46 



MONTANA : INDUSTRTAT, RESOURCES 



Broadus, the county seat, is the largest town and principal trading center. 

 Biddle, in the southeastern corner, and Powderville. in the northeastern, are trad- 

 ing points. 



Historically, the Powder River region is one of the most interesting in the 

 state, dating from the time of the early fur traders, through the Indian era, 

 down to the time when the Texas trail herds came down the Powder River into 

 Montana. 



POWDER RIVER COUNTY — Ranks forty-ninth in population (3,357); sixteenth in 

 area (2,135,680 acres); twenty-second in combined 1922 crop and livestock value; 

 fifty-second bank deposits, 1922; fifty-first in assessed valuation 1922. Acres public land, 

 225,727; acres state land, 134.561; acres national forests, 332,510. 



WEALTH PRODUCTION — Estimated 1922 crop value, $734,500: estimated livestock 

 value, January. 1923. $2,762,000; 1921 lumber cut, 568 M. feet: total bank deposits, Sep- 

 tember 15, 1922, $156,362. 



TAXATION 1922 — Total assessed valuation. $9,464,668: total taxable value. 

 $2,951,777. Total outstanding county bond indebtedness. $77,000: total outstanding 

 county warrant indebtedness, $12,829; total outstanding school bond indebtedness, $53,775. 

 Total general and special county taxes, $90,197; total general and district school taxes. 

 $67,420; total municipal taxes, $646; total state taxes, $15,881; total tax (inclusive 

 municipal), per capita, $51.87. 



EDUCATIONAL — Number graded schools, 59; enrollment, 794. Number high schools, 

 1; enrollment, 33. 



BUSINESS STATISTICS — Number of manufacturers, 4; average number wage earn- 

 ers, 4; value of products, $30,654. Number of banks, 2. Number of general stores, 12; 

 confectionery, etc., 1; groceries and meats, 1; lumber yards, 1; total number merchants, 

 22. Total assessed valuation 1922 merchandise. $34,444. Number flour mills, l. Number 

 saw mills, 6. Number of lawyers, 3. Number of physicians, 1. 



AGRICULTURE (1920 census) — Number farms, 833; farm acreage, 597.056; im- 

 proved farm acreage, 75,240; irrigated acreage, 800: average value all property, per 

 farm, $13,767. Livestock assessed 1922 — number cattle, 45,725; number sheep, 27,112; 

 number horses, 12.401; number swine (census). 1,961. 



CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA — At Biddle. Elevation, 3.050 feet — Broadus. Average 

 date last killing frost in spring. May 23; average date first killing frost in fall, Sep- 



tember 18. 



Jan. Feb. Mar. April Mav June Julv Aug. 

 Aver. Prec. .47 .34 .50 1.27 2.58 2.76 1.97 1.57 

 Aver. Temp. 18.5 22.3 31.2 41.1 52.9 63.4 70.0 67.3 



County Seat, Broadus. Population County Seat, 363. 



Count>- Agricultural Agent — No. 



An- 



Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. nual 

 1.55 .90 .39 .33 14.63 

 58.5 45.9 32.7 23.0 43.9 



CUSTER COUNTY 



E 



MBRACING at one time the eastern half of 

 Montana and heralded from Texas to 

 Tnnada as the stockman's empire, the 

 march of progress has vastly decreased the 

 ai'ea of Custer county and brought many 

 changes to its people, but it is still very 

 much on the map. The Custer county cry 

 of "Powder River — let "er buck !" became 

 the slogan of the American Expeditionary 

 Forces. A new north and south railroad 

 is expected to be in operation in 1924 be- 

 tween Miles City and Casper. Wyomin.g, giv- 

 ing Custer county and southeastern Mon- 

 tana rail facilities that long have been 

 needed, and eastern Montana a direct rail 

 connection with Denver. AVhile stock rais- 

 ing is the most important industry, more 



attention is being given farming, and plans 



are inider way for the irrigation of many 

 additional acres of land. Custer county lies in southwestern Montana. 60 miles in 

 length north and south and 50 miles in width east and west. Much of its area is 

 broken, rolling land especially adapted for grazing. The higher uplands between 

 the river valley.s — the Yellowstone, the Tongue and the Powder Rivers — are adapted 

 to non-irrigated farming. There is considerable variation of soil types, ranging 



