EAST CENTRAL MONTANA 



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Qrouing Season Long and Hot — In Acreage Devoted to Corn Leads State — Large 

 Areas in the Western Part Are Awaiting the Coming of a 

 Railroad — Irrigation in Yellowstone Valley. 



Throe docados ago dovotod exclusively to stoekraisins, orop production has 

 taken the lead in the eastern tier of counties — Richland. WiV)aux and Dawson — in 

 East Central Montana, but stockgrowing is the chief wealth producer in Prairie, 

 McCone and Garfield in the western tier. While non-irrigated farming is the 

 dominent method, there being little irrigated land outside of the Yellowstone 

 valley in the southeastern quarter, the irrigated district of Richland county has 

 made good progress toward the establishment of a diversified system of agricul- 

 ture that includes a generous amount of livestock. Seed production here is im- 

 portant. 



The western half is handicapped by inadequate transportation facilities, and 

 development of its resources has been retarded. Spring wheat is the principal 

 crop within hauling distance of the railroad. More remote districts are turning 

 to flax, alfalfa seed and less bulky crops. The district leads all others in corn, 

 which gives good yields of both grain and forage. Swine production is increasing. 



Lignite coal abounds. Natural gas has been discovered, and is used in Glen- 

 dive. Barite, iron, potash and clay deposits are reported to exist. 



The growing season ranges from lOo to 125 days and the elevation from 1,978 

 feet in the eastern district to 2,800 in the western. 



WIBAUX COUNTY 







part. The Golden Valley soils are 

 feed and grain. Along the bottom 



NE of the noted stock districts of the north- 

 west in the old range days, agriculture has 

 forged ahead until it is now the dominant 

 industry of Wibaux county. The one-crop 

 system has prevailed, but an expanding 

 acreage in corn and a broader interest in 

 swine, foreshadow the advent of diversified 

 farming. 



Wibaux lies in east central Montana. 

 The Dakota-Montana boundai-y marks its 

 eastern Itorder. It is about 50 miles long, 

 north and south and 25 miles wide. The 

 western and southwestern portions of the 

 county ar(> devoted almost exclusively to 

 grazing, because of their rough, broken na- 

 ture. The principal agricultural areas are 

 the Beaver Creek valley, running north and 

 south through the middle of the county, 

 and the (Jolden Valley, in the southeastern 

 very fertile. Corn is generally grown for 

 lands of Beaver Creek alfalfa does well. 



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