146 MONTANA: INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES 



"While small .sraiiis. clover, fruit and alfalfa have been the chief crops, diver- 

 sified farminj? conihined with dair\in.s; has made marked profiress in the last 



year or two. Many dairy cows have been shipped in co- 

 Dairying operatively and the irraius and lejinnies formerly sold are being 

 Is EYpandiiig utilized on the farms. Corn and sunflowers are grown for 



silage. The Little Bitter Root valley is the most important 

 agricultural district. In addition to dairying, it is specializing on alfalfa and 

 clover seed production and certified potato seed. In 1923 some acreage was con- 

 tracted for growing seed peas. Interest is being taken in poultry raising and 

 agriculture. Farming is well established in Sanders county and a type of agricul- 

 ture well suited to the region is being evolved. Expansion of the industry involves 

 some pioneering, in clearing the logged-off lands which can be irrigiited from pri- 

 vate projects and of leveling and developing units under the Flathead project of 

 the Indian Service. Under present conditions, dairying would most likely be the 

 major activity, particularl.v in the Little Bitter Root valley, which lies 30 miles 

 from the railroad. Considerable grazing is afforded on the nati(»nal forests. 



The biggest imdeveloped industrial resource of the count.v is water power, of 

 which 40.000 horse power has been developed at Thompson Falls, with sites avail- 

 able that will generate an additional 240.000 hor.se power. In the last few years 

 there has been little mining activity in the county, but there are promising dis- 

 tricts and properties in the west end of the county. Gold, silver, copper and lead 

 have been produced commercially. The existence of antimony, brick clay and 

 pottery clay is reported. The Thompson River country contains one of the finest 

 bodies of virgin western yellow pine .saw timber in the state, most of which is 

 privatel.v owned. The national forest timber in the count.v is estimated at approxi- 

 mately OOO.tHiK) M feet, chiefly yellow pine, larch, Douglas fir and western white 

 pine. 



The main line of the Northern Pacific and one of the main east and west 

 highways follow the course of the Clark's Fork through the county. At Dixon, near 

 the eastern border, a branch of the Northern Pacific runs northward to Poison, on 

 Flathead Lake. A north and south highway, connecting Noxon. in the west end 

 of the county, with Troy, on the Great Northern, will l)e open as soon as a six- 

 mile stretch now under construction by the Forest Service is completetl. 



Thompson Falls, about midway east and west, is the county seat and the 

 largest communit.v. A feature of the school system is a new dormitor.v, costing 

 $130.W>0. that was erected in 1922 as part of the equipment of the Thompson 

 Falls High School, to furnish room and Ijoard to out-of-town pupils at $13 to $15 

 a month. Plains is a trade and shipping point for a large agricultural district. 

 Perma and Dixon are shipping points in the east end. and Heron. Noxon, Trout 

 Creek, Whitepine and Alger are trading points in the logged-off districts. 



Excellent fishing is found in the niunerous streams, and the Cabinet moun- 

 tains, in the northwestern part of the county, offer good big game hunting in sea- 

 son. Hot Springs, 20 miles north of Perma, is a tourist and health resort, open 

 the year "round. 



SANDERS COUNTY — Hanks thirty-eiRhth in population (4.903): nineteenth in 

 area (1,831.040 acie.s): forty-ninth in combined 1922 crop and live.stock value: thirtieth 

 in 1920 mineral production; 40th in bank deposits, 1922; twenty-first in assessed valua- 

 tion, 1922. Acres public land, 37.090; acres state land, 58,310; acres national forests, 

 822.157; acres Indian reservations (partially allotted), 456,672. 



WEALTH PRODUCTION — Estimated 1922 crop value, $446,500; estimated live- 

 stock value. Januarv, lii23. §598.500; metal production, 1920, $3,479; 1921 lumber cut, 

 7,388 .M feet; total bank deposits, September 15, 1922, $722,797. 



TAXATION 1922 — Total assessed valuation, $22,572,053; total taxable value, 

 $7,730,595. Total outstanding county bond indebtedness, $350,000; total outstanding 

 countv warrant indebtedness, $4,161; total outstanding school bond indebtedness, 

 $255,295; other school debts, $839. Total general and special county taxes, $222,044; 

 total general and district school taxes, $192,795; total municipal taxes, $5,404; total 

 State taxes. $35,873: total tax (inclusive municipal), per capita, $93.02. 



