CENTRAL MONTANA 



^ ^ 



In Developed Energy Resources Stands in First Place — Most of Its Area Included 



Within the Mountain Region — Stockraising and Qeneral 



Farming Varied Industrial Development. 



Orisixially a mining and a stockraising region, Central Montana, which ex- 

 tends from the Musselshell river on the east to the crest of the continental 

 divide on the west, and includes the counties of Fergus, Musselshell, Golden 

 Valley, Wheatland, Judith T'asiii. Meagher, Cascade, Lewis and Clark, Broad- 

 water and Jefferson, is one of the principal industrial regions of the state. 

 Mining, stockraising and general farming are also important. Diversified agricul- 

 ture is hetter established in the western two-thirds, or eastern slope district, than 

 in the eastern third of the plains i-egion. 



The district ranks first in production of petroleum, in tonnage of coal mined 

 and in developed hydro-electric power. In undeveloped water power it is second. 

 Because of the wheat acreages of Fergus and Judith Basin counties it holds 

 second place on this crop. It also ranks second on potatoes and alfalfa. In the 

 western half are many national forests and other grazing areas. There is much 

 irrigated land. 



Zinc, silver, lead, gold and sapphires are mined, as well as coal. The 

 existence of large deposits of commercial iron ore and other minerals of industrial 

 importance are reported. This district is the chief producer of gypsum products. 



Three of the larger cities are here. There has been consideral)le industrial 

 development, which is emerging from the extractive into the processing stage. 

 Elevations 3.100 to 5,000 feet ; growing season three to nearly four months. 



MUSSELSHELL COUNTY 



C 



OAL mining is the principal industry, but 

 the records would seem to indicate the domi- 

 nant characteristic of Musselshell county is 

 a pioneering spirit. In 1919 venturesome 

 ]iorsons drilled in Devifs Basin field of the 

 county and succeeded in finding some oil. 

 While the field has not yet attained com- 

 mercial importance, this discovery induced 

 the exploration of other districts whose 

 successful development placed Montana on 

 the oil map of the nation. In March, 1923, 

 the first carload of Montana steers fat- 

 tened on Montana corn to be shipped to 

 market came from this county, blazing a 

 path that will help to restock the non- 

 irrigated farms in the old grazing areas. 



Situated on the rolling bench lands of 

 central Montana, the principal topographic 

 fciilnres of ^Musst'lshcll county are the Bull 

 Mountains, near the southern border, and the Musselshell Kiver, which flows 



85 



