60 MONTANA: INDUSTRIAL RP^SOURCES 



of the Yellowstone River, and non-irrigated farming on the bench lands. It is 

 asserted there has never been a crop failure in the region south of the Yellow- 

 stone. Considerable livestock is raised, the mountainous areas affording good 

 summer pasturage. 



Wheat is the principal cash crop, both winter and spring varieties being ex- 

 tensively grown. The county has won many prizes on its small grains. In 1922, 

 at Pendleton, Oregon, it took sweepstakes on both hard red winter and hai'd spring, 

 and in 15)21, at the International Hay and Grain Show at Chicago, in world 

 competition, took first on hard red winter, and a total of seven places on eleven 

 entries. 



While coal is the only mineral the county has produced in commercial (luan- 

 tities, there is a deposit of chromite that begins near McLeod. Sweet Grass county, 

 and extends through the south half of Stillwater county as far 

 Big Chroniite east as Fishtail Creek, a distance of 27 miles. It is reported to 

 Deposit be the largest deposit in the United States. It has only been 



examined a distance of leSs than four miles along its course, 

 and, while little development has been done, assays indicated that at least some 

 of it will meet the requirements of steel manufacturers. Near Antelope Point, in 

 the Lake Basin district, large flows of natural gas were discovered while drilling 

 for oil, which is being continued. On the W^est Fork of the Rosebud River, in 

 the south end of the county, at Mystic Lake, a hydro-electric plant with an initial 

 development of 15,000 horse power is being constructed. Plans call for its com- 

 pletion in 1924. The plant will operate under a head of 700 feet fall, which is 

 greater than is found at any plant in Montana, Idaho, Oregon or Washington. 



The main line of the Northern Pacific follows the Yellowstone valley through 

 the middle of the county. The north end of the county is tapped by a branch 

 line of the same road that comes in from the east and has its terminus at Rapelje. 

 The main east and west highway follows the Yellowstone River. 



Columbus, at the junction of the Yellowstone and Stillwater Rivers, is the 

 largest town, the chief trading center, and the county seat. Park City and Reed 

 Point are trading points on the main line, and Rapelje and Wheat Basin on the 

 branch. Al)sarokee, on the Stillwater, is a trading point for the southern part 

 of the coimty. 



Majestic scenery is found in the mountains in the southern end, and big 

 game hunting in season. The Lake Basin region draws many duck hunters each 

 fall. Good fishing is found in most of the streams. Historical and scenic attrac- 

 tions include the Bridger trail, the Lewis and Clark trail. Mystic Falls, Woodbine 

 Falls, East Rosebud Lake, Cathedral Peak and Stillwater Palisades. 



STILLWATER COUNTY — Ranks twenty-seventh in population (7,630); fortieth 

 in area (1,137,280 acl•e^5) ; twenty-seventh in combined 1922 crop and live.stock value; 

 twenty-eighth in 1920 mineral production; twenty-seventh in bank deposits, 1922; 

 thirtieth in assessed valuation, 1922. Acres public land, 16,863; acres state land, 32.464; 

 acres national forests, 86,561. 



WEALTH PRODUCTION — Estimated 1922 crop value, $1,364,400; estimated live- 

 stock value, .January, 1923, $1,750,000; coal production, 1920. $7,304; 1921 lumber cut, 

 122 M feet; total bank deposits, September 15, 1922, $1,216,762. 



TAXATION 1922 — -Total assessed valuation, $19,961,750; total taxable value, 

 $6,620,390. Total outstanding county bond indebtednes.s, $742,500; total outstanding 

 county warrant indebtedness, $1,631; total outstanding school bond indebtedness, 

 $278,471; other school debts, $13,300. Total general and special county taxes, $202,757; 

 total general and district school taxes, $166,340; total municipal taxes, $20,239; total 

 state taxes, $30,306; total tax (inclusive municipal), per capita, $55.00. 



EDUCATIONAL — Number graded schools, 79; enrollment, 1,608. Number high 

 schools, 6; enrollment, 222. 



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

 and sidetracks, 66.15. Number of manufactures, 14; average number wage earners, 19; 

 value of products, $93,153. Number of banks, 8. Number general stores. 18; confec- 

 tionery, etc., 5; groceries and meats, 17; lumber yards, il; total number merchants, 145. 

 Total assessed valuation 1922 merchandise, $441,056. Number grain elevators, 14; total 

 capacity, 400,000 bushels. Number creameries 1. Number flour mills, 1. Number 

 saw mills, 2. Number of lawyers, 5. Number of physicians, 9. Hydro-electric devel- 

 opment completed in 1924, 15,000 horsepower. 



AGRICULTURE (1920 census) — Number farms, 1,370; farm acreage, 660,996; im- 



