EAST CENTRAL MONTANA 



81 



McCONE COUNTY 



HEN tlu' rails arc laid across the gap hc- 



twocn liiclicy uii the east and Lewistown 



on the west of the line projected by the 



Great Northern, the greatest need of Mc- 



Conc county, in east central Montana, will 



he filled. Lack of transportation facilities 



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^_^ li'i^ retarded development of its resources, 



EjUw||^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H|l which are 



I^Kii^H^H^H||^^H^^^^Hri A noted the 



raniie days, stock raising still continues 

 to lie the dominant pursuit. Large areas 

 of fertile land, coupled with an average 

 annual precipitation considerably higher 

 than in most parts of eastern Montana, 

 have attracted many farmers into the re- 

 ,gion. When transportation facilities are 

 improved, it is believed the development of 

 the count,v will be rapid. 



From the Missouri River, its northern 

 boundary, jNIcCone county extends southerly about 55 miles, and easterly from 

 Big Dry Creek about 40 miles. The Redwater river rises in the southern end 

 and runs northeasterly across a corner of Dawson county and then liack into 

 McCone county, joining the Missouri at the northwestern corner. While there are 

 some rough and broken areas, most of the county is tillable, consisting of rolling 

 uplands and flat benches. Soil types vary from a clay loam in the valleys to a 

 sandy loam on the benches. Non-irrigated farming is followed almost exclusivel.v, 

 lint there are a number of opportunities for the construction of small irrigation 

 systems. The net irrigable land in the county is estimated at 20.000 acres. 



More progress has been made farming in the eastern and northern parts of 



the county, the distance to market being less than in other districts. Spring 



wheat is the leading cash crop. Oats and flax are next in im- 



Corn and portance, flax being the easiest to transport and carrying the 



Hogs highest value of any of the small grains. Corn is assuming an 



important place in the cropping system, producing an abund- 

 ance of fodder and fair yields of grain. A creamery at Circle reflects the interest 

 manifested in diversified farming. The swine industr.v is growing. As long as 

 shipping distances remain so great the livestock industry on a range liasis 

 will flourish. 



Lignite coal aboiinds in many places. It is expected the region will be ex- 

 plored for oil and gas. 



Richey, the present terminus of the Great Northern's new projected line 

 across Montana, lies 12 miles east of McCone's eastern border. Being the nearest 

 rail point for a large McCcnie count.v area, it is the most important distributing 

 and shipping point. The southern part of the county finds an outlet through 

 Terr.v, on both the ISIilwaukee and the Northern Pacific railways, while the 

 northern district reaches the main line of the Great Nortlnn-n across the Missouri 

 at AVolf Point and Poplar. 



Circle, the count.v seat, in the south central part, is the largest town. Brock- 

 way, 12 miles soiuh of Circle, is the second lai'gest town. Both are on the line of 

 the proposed railroad. 



