52 



MONTANA: INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES 



BIG HORN COUNTY 



D 





EVELOPMENT in Bis; Horn county up to the 

 present has been confined cliiefly to its 

 fertile agricultural areas, which probably 

 will always be its principal resource, but it 

 has others of much industrial importance. 

 These include petroleum, large coal meas- 

 xires, the largest known gypsum deposits in 

 Montana, and an undeveloped hydro-electric 

 site on the Rig Horn River of approxi- 

 mately 100,000 horse power. It is the sec- 

 ond largest sugar beet district in the state. 

 The principal operations of the largest 

 farming corporation in the world are con- 

 ducted in this county. About two-thirds of 

 the area of the county is included in Indian 

 ri'servations. Much of this Indian land is 

 available for piu'chase, and much is leased, 

 the grazing land principally in large tracts 

 to stockmen. It is expected the allotment 

 of the reservation lands will be completed in 1923 and 1,596,042 acres distributed 

 among 1,768 Indians of whom 121 will receive title in fee simple. Trust patents 

 will be given the others, preventing them from disposing of their holdings without 

 the consent of the Indian department. 



Big Horn county lies in southeastern Montana, its southern boundary adjoin- 

 ing "Wyoming. Isolated mountain ranges rise near both the eastern and western 

 boundaries, ))Ut most of the surface is level or rolling, with 

 broad bench uplands. The valley of the Big Horn, approxi- 

 mately 75 miles in length and averaging from 20 to 25 miles 

 miles in width, is the principal agricultural district, though 

 there are a number of other fertile smaller valleys. Soil types 

 are fairly uniforni and on the rolling benches extending down from the Big 

 Horn mountains, soils are very fertile. In some of the irrigated districts the 

 bottom lands are heavy clay types which require careful handling to secure the 

 best crop results. It is well watered by the Big Horn, which is one of the 

 largest I'ivers in the state, and by its numerous tributaries. 



In the reservation section of the county, considerable farming is carried on by 

 companies leasing large acreages and subleasing smaller units to farmers. In the 

 northern part both irrigated and non-irrigated farming is practiced, the former 

 being confined to the valley along the Big Horn River, and the latter to the bench 

 lands sloping away to the east and west. Both winter and .spring wheat are 

 generally grown with good results. Other small grains produce well, and in the 

 irrigated districts sugar beets are taking a prominent place in crop production. 

 In 1922, 343 cars of sugar beets were shipped. Near Hardin and on the irrigated 

 valley lands many farms have apiaries, and honey is rapidly becoming an im- 

 portant product Corn may be grown in all districts but does especially well in 

 the lower valleys which have a hotter growing season than is found on the 

 uplands. Large cattle outfits operate on leased Indian lands in the southern 

 part of the county. There is a co-operative livestock shipping association with 

 headquarters at Hardin. 



Large Valleys 



and 

 Broad Benches 



