88 MONTANA: INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES 



ducinfj well was discovered in tbe Cat Creek field. Three years later there were 

 110 prodiiciu}^ wells in the field which yielded in 1922 more than 2,000,000 barrels 

 of high grade oil. Drilling is being done on many other structures, widely scat- 

 tered over the county. 



There are three oil refineries in the county — two at Lewistown and one at 



Winnett. Near Hanover is a large cement and stucco plant. Other extractive 



establishments include large flour mills, creameries, a brick 



Three Oil and clay plant, saw mills and monumental works. 



Refineries Transportation facilities in the western and southern por- 



tions of the county are adequate. The Billings-Great Falls 

 branch of the Great Northern, used as a through line by the Burlington, serves the 

 western district. A bi'anch line of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul runs 

 through the southwestern part of the county to Lewistown, and another branch 

 runs east out of that city to Winnett. The Great Northern's proposed Mondak 

 cut-off will open the eastern part of the county. The heaviest part of the con- 

 struction, including tunnels, through this county has been completed. It is thought 

 work, which was suspended at the beginning of the war. will shortly be resumed. 

 The Custer Battlefield highway, from Omaha to the Glacier Park, traverses the 

 county in a northwesterly direction. 



Lewistown, the county seat, is a thoroughly modern city, attractively situated 

 on the eastern slope of the Judith Range. It is a distributing and wholesaling 

 point for a large and growing territory. Winnet. in eastern Fergus, has enjoyed 

 a rapid growth in the past two years, due to the development of the oil fields. 

 "Winnett, Denton, in the northwestern part, and Moore, in the southwestern part 

 of the county, are the largest towns next to Lewistown. 



Moore, Garniel and Straw, on the Milwaukee, south of Lewistown, are in the 

 center of a rich farming section. Buffalo, on the Great Northern, is surrounded 

 by splendid farms and ranches. Hanover has a large cement factory. North 

 of Lewistown lie Roy and Winnifred. Large grain-growing and stock-raising 

 sections are adjacent to them. Kendall, a gold mining camp five miles from 

 Hilger, has produced over .$5,000,000 in gold. Grass Range and Teigen lie in 

 eastern Fergus and are surrounded by agricultural and stock-raising country. 



FERGUS COUNTY — Ranks fourth in population (25,808); first in area (3,816.960 

 acres): first in combined 1922 crop and livestock value; sixth in 1920 mineral produc- 

 tion; sixth in bank deposits, 1922: fourth in assessed valuation, 1922. Acres public 

 land, 326,705: acres state land. 219.552: acres national forests. 89,331. 



WEALTH PRODUCTION — Estimated 1922 crop value, $4,604,700; estimated live- 

 stock value, January, 1923, $4,546,000: metal production. 1920. $137,567; coal production. 

 1920. $859,114; 1921 lumber cut, 99,000 feet; total bank deposits, September 15, 1922, 

 $6,579,556. 



TAXATION 1922 — Total assessed valuation, $70,301,471: total taxable value. 

 $22,690,451. Total outstanding county bond indebtedness, $1,947,000; total outstanding 

 county warrant indebtedness, $319,132; total outstanding school bond indebtedness, 

 $987,762; other school debts, $198,435. Total general and special county taxes. $541,627; 

 total general and district school taxes, $534,900: total municipal taxes, $120,743; total 

 state taxes, $107,437; total tax (inclusive municipal) per capita, $50.55. 



EDUCATIONAL. — Number graded schools, 214; enrollment, 4,864. Number high 

 schools. 11: t'iMolhnciit. 1.251. 



BUSINESS STATISTICS — ^Number of railroads, 2; railway mileage, exi'lusive spurs 

 and sidetrarks, 231.12. Number of manufactures, 84; average number wage earners, 

 319; value of products, $1,802,493. Number of banks, 19. Number general stores, 58: 

 confectii}ner>-, etc., 27: giocfries and meats. 46; lumber yards, 21: total number mer- 

 chants, 509. Total assessed valuation, 1922 merchandise, $1,815,988. Number grain 

 elevators, 57; total capacity, 1,441.000. Number creameries. 2. Number flour mills, 4. 

 Number saw mills. 8. Number of lawyers, 53. Number of physicians, 24. Developed 

 hydro-electric plant capacity, 1,050 horse power. 



AGRICULTURE (1920 cenpiis^* — Number farms. 4,226: farm acreage, 2,573.981; im- 

 proved farm acreage, 1,037,819: irrigated acreage, 33,499; average value all property 

 per farm, $22,223. Livestock assessed 1922 — number cattle, 57,711; number sheep, 

 62,883; number horses, 27,610; number swine (census), 11,089. 



