42 MONTANA: INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES 



While here and there the surface is broken, most of the county is inululating 

 prairie. The regions too rough for cultivation are devoted to grazing. The soil 

 varies from a sandy loam to a heavy gumbo. 



In the early range days the area included within this county was known as 

 one of the best grazing regions in the northwest. Because of its natural adapta- 

 tion and the general topographical conditicms which are favor- 

 Favorable able for livestock production, this industry will probably always 

 For Livestock be an important one. In the south end of the county, particu- 

 larly, there a^e many bands of sheep and herds of cattle and 

 hoi'ses. Owing to the lack of transportation facilities, farmers are finding that 

 though they can obtain good yields of high quality wheat, products that can be 

 marketed either on foot or in a concentrated form bring better returns. Consid- 

 erable dairying is being developed in the central part of the comity and farming 

 combined with livestock raising is generally followed. Many farmers have found 

 poultry profitable, especially turkeys, which thrive on the open range and 

 take care of themselves until almost ready for market. An increasing number 

 of farmers are coming to believe that corn and hogs are the most winning propo- 

 sition. Even in 1919, the dryest year known since farming began in the county, 

 there was some good corn and considerable fodder raised. The hot growing season 

 and the comparatively low elevation make the region adapted to this crop, a fact 

 attested to by Carter county winnings at state and inter-county corn shows. For- 

 age crops include sweet clover, alfalfa and tame grasses. Potatoes and garden 

 truck, including muskmelons and watermelons, do well. 



If oil is discovered, the time will be quickened in which rail transportation 

 facilities will be furnished. The Miles City-Black Hills Trail crosses in a south- 

 easterly direction the northern part of the county while the Miles City-Belle 

 Fourche highway passes through the south end. Baker, on the Milwaukee, is the 

 rail outlet for the north end, and Bell Fourche, South Dakota, for the south end. 

 Ekalaka. 42 miles south of the Milwaukee railroad, in the north end. is the 

 coimty seat, the largest town, and a hustling little community. It has among 

 other industries two flour mills and a creamery which has 

 Roosevelfs been an important factor in both an educational and financial 

 Stamping way in developins: dairying. The second largest town is 



Ground Alzada. in the extreme southern part. Piniele is a trading 



center for a considerable district. General stores are oper- 

 ated at Capitol, Albion, Boyes, Belltower, Sykes and Ridge. 



This is Theodore Roosevelt's old stamping ground when he operarecl a cattle 

 ranch on the Little Missouri, just across the line in Dakota. In "Hunting Trips of 

 a Ranchman.'' he describes it. Medicine Rocks, a fantastically weathered sand- 

 stone formation in the northern part of the county, has been likened to the 

 "Garden of the Gods" in Colorado. In the Sioux National Forest attractive 

 scenery is found. 



CARTER COUNTY — Ranks forty-sixth in population (3,972); fifteenth in area 

 (2,160.000 acres); thirty-fourth in combined 1922 crop and livestock value; twenty-ninth 

 in 1920 mineral production; fifty-third in hank deposits. 1922; fiftieth in assessed valua- 

 tion. 1922. Acres public land, 547,406; acres state land, 116,809; acres national forests, 

 88,342. 



WEALTH PRODUCTION — Estimated 1922 crop value, $644,000: estimated live- 

 stock value, Januarv, 1923, $2,231,000; coal production. 1920. $6,023; 1921 lumber cut, 

 276 M feet; total bank deposits, September 15, 1922, $136,297. 



TAXATION 1922 — Total assessed valuation. $9,544,256; total taxable value, 

 $2,887,251. Total outstanding- county bond indebtedness, $151,299; total outstanding 

 county warrant indebtedness, $40,968; total outstanding school bond indebtedness, 

 $47,250; other school debts. $4,007. Total general and special county taxes, $67,316; 

 total general and district school taxes, $65,196; total municipal taxes, $1,764; total state 

 taxes, $14,875; total tax (inclusive municipal), per capita, $37.55. 



EDUCATIONAL — Number graded schools, .60; enrollment, 895. Number high schools, 

 1; enrollment, 58. 



