SOUTH EASTEKX MONTANA 53 



The only mineral resource which has been developed is oil. On Soap Creek, 

 40 miles southwest of Hardin, six producinsr wells have been drilled. No trans- 

 portation facilities are available juul the wells are capped. Drill- 

 Coal, Gypsum ins is also under way on Woody Creek, 20 miles south and west 

 and Oil of Hardin. Coni.sderable coal exists and big deposits of gypsum. 



The Burlington railroad runs northerly through the central 

 portion of the county to Hardin and then turns northwest. A 12-mile branch line 

 has been built north of Hardin down the Big Horn valley, and a 40-mile road 

 up the valley is projected. The northeastern part of the county will be served 

 by a branch line the Northern Pacific is building, in Rosebud county. 



Hardin, with all modern improvements, situated near the center of the 

 county, is the largest town and the chief trading and distributing point. Other 

 towns are Crow Agency, Lodge Grass and Wyola. 



The most famous Indian battlefield in the United States, where Custer's com- 

 mand was annihilated by the Sioux in 1S7G, is in this county. It was in this 

 region that the first jNIontana fur traders were established. The Big Hole canyon, 

 a narrow gorge 50| miles long with bare walls of rock rising to heights of 

 1,500 feet, is worth seeing. At many places the vivid coloring of the canyon walls 

 is beautiful and the view from the top is of appealing grandeur. The Bonneville 

 expedition of 1S31-1S33 is credited with being the first party to explore the 

 Big Horn, which they followed from Wyoming down to its mouth and then 

 down the Yellowstone. 



BIG HORN COUNTY — Rank.s thirtieth in population (7,015); fifth in area (3,178,240 

 acres); thirteenth in combined 1922 crop and livestock value; thirty-sixth in bank de- 

 posits, 1922; thirty-first in assessed valuation, 1922. Acres public land, 26,945; acres 

 state land, 64,307; acres Indian reservations (most of it allotted but held in trust), 

 2,301,849. 



WEALTH PRODUCTION — Estimated 1922 crop value, $1,457,200; estimated live- 

 stock value, January, 1923, $2,518,000; 1921 lumber cut, 427 M feet; total bank deposits, 

 September 15, 1922, $870,424. 



TAXATION 1922 — Total assessed valuation, $19,790,125; total taxable value, 

 $6,460,174. Total outstanding- county bond indebtedness, $379,000; total outstanding 

 county warrant indebtedness, $9,443; total outstanding school bond indebtedness, 

 $252,000; other school debts, $7,296. Total general and special county taxes, $111,970: 

 total general and district school taxes, $156,269: total municipal taxes, $17,507; total 

 state taxes, $31,660; total tax (inclusive municipal), per capita, $45.24. 



EDUCATIONAL — ^Number graded schools, 47; enrollment, 1,464. Number high 

 schools, 4; enrollment, 183. 



BUSINESS STATISTICS — Number of railroads, 1; railway mileage, exclusive spurs 

 and sidetracks, 82.98. Number of manufactures, 22; average number wage earners, 22; 

 value of products, $148,733. Number of banks, 5. Number general stores, 20; confec- 

 tionery, etc., 4; groceries and meats, 18; lumber yards, 6; total number merchants, 

 147. Total assessed valuation 1922 merchandise, $461,157. Number grain elevators, 5; 

 total capacity, 115,000 bushels. Number creameries, 1. Number flour mills, 1. Number 

 saw mills. 5. Number of lawyers, 9. Number of physicians, 8. 



AGRICULTURE (1920 census) — Number farms, 791; farm acreage, 748,749; im- 

 proved f;irm acieage, 158,363; irri^■uted acreage, 48.306: average value all property, per 

 farm, $22,949. Livestock assessed 1922 — number cattle, 43,573; number sheep, 13,180; 

 number horses, 7,427; number swine (census), 2,885. 



CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA — At Crow Agency. Elevation, 3,041 feet. Average date 

 last killing frost in spring, May 14; average date first killing frost in fall, September 26. 



An- 

 Jan. Feb. IVIar. April May June 



Ave. Prec. .78 .62 .92 1.33 2.5 2.65 

 Ave. Temp. 18.6 20.2 32.6 46.4 56.7 65.0 



County Seat, Hardin. Population County 

 County Agricultural Agent — No. 



