baths are famous as a cure for rheumatism 

 while the waters are noted for their beneficial effects in the treatment of veneral dis- 

 eases and intestinal troubles. Unlike the great majority of mud baths, those at Hot 

 Springs continuously throw out hot mud which runs away with the water. The 

 springs are open throughout the year. 



Perma is the outlet of a portion of the reservation farming country and enjoys 

 a big trade. 



Dixon is the market for the eastern portion of the reservation country and 

 the fertile valley in Missoula county. 



