SWEET GRASS COUNTY. 



Sweet Grass county is located in the southern part of the state between 

 Park and Stillwater and like them, is rich as a farming region and well supplied 

 with resources that make for a progressive county. It is bounded on the north 

 by the new county of Wheatland, by Musselshell and Stillwater on the east and 

 on the south and west by Park. 



The county is well watered. The Yellowstone river runs from west to cast 

 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. 



There are also many rich 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 dis- 

 tricts. 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 grasc.es 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. 



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 ccme each year to fish in the Boulder river, a 

 beauti ul mountain stream in which trout abound. One of the most wonderful 

 natural cb.ects in the state is the Natural Bridge over the Boulder river. On 

 several streams are cascades of rare beauty. 



There is both irrigated and ncn-irrigatel lands in the county. The irrigated 

 farms are either under private irrigation ditches or under the Big Timber Carey 

 Act project. This project has greatly developed the county in an agricultural way. 

 Since its completion many settlers have flocked in. They have raised excellent 

 crops and more land is being cultivated each year. Large communities of farmers 

 and fruit growers now occupy sections that a few years ago were used only lor 

 grazing. Ihe yield of wheat, cats, flax and potatoes is heavy on these lands — 

 wheat going as high as 40 bushels to the acre. Potatoes are always an excellent 

 crop. Alfalfa is one of the chief crops on the irrigated lands and good yields 

 are also reported lrom the non-irrigated tracts. The rain.'all is about 20 inches 

 annually, which with the rich soil assures a crop. 



Dairying should be a profitable business, lor the county affords excellent 

 native grasses, a fine supply of pure water and has a fine climate. The farmers 

 are keeping more cows, creameries are being built and the success of this industry 

 seems assured. 



Hog raising is attracting attention and the conditions are favorable for its 

 development into a very profitable branch of farming. Hogs thrive on the al'alta 

 and barley raised here. 



Many orchards have been set out and the county promises to become a large 

 producer of fruit in a. few years. The climate is very favorable to this. Sugar 

 beets are well adapted .to the soil and climate of Sweet Grass and should be raised 

 very profitably. 



Big Timber, the chief town is a growing place and is also the county seat. 

 It is an attractive place with fine business establishments and residences. It also 

 has elevators, creamery, newspaper, hotels, electric lights, water works system 

 and court house. It is the center of a rich region. There is considered to be about 

 20,000 horse power available from the Yellowstone river at this place. 



Melville and McLeod are other towns of importance in the county. Melville 

 Is in the northern part and supplies a large district there. McLeod likewise sup- 

 plies the southern part of the county. 



The estimated population of Sweet Grass county in 1918 is about 5,500 accord- 

 ing to the school census. 



The county has a total area of 2,058 square miles, having lost 252 square miles 

 in 1917 by the creation of Wheatland county, which cut off a row of townships 

 from the north side of Sweet Grass. There are 89.412 acres of unreserved and 

 unappropriated public land in the county available for entry under the homestead 

 laws. All of the land has been surveyed. There are also 52,129 acres of state 

 land that can be bought at a low price. The county also has large forest re- 

 serves in the southern part. The assessed valuation of the county in 1918 is 

 $7,408,691. 



