SOUTH EASTERN MONTANA 



43 



BUSINESS STATISTICS — Number of manufactures, 11; average number wage 

 earners, 10: value of products. $52,523. Number of banks, 2. Number general stores, 

 14: confectionery, etc., 1; groceries and meats, 2: lumber yards, 2; total number mer- 

 chants. 48. Total assessed valuation 1922 merchandise. $81,313. Number creameries, 1. 

 Number flour mills, 2. Number saw mills, 7. Number of lawyers, 5. Number of 

 physicians. 3. 



AGRICULTURE (1920 census) — Number farms, 855; farm acreage, 557,495; im- 

 proved farm acreage, 83,763: irrigated acreage, 380; average value all property, per farm, 

 $10,784. Livestock assessed 1922 — number cattle, 23,280; number sheep, 75,957; number 

 horses, 10.854: number swine (census), 1,004. 



CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA — At Ekalaka. Elevation (estimated), 3,000 feet. Av- 

 erage date last killing frost in spring, May 25; average date first killing frost in fall, 

 September 22. 



Jan. Feb. Mar 

 Ave. Prec. .39 .35 .66 

 Ave. Temp. 18.7 18.6 30.5 



County Seat, Ekalaka. ] 



County Agricultural Agent — Xo 



FALLON COUNTY 



*^«s^*i. 



JHILE non-irrigated farming is the chief in- 

 dustry of Fallon county, it has expectations 

 rhat its natural gas field, which is pro- 

 nounced one of the biggest in the country, 

 its large coal measures and other minerals 

 will eventuall.v make it important in an in- 

 dustrial way. It is one of the best corn 

 regions in the state. Situated in the extreme 

 southeastern part of the state, its eastern 

 l)oundary adjoining North Dakota, the 

 greater part of the area of Fallon county, 60 

 miles long north and south, and 40 miles 

 wide, consists of uplands with gently rolling 

 prairie lands which are devoted to non- 

 irrigated farming. The soil varies consid- 

 erably, ranging from heavy clay loams 

 which require careful cultural methods, to 

 lighter sandy and sandy clay loams. In the 

 western and southern districts, the latter 



types predominate. Little land is irri.gated. but large flowing wells have been 



developed in some sections. 



"Wheat for the cash crop and corn for the cows and chickens that make the 



living," is the way one Fallon county farmer epitomizes the agricultural situation. 

 Most of the farms are operated in small units of 1(K) to 320 

 acres with spring wheat as the main cash crop and cattle, hogs, 

 poultry and feed crops important factors in the enterprise. 

 Many farmers are developing dairy herds. With the growth of 

 diversified farming, the acreage in corn is increasing, the crop 



being used for feed, and assuming an important place in the rotations adopted. 



A Fallon county farmer won sweepstakes on corn at the 1923 show of the Montana 



Seed Growers' Association. 



The Cedar Creek anti-cline runs southeasterly through the county, and in the 

 Cabin Creek district large natural gas wells have been developed, several of which 

 are of considerable size. Drilling for oil is being done. A U. S| Geological Survey 

 report on this field stated that it was not beyond the bounds of reasonable con- 

 jecture that "one of the greatest oil fields yet discovered" may be developed 

 on the Cedar Creek anti-cline. 



Diversified 

 Farming: 

 Growing 



