102 
feetdeep. Another large canal, in Choteau County, is 75 miles in length. 
Others of similar character are in process of construction. Irrigation 
SyStems are greatly needed for the reclamation, under the desert-land 
act, of sterile tracts. The repeal of that act,as proposed, might be a 
serious mistake. 
The numerous valléys of the Territory are remarkably fertile, and, with proper 
facilities for irrigation, yield large returns in wheat, oats, barley, and all kinds of 
vegetables unsurpassed in quality. 
BEAVER HEAD COUNTY. 
Total area, 2,800 square miles; estimated forest area, 1,100 square miles. ) 
q 4 
This county is situated in the extreme southwestern corner of the 
Territory. It is bordered on the north, west, and south by the main 
Rocky Mountain range. Beaver Head and Big Hole Rivers are its 
principal streams. They flow through a long reach of country and find 
outlet at the northeast, through the Jefferson River, into the Missouri. 
The surface of the county is much broken, and includes many de- 
tached ranges and spurs, which, in some instances, are comparatively 
high and rugged. There are anumber of arable vaileys, and quite an ex- 
tent of rolling, open country suitable for grazing. 
Upon all the mountains, except at the highestelevations, there is a 
forest growth, but usually not dense nor of great value for lumber. The 
forests, however, aiford timber supplies for the ordinary local uses, and 
serve to protect the head-waters of the streams. 
Red Fir, Black Pine, or Tamarack, White Pine, and White Spruce 
are the predominant species. Black Cottonwood (Populus angustifolia), 
which here grows large and tall, borders many of the streams. 
Forest fires have destroyed much timber in the county, but as the 
winter snows are heavy and the climate not extremely arid, a new 
growth of the same species soon appears. 
CHOTEAU COUNTY. 
(Total area, 26,000 square miles; estimated forest area, 350 square miles.) 
The greater part of this immense county, nearly all of which is in the 
plains region, is held as an Indian reservation. It is situated in the 
north-central part of the Territory, and is watered by the Missouri 
River, the Milk, Marias, and other tributary streams. 
The small amount of timber the county contains is found upon the 
Sweet Grass Hills in the north, the Bear Paw and Little Rocky Mount- 
ains at the northeast, the Highwood Mountains in the southern por- 
tion, and on the foot-hills of the main range in the extreme western 
part. 
The forests are composed almost wholly of an inferior growth of Red 
Fir and White Pine, not more than 5 or 10 per cent. of whichis good 
saw-timber. A scanty growth of Cottonwood lines the streams. 

