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VALLEY COUNTY. 



Valley county, one of the largest counties in the state in area, is situated in 

 northeastern Montana. The county extends 110 miles in length and 73 miles in width. 



The chief industry is farming but stockraising is still done on a large scale 



in most sections of the county. There are two methods of farming pursued, the 



irrigation and dry land. The irrigation district comprises practically 40,000 acres 



of land, which lies in the Milk River Valley project. The history of irrigaton develop- 

 ment of this great project, which is the largest in the world is well known through- 

 out the United States and the world at large. The first irrigation canal in this 

 valley was started at Chinook in Blaine county, at that time Chouieau, and is known 

 as the Belknap Canal. This reclaimed 14,400 acres of valley land east and west 

 of the town. T. C. Burnes, who had arrived from the Gallatin Valley in 1889 was 

 the promoter. The first co-operative irrigation canal to be started in Valley county 

 was commenced on the Frenchman creek. Some 1,320 acres being shown on 

 the U. S. Government plats are being irrigated from this canal. The unfortunate 

 experience had in connection with the earlier history of the Frenchmen creek canal 

 led many in Valley county to believe that the farmers could not work in harmony 

 together in the construction of irrigation canals, and it is said that this experience 

 set back the irrigation development of the county at least ten years. 



Today the Milk River Valley project extends from St. Mary's Lake to the 

 Missouri River a distance of 400 miles. 



Wheat, oats and alfalfa are the principal crops grown under this project. 

 The first cutting of aUalta in 1918 yielded from two to three tons per acre. Three 

 such crops are cut each year. Wheat lands yield from 25 to 40 bushels to 

 the acre and oats 45 to GO bushels according to crops in this district in past years. 



Dry land farming has been very successful in Valley county, with the excep- 

 tion of several years, when due to drought conditions crops were poor, notwith- 

 standing these conditions every year more land have been developed. Today prac- 

 tically all agricultural land in the county has been filed on by settlers. This year 

 more land has been planted to crop than any previous year in the county. Wheat, 

 oats, barley, speltz, corn and hay are the principal crops. Vegetables grow in 

 abundance and are of excellent quality. 



The county claims to produce the best spring wheat in America for milling 

 purposes. 



The sportsman will find plenty of sage hens, prairie chickens, wild ducks and 

 geese and other game birds. Fishing is also a favorite pastime. Deer hunting along 

 the Missouri River breaks is an annual sport. 



The principal cities in Valley county are Glasgow, Hinsdale, Opheim, Glentana, 

 Nashua, Baylor and Oswego. 



Glasgow is the county seat and was founded in 1SS7 with the coming of the 

 railroad and was named by the late James J. Hill. It has a population of approxi- 

 mately 3,500 people and is the largest city within a radius of 100 miles extend- 

 ing in every direction. It is situated on the main line of the Great Northern rail- 

 way about half way between Spokane and St. Paul, Minnesota. The Northern 

 Trail which extends from Port Arthur, Canada to the Pacific Coast passes through 

 Glasgow. Tourists routing their trip will find excellent hotel and garage service here. 

 For the information of travelers Malta is G6 miles west of Glasgow; Havre 153 miles 

 and Great Falls 276 miles; Plenty wood 1G5 miles east and Culbertson 100 miles. 

 Miles City can be reached from Glasgow by way of ferry at Lismas. A good road 

 traverses the entire route. Calgary, Canada, and other Canadian points are direct 

 north of Glasgow and excellent roads the entire distance make it more easily 

 traveled by the tourists. 



The U. S. Land Office and U. S. Employment Office are located here. It has 

 excellent schools, beautiful homes, and is one of the best business towns in Mon- 

 tana. Flour milling is the largest industry. 



Opheim, Glentana and Baylor, all inland towns lying 40 to 50 miles north of 

 Glasgow, lie in the heart of a rich agricultural country. Nashua lies adjacent to 

 the Fort Peck Reservation and is a good business center. Oswego is one of the 

 largest towns on the reservation and is a live town. Hinsdale is a thriving busi- 

 ness center and is the second largest town in the county. 



The assessed valuation of the county in 1918 is $10,716,192. 



