SOUTH WESTERN MONTANA 71 



The Tobacco Root Mountains, runninjr north iind south through the middle 



of the county, between the Ruby and Madison Rivers, is one of the most highly 



mineralized regions in the west. l)ut no deep development has 



Kieli in been done. There is scarcely a district in the county but has 



Minerals produced some sort of mineral wealth. (Jold. silver, copper. 



lead and zinc have been produced commercially. Coal, gypsum. 



gems, manganese, molybdcMuun. nitrate, asbestos, barite, mica, tungsten and 



fluorite are among the other minerals whose existence is reported. 



Their presence, considered in connection with 16.700 developed hydro-electric 

 horse power and 70.000 undeveloped horse power on the ^Madison river, may lead 

 some day to the establishment of industries. Near the headwaters of the Madison 

 is the Hebgen reservoir of the Montana Power Company with a storage capacity 

 of 325.000 acre feet, the seventh largest storage reservoir in the world, which 

 furnishes, with the aid of the smaller storages available at the plants of the 

 company, "a regulation of the flow of the Madison and Missouri Rivers probably 

 unequaled by any power s.vstem in the world".* 



The northern part of the county is served by the main lines of the Northern 

 Pacific and the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul. The western part of the county 

 is served by a branch line of the Northern Pacific from Whitehall, south through 

 the Jefferson and Ruby valleys to Alder, which is near the geographical center 

 of the coimt.v. The eastern district, through the Madison valley, is tapped by 

 another Northern Pacific branch out of Sappington. which forks at Harrison, one 

 fork going to Pony and the other to Xorris. There is a big and promising district 

 in the south end of the county whose development is retarded by lack of trans- 

 portation. A highway connecting with the West Yellowstone entrance to the 

 Yellowstone Park runs north up the ^ladison to a junction with a main east and 

 west highway via Butte. At Ennis this road connects with another highwa.v that 

 swings west through Virginia City and thence north through Sheridan and 

 Twin Bridges to Whitehall. 



Twin Bridges, on the western side of the county, where the Ruby. Beaver- 

 head and Big Hole Rivers unite to form the Jefferson, is the largest town, accord- 

 ing to the 1020 census, and a few miles south of it lies Sheridan, 

 Noted Fishing the second largest. Ennis, in a stock-growing region, is the 

 District laraest town on the eastern, or Madison River side. On the 



lower Matlison are Pon.v. Harrison and Xorris. The latter is 

 the terminus of the branch line railroad up the Madison and a distributing and 

 shipping point for a large territory. Virginia City, situated in almost the exact 

 geographical center of the count.v, was the first incorporated city in the territor.v 

 and for a number of years the territorial caiiital. Waterloo, in the northwestern 

 l)art. is a shipping point for a good agricultiu-al district. Adjacent to most of 

 these towns are mining districts. 



Many sportsmen consider the finest trout fishing in the United States is to 

 be had in Madison count.v. There is also good big game hunting. There are 

 four hot springs resorts in the count.v. the Xorris at Xorris. the Potosi near 

 Pony, the Barkell at Silver Star, near Twin Bridges, and I*ullers Hot 

 Springs near Alder. The territorial history of Montana was largely made in 

 Madison count.v and there are many points of interest to historians as well as 

 tourists, siu'li as the Road Agents' cemeter.v at Virginia City, the Robbers' Roost 

 on Ramshorn Creek, and the collection of relics and curios in the Thompson 

 Memorial T>ilirarv at ^"irginia ('Uv. 



♦Brochure of Montana Power Company. 



