142 MONTANA: INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES 



half, iu the lower Fhahead valley, is tillable. The soil varies from li,irht sandy 

 loam to heavy clay. Most of the land is iindnlarinsi and for proper irri.iration 

 must be leveled. Nnmerons tributaries \vho.se source is in the Mission range, 

 empty into the Flathead River. 



While considerable non-irriijated farming- is bi'ins done, a.iiriculrural expansion 



will be most marked on the irrijiable laiuls included within the Flathead govern- 



ment reclamation project, which is designed to reclaim 124.500 



Diversified acres. Canals and laterals have been built to supply lO.l.OOO 

 Farm Region acres of land. There are 2.000 farm units on tin- project and 

 water deliveries ai'e being made to 1,200 farms. The region is 

 especially adapted to diversified farming and dairying. Alfalfa, clover and tim- 

 oth.v are the principal forage crops. The acreage devoted to small grains is de- 

 clining and that in forage, potatoes and other crops adjipted to a diversified sys- 

 tem is increasing. Bush fruits thrive, ilost farms have home orchards of apples, 

 pears, pliuns, or cherries. The best commercial orchards outside the Bitter Root are in 

 Lake county. The interest in dairying is pronounced. The lands bordering on 

 Flathead Lake are particularly adapted to the sweet cherry and the region is 

 gaining a wide reputation on this product. Agriculture in Lake county is still in 

 the first stages of development, the reservation lands not being opened to settle- 

 ment until 1010. 



The biggest industrial resource of the couut.v is undeveloped hydro-electric 

 power on the Flathead River which is variously estimated at 300.000 to r>(K).(X)0 

 horse power. The federal power commission has under consideration several re- 

 quests for permission to develop this power. Considerable timlier is in the 

 county. The Flathead Indians are the owners of 1..jO0.0im>.0CM) feet of uncut tindter. 

 A number of saw mills are operating in the county. The annual production of a 

 creamery at Poison is steadily increasing. There is a floiu* mill at the same place 

 with a capacity of 200 barrels dail.v. 



A branch line of the Northern Pacific, which leaves the main line at Dixon, 



on the southern border of the county, runs north through the heart of the south 



half of the county to Poison, a distance of ol miles. The 



Rail and Flathead Lake regicm is served by boats which connect with 



Boats the Great Northern at Somers and with the Northern Pacific 



at Poison. A splendid automobile driveway encircles the lake, 



which is 35 miles long with a maximum width of about IS miles. The western 



Park-to-Park route from "West Yellnlt^stone to Belton traver.ses the county north 



and south. 



Poison, the county seat, scenically situated at the foot of Flathead Lake. 



near the geographical center of the county, is the largest town with <ill modern 

 municipal improvements. Growing towns in the irrigated district are St. Igna- 

 tius, Ronan, Charlo and Pablo. Da.vton, Big Arm and Rollins are lake comnutnities. 



Some of the most beautiful scenery in the west is found in this county. The 

 Flathead valley, rimmed on the west liy the staccato skyline of the Mission range, 

 is strikingly attractive. The lioauty of the Swan Ri\er region in the northwestern 

 part of the county has lured a considerable number of folk from Montana and 

 eastern cities to erect beautiful sununer homes there. The shores of Flathead 

 Lake are dotted with summer homes. Excellent fishing and big game bunting 

 are to be enjoyed in the county. Eighty per cent of the 2.628 allottees of the 

 former Flathead Indian reservation reside in Lake county and a total of 284.000 

 acres of land have been allotted them. Patents in fee simple have lieen issued 

 to al)out 735 Indians. A consideraI>le acreage of Indian lands can be purchased. 



Statistics on taxation, education, business and timber, livestock and agri- 

 cultural production for this county are not available. The statistics for Flathead 



