126 M(^NTANA : INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES 



reservation Dicupics the suiUliwe.stern part of the couiily. Soil types vary from 

 chocolate loam to the heavier clay loams on the bottom lands adjacent to the 

 Millv River valley, Mhich rvnis east and west throusjli the central part. 



In the early days this region was one of the important ranjie districts, the 

 sontliern part of the county lieiny settled hy ranclinien who ran both sheep and 

 cattle, .yrazinj; them tliron.^h tlie norllierii i)art of the county 

 An 01(1 and into Canada. With its settlement al)out 1910, all the north- 



Ranjje District ern district was relincpiished by the stockmen and is now 

 devoted to uon-irri.i;ate<l farmintr. as is the area south of the 

 ^Iill< River valley, extendiuc: to the foothills of the Bear Paw mountains. The 

 southern part is still almost wholly devoted to stock raisint;'. the valleys in the 

 Bear Paws being fertile and producing plenty of feed to maintain large herds of 

 both sheep and cattle. Small private iri-igation plants are scattered through the 

 northern region and the bottom lands of the Milk River valley and are prac- 

 tically all imder irrigation through the oruanization of private irrigation projects 

 between Chinook and Harlem. Water is secured from the government Milk River 

 reclanmtion project and covers the bottom lands of the lower Milk River valley. 

 These irrigated areas in Blaine county probably offer as cheap irrigated land 

 as are to be had in the state. Alfalfa, blue joint and tinKtthy are the leading 

 feed crops grown in the irrigated areas, with oats, barley, wheat and corn the 

 leading cereals. Considerable development work is being done with sugar beets, 

 and it is probable that this crop will be added to the list of those gi-own on the 

 irrigated lands. A big increase in corn acreage on both non-irrigated and irri- 

 gated lands has taken place in recent years and this crop now has taken a 

 prominent place in rotations. 



The Blaine County Marketing Association and the Purebred Swine Growers' 

 Associations are among the most flourisliing co-operative associations in the 

 state. More than usual interest is being taken in swine and 

 Co-operative poultry raising. 



Marketing The main line of the Great Northern runs through the 



heart of the county, and is paralleled by the Roosevelt 

 Memorial highway. Chinook, the county seat, and Harlem are the most important 

 towns. Both are modern and up to date. Many farm families move in from outlying 

 districts during the winter months to give their children the modern school ad- 

 vantages that are available. Other towns and trading centers are Coburg. Zurich. 

 Savoy and Lohman. 



The Battle of the Bear Paws where, October 5, 1S77, Chief Joseph surrendered 

 to General Nelson A. Miles, was fought in the southwestern part of 

 Blaine county. It brought to an end an Indian journey which, for rapidity, 

 resourcefulness and daring, military experts say is comparable to Hannibal's 

 passage across the Alps. Relics of the fight are iniearthed from time to time. 



Blaine county has extensive deposits of lignite coal. It also has clay deposits 

 suitalile for brick making. 



BLAINE COUNTY — ^Ranks twenty-secdnd In population (9.057): ninth in area 

 (■2.706.560 aires); fourth in comliined 1922 r-rop and livestock value; nineteenth in 1920 

 mineral production; twenty-fifth in bank deposits, 1922; twenty-second in assessed val- 

 uation, 1922. Acres public land, 205,040; acres state land, 156,459; acres Indian and 

 other reseivations, 501,601. 



WEALTH PRODUCTION — Estimated 1922 crop value. $1,715,000; estimated live- 

 stock value. .Tanuarv, 1923. $3,829,200; coal production, 1920, $42,000; 1921 lumber cut, 

 500 M feet; total bank deposits, September 15, 1922, $1,248,653. 



TAXATION 1922 — Total assessed valuation, $22,515,412; total taxable value, 

 $7,122,510. Total outstanding' county bond indebtedness, no data; total outstanding 

 county warrant indebtedness, no data; total outstanding- school bond indebtedness, 

 $137,388; other school debts. $24. Total general and special county taxes, $189,721; 

 total general and district school taxes, $156,173; total municipal taxes, $36,701; total 

 state taxes, $35,451; total tax (inclusive municipal), per capita, $46.15. 



EDUCATIONAL — Number graded schools, 83; enrollment, 1,613. Number high 

 schools, 3; enrollment, 240. 



