NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA 133 



Stock raisiiij; for many years was the Icailiiiu industry, but with the sottlumeut 

 of the lands in the eastern part of the ((nuity and the huiUlinii of a large Carey 

 irrifration iirojcct in the middle part, was restricted to the 

 Much Irrisated rousiht'r lands and the national forest areas in the western dis- 

 Laiid triet. \N'att'r is available for jdiout li2r).(t(i<( acres of land in the 



Care.v project of the X'alier [Montana Land and Water Company, 

 but considerable of it has not yet been settled. The irriiiated district is well 

 adapted to all types of farming and there is a stronj; tendency at present toward 

 diversification and 80-aci-e farms, with dairying;, swine and poultry raisins impor- 

 tant enterprises. Four pure-bred dairy bull associations were formed in the county 

 in 1023 and nian.v hiiih-srade (}uernse,v and Hcdstein cows have been .shipped in. 

 In 1922 the county shipped ."i.OOO head of turkeys. A (urkey growers' association 

 has been formed. 



Wheat, oats and liarU'y are the principal grain crops in both the irrigated and 

 non-irrigated districts. Alfalfa is the chief forage crop on irrigated lands. Farm- 

 ers on non-irrigated lands in the lower altitndes are turning to corn as a feed 

 crop. Moisture is the controlling factor of crop production in the non-irrigated 

 districts east of the Great Northern line. 



Coal exists in the comity and at several places drilling for oil is being done. 



The Billing.s-Shelby line of the Great Northern, used by the through coast 

 trains of the Burlingtoji. runs north across the eastern part of the county. An 

 independent railroad runs northwesterl,v from Conrad to Valier, serving the irri- 

 gated district. Pendroy. in Teton county, a few miles from the southern bound- 

 ary, is the terminus of a (ireat Northern branch which serves the southwestern 

 part of Pondera county. The main highway of the eastern Park-to-Park I'oiite 

 crosses the western part of the county and there are other north and south high- 

 ways direct to Great Falls, Shelby and Choteau. 



Conrad, in the eastern district, is the comity seat and the largest community. 

 It has all modern municipal improvements and is substantially built. It is the 

 shipping and distributing center of a large area. "Valier. in the heart of the 

 irrigated district, is the second largest town and has modern improvements. At 

 Williams, lying between Valier and Conrad, is a modern creamer.v whose products 

 are in demand on Montana markets. Brady and Fowler, in the non-irrigated dis- 

 tricts, and Dupuyer, in the stock-raising region, are trade center.s. 



Fishing and hunting are enjoyed in the moimtains in the western part of the 

 county. Near Dupuyer, on Birch Creek, the highest rock filled dam in the 

 United States has been built, to store irrigation water. 



PONDERA COUNTY — Ranks thirty-third in population (5,741); twenty-ninth in area 

 (1.061,120 acres); twenty-nintli in combined 1922 crop and livestock value; twenty-sec- 

 ond in 1920 mineral production; twenty-ninth in bank deposits, 1922; thirty-ninth in 

 assessed valution, 1922. Acres public land, 8,702; acres state land, 43,930; acres national 

 forests. 121,616; acres Indian reservations (partially patented), 162.213. 



WEALTH PRODUCTION — Estimated 1922 crop value, $1,796,800; estimated live- 

 stock value, .lanuary, 1923, $1,270,400; coal production, 1920, $18,000; total bank deposits, 

 September 15, 1922. $1,130,256. 



TAXATION 1922 — Total assessed valuation. $16,565,215; total taxable value, 

 $5,152,565. Total outstanding county bond indebtedness, $544,000; total outstanding 

 county warrant indebtedness, $24,051; total outstanding school bond indebtedness, 

 $151,767; other school debt.s, $3,876. Total general and special county taxes. $84,736; 

 total general and district school taxes, $129,717; total municipal taxes, $20,087; total 

 state taxes. $24,620; total tax (inclusive municipal), per capita, $45.14. 



EDUCATIONAL — Number graded schools, 56; enrollment, 1,181. Number high 

 schools, 3; enrollment, 200. 



BUSINESS STATISTICS — Xmnber of railroads, 2; railway mileage, exclusive of 

 spurs and .sidetracks. 56.60. Number of manufactures, 7; average number wage earners, 

 4; value of products, $40,488. Number of banks. 8. Number general stores. 16; confec- 

 tionery, etc., 2; groceries and meats, 4; lumber yards. 8; total numlier mercbants, 116. 

 Total assessed valuation 1922 merchandise, $531,651. Number grain elevators, 19; total 

 capacity, 531,000 bushels. Number creameries, 1. Number of lawyers, 10. Number of 

 physicians, 6. 



