WEST CENTRAL MONTANA 



109 



GRANITE COUNTY 



JNIALL ill area and population, Granite county, 

 in west central Montana, on the west side 

 of tlie main range of the Rocky Mountains, 

 is unusually well diversified in industrial 

 as well as agricultural resources. Millions 

 of dollars have been extracted from its sil- 

 ver mines. It is the only important pi'o- 

 ducer of man,u:anese at the present time, the 

 output of its mines being greater than 

 the combined output of all other mines 

 in the country. The sapphire mines on 

 Rock Creek are reputed to be the largest 

 in the world, though not the finest. The 

 gems are mined on a big scale and shipped 

 east by the ton to be used in watches 

 and other precision instruments. It has 

 enormous deposits of high grade phosphate 

 which the U. S. Geological Survey predicts 

 will lie commercially developed. It also 

 has lignite coal, large forests, numerous mountain streams, beautiful scenery 

 and unexcelled hiuiting and fishing. Mixed farming is the prevailing type in 

 both the irrigated valleys and on the non-irrigated table lands. While the propor- 

 tion of tillable land to the total area of the county is small, the untillable areas 

 afford fine grazing. 



It is a county of balanced industry, its annual crop, livestock and metal pro- 

 duction being of about equal value, although it has more undeveloped mineral than 

 other resources. The agricultural areas of the county are in the 

 Balanced Flint and Rock Creek valleys, the Hell Gate River valley and 



Industry on the talde lands back of them. The valleys are narrow and 



protected by high mountains. The soil is alluvial, fertile and 

 deep. Good water is abundant from the many mountain streams and springs. 

 Both irrigated and non-irrigated farming are followed and generall.y good 

 yields are obtained of small grains and forage crops. The national forests and 

 a considerable acreage of public domain provide fine summer grazing areas and 

 the livestock industry is as important as crop production. The county is well 

 situated as regards the larger Montana markets. Natural conditions are well 

 adapted to dairying and the industry is growing. 



Granite county for many years has l)een one of the most important mining 

 regions of the state in continuity of operation and gross production. It has been 

 a commercial producer of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, sapphires, manganese, 

 and lignite coal for home use. Its phosphate reserves have not been developed. 

 It is also reported to have platinum, corundum and deposits of brick clay. The 

 mining payroll runs about $75,000 a month. There is also some lumbering in the 

 county. 



The main lines of the Northern Pacific and of the Chicago, Milwaukee & 



St. Paul cross the county near the northern border, and a Northern Pacific 



Itrnnch rims south up Flint Creek in the center of the county 



New East and to Philipsburg. The Yellowstone Trail parallels the railroads. 



West Highway There is a direct highway into Anaconda from Drummond via 



Philipsburg, and a state highway has recently been completed 



across the mountains into the Bitter Root valley near Hamilton, which will give 



an alternative main east and west route through the western part of the state. 



