See alsoMontana onWikipedia; the11th edition; and thedisclaimer. Another map of Montana accompanies the article onWyoming.
MONTANA, one of the north-western Territories ofthe United States, is limited on the N. by British Columbia,on the E. by Dakota, on the S. by Wyoming and Idaho,and on the W. by Idaho. Its boundaries, as establishedby statute, are as follows:—on the N., the 49th parallel;on the E., the 27th meridian west of Washington, or the104th west of Greenwich; on the S. and W. the boundaryfollows the 45th parallel from the 27th meridian westto the 34th meridian west, then turns south along thelatter meridian to its point of intersection with thecontinental watershed, thence along the crest-line of this watershedwestward and north-westward until it reaches theBitter-root Mountains; it then follows the crest of thisrange north-westward to the point where it is crossed bythe 39th meridian west, which it follows north to the line ofBritish Columbia. The total area is about 146,080 squaremiles—an approximate estimate, as the boundary along thecontinental watershed and the Bitter-root Mountains hasnot been exactly surveyed. The average elevation abovesea-level has been estimated at 3900 feet.
Topographically, Montana may be separated into twogreat divisions—that of the plains comprising the easterntwo-thirds, and that of the mountains comprising thewestern portion. The former, a monotonous rollingexpanse, broken only by the beds of the few streams whichtraverse it, and by a few small groups of hills, extends overnine degrees of longitude in a gentle uniform slope, risingfrom 2000 feet above the sea at the eastern boundary to4000 at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Except along thestreams and upon the scattered groups of hills, this sectionis entirely devoid of forest-growth of any kind. Vegetationis limited to the bunch grasses, artemisia, and cacti. Thegrasses are the most abundant and luxuriant near themountains, where the rainfall is greatest. The mountainsection, comprising the western third of the Territory, iscomposed, in general terms, of a succession of ranges andvalleys running very uniformly somewhat in a north-westand south-east direction. The mountains vary in heightfrom 8000 to 10,000, even in isolated cases reaching11,000 feet, with mountain-passes 6000 to 8000 feet abovethe sea. Towards the north the ranges become almostcontinuous, forcing the streams into long and circuitouscourses in order to disentangle themselves from the mazeof mountains, while, on the other hand, the ranges of thesouth-western part of the Territory are much broken, affordingnumerous low passes and water-gaps.
In the mountainous part of the Territory are the headwaters of the Missouri (Atlantic basin) and Clark's Fork ofthe Columbia (Pacific basin). The former rises in thesouth-west of the territory in three large branches, theJefferson, Madison, and Gallatin, which meet at the footof the Gallatin valley at a point known as the “ThreeForks of the Missouri.” Here the Missouri is a good-sizedstream, fordable with difficulty even when the current islowest. From this point to its mouth navigation ispossible when the stream is not below its mean height; itis interrupted only at the Great Falls of the Missouri, nearFort Benton, above which, however, it is practically littleused for navigation. Its other principal tributaries in itsupper course are the Sun, Teton, Marias, Musselshell, andMilk rivers, all of which vary much in size with the season,—thelast two being nearly or quite dry near their mouthsin the fall of the year. The Yellowstone, one of the mostimportant tributaries of the Missouri, has nearly all itscourse in Montana, and is navigable for small steamers asfar as the Crow Agency, except when the water is low.Clark's Fork of the Columbia is formed by the junction ofthe Flathead and the Missoula or Hellgate river. Theformer rises in the mountains of British Columbia andflows nearly south through Flathead Lake to its point ofjunction with the Missoula. The latter rises opposite theJefferson river and flows north-westward, receiving on itsway several large affluents. Below the point of junctionof these streams, Clark's Fork flows north-west along thebase of the Bitter-root Mountains into Idaho. This streamis very rapid, and is not navigable. Its course, as well asthose of most of its tributaries, passes through narrowvalleys, the surrounding country being well watered andcovered with dense forests ofConiferæ.
Geology.—Most of the mountain area belongs to the Eozoic andSilurian formations. Along the base of the mountains is a Triassicbelt of variable width. Succeeding this is a broad area of nearlyhorizontal Cretaceous beds, followed by the Tertiary formation,which covers nearly one-third of the Territory. These recentformations are interrupted here and there by volcanic upheavals.
Climate.—The climate of Montana differs almost as greatly indifferent parts of the Territory as that of California. In the north-westit resembles that of the Pacific coast. The westerly windsblowing off the Pacific do not meet with as formidable a barrier asfarther south, and consequently are not chilled, or deprived of solarge a proportion of their moisture. The result is that thenorth-western portion of Montana enjoys a mild temperature and a rainfallsufficient for the needs of agriculture. The valleys of the Kootenai,Flathead, Missoula, and Bitter-root can be cultivated without
irrigation with little danger of loss from drought. Farther east and souththe rainfall decreases. In the valleys of the upper Missouri, theJefferson, Madison, Gallatin, and the upper Yellowstone irrigationis almost everywhere required, as well as over the broad extent ofthe plains. Over most of the Territory the rainfall ranges from 10to 15 inches annually; in the north-western corner it rises to 25.
The general temperature is comparatively mild for the latitude,the elevation above the sea being decidedly less than that of theaverage of the Rocky Mountain region. The mean annual temperatureranges from 40° to 50° Fahr., but the variations are very greatand violent. Frosts and snowstorms are possible during everymonth of the year, so that agriculture and stock-raising are moreor less hazardous. On the other hand, the ordinary extremes oftemperature are not so great as in more arid portions of the country.
Forests.—Throughout the Territory, as everywhere else in theCordilleran region, forests follow rainfall. The plains are treeless;the mountain valleys about the heads of the Missouri are clothedonly with grass and artemisia, many localities extending to aconsiderable height up the mountains, which are themselves timbered,though not heavily. In the north-western part, roughly definedas the drainage area of Clark's Fork, where the rainfall is somewhatgreater, the forests become of importance. The mountains are
forest-clad from summit to base; and the narrower valleys are also covered,while the timber is of larger size and of much greater commercialvalue than elsewhere in the Territory,—the valuable timber consistingentirely of the various species ofConiferæ, pine, fir, cedar, &c. Of thebroad-leaved species, willow, aspen, and cotton-wood are abundant.
Sketch Map of Montana Territory.
Fauna.—The native fauna is not sharply distinguished fromthat of neighbouring States and Territories. The higher latitudeis, however, indicated by the relatively greater abundance of speciesfavouring a colder climate. The moose and the Rocky Mountaingoat, though by no means abundant, still frequent chosen hauntsin the mountains,—the former in the cool marshy valleys, the latterupon the most rugged inaccessible elevations. The black-tailedand mule deer, the antelope, elk, and mountain sheep are abundant,and the bison still ranges the plains, though in sadly reducednumbers. AmongCarnivoræ, the black and grizzly bears, mountainlion, lynx, wild cat, and several species of wolves are still plentiful.
Agriculture and Industry. Agriculture is dependent in mostparts of Montana upon the supply of water furnished by thestreams. Owing to this fact it is probable that not more than8 per cent. of the total area of the Territory can ever, even underthe most economical distribution of the water-supply, be broughtunder cultivation. In the drainage area of Clark's Fork are
several fine valleys containing a considerable extent of arableland, such as those of the Missoula, Bitter-root, Deer Lodge, Jocko,and Flathead. Upon the head-waters of the Missouri is also a largeextent of arable land. The valleys of the Jefferson and Madison alsodeserve mention. Along the eastern base of the mountains, nearthe head-waters of the Sun, Teton, and Marias rivers, are considerableareas susceptible of irrigation. Below the Forks the Missouriflows for 75 miles through a broad valley, much of which can beirrigated; below Fort Benton, however, the bluffs become higher andclose in on the river. The Yellowstone, also, after leaving themountains, flows through a similar kind of valley, which extends with afew minor breaks down to the point where the river turns from an eastto a north-east course, when it enters a country ofmauvaises terres,which, except as a mausoleum of fossil remains, is utterly valueless.
Owing to the comparatively isolated position of the Territory,agricultural pursuits have been limited by the demands of homeconsumption. The census of 1880 reported the area in farms toconsist of 405, 683 acres, with an average of 267 acres to each farm. Thewhole is less than one-half per cent, of the entire area of the Territory.The improved land is reported as amounting to 262,611acres. The following are the amounts of the principal agriculturalproducts:—wheat, 469,688 bushels; maize, 5689 bushels; oats,
900,915 bushels; barley, 39,970 bushels; hay, 63,947 tons; wool,995,484 pounds;—value of all farm products, $2,024,923. Thelive-stock interest is large, and is increasing rapidly. The great extentof pasture afforded by the plains and the broad valleys of themountains would seem to promise an almost unlimited extensionof this industry in the future. Both cattle and sheep owners,however, labour under disadvantages as compared with the ownersfarther south. The lower temperature and heavier snows, andparticularly the danger of great extremes of temperature, requirethat provision of shelter and food be made for a part or all of thewinter season, otherwise the rancheman runs the risk of occasionalsevere losses. The census of 1880 furnishes the following statisticsof live-stock:—horses, 35,114; mules and asses, 858; working oxen,936; milch cows, 11,308; other cattle, 160,143; sheep, 184,277;swine, 10,278;—total value of live-stock, $5,151,554.
In mineral production Montana has never taken a leading place,although in the early days some of the placer ground yielded well.The rich placers of Little Prickly Pear, Bannack, and Alder Gulchwere quickly exhausted. The produce of the latter has been reportedvariously at from $25,000,000 to $40,000,000, the greater part ofwhich was extracted in a few months. In the year 1879-80$1,805,767 worth of gold and $2,905,068 of silver were extracted,about three-fourths from deep mines and one-fourth from placers.For the year 1882 the total mineral production is reported at$8,004,000, of which about $1,000,000 was for copper and lead.
Population.—Owing largely to its remote position the populationas well as the material prosperity of Montana have had a slow growthin comparison with other more favoured portions of the west. Thepopulation in 1880, as reported by the census, was 39,159 (28,177males, and 10,982 females),—an increase of 90.1 per cent. over that in1870. There were 27,638 natives, and 11,521 of foreign birth, while35,385 were whites, 346 negroes or of mixed negro blood, 1765 Chinese,and 1663 citizen Indians. By far the greater portion of the populationis found in the western half, upon the head-waters of the Missouriand Clark's Fork. The eastern half is as yet but very sparsely settled,and probably it will never sustain more than a small population.
The Territory is divided into eleven counties, which, with theirpopulation in 1880, were the following:—Beaverhead, 2712;Choteau, 3058; Custer, 2510; Dawson, 180; Deer Lodge, 8876;Gallatin, 3643; Jefferson, 2464; Lewis and Clark, 6521; Madison,3915; Meagher, 2743; Missoula, 2537. The principal settlementsare—Helena, the capital (3624); Butte, a mining town (3363);and Bozeman, in the Gallatin valley upon the Northern PacificRailway, which in 1880 had a population of 894 and has probablydouble that number at present (1883).
The total number of Indians in Montana is estimated by theIndian office at 19,764. These are nominally congregated at fiveagencies, although in reality they roam over the entire Territory.They are of various tribes, the principal of which are the Sioux,Crow, Blackfoot, Gros Ventre, Assinaboine, and Pend' d'Oreille.Their reservations cover more than one-third of the Territory.
Government and Finance.—The government of Montana is similarto that of the other Territories. The governor, secretary, chiefjustice, and two associate justices are appointed by the president of theUnited States. The treasurer, auditor, and superintendent of publicinstruction are elected by the people of the Territory, as are also themembers of the two houses of the legislature. Montana isrepresented in Congress by a delegate, also elective, who has liberty totake part in debate but has no vote. The Territorial debt at theclose of 1881 was but $70,000. The amount raised by Territorialtaxation was $93,211.
History.—The Montana country was originally acquired by theUnited States under the Louisiana purchase. It became successivelya part of Louisiana Territory, of Missouri Territory, of NebraskaTerritory, and of Dakota. On 26th May 1864 it was organizedunder a Territorial government of its own, with practically its presentboundaries. The exploration of this region commenced with thecelebrated expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1803-1806. Between1850 and 1855 it was traversed and mapped by a number of exploringparties, having in view the selection of trans-continental railroadroutes. Since then numberless expeditions have examined it, andsome systematic topographic work has been done under differentbranches of the United States Government. The first settlersentered the Territory in 1861, discovered placer gold on LittlePrickly Pear Creek, and shortly after built the city of Helena.Later, the placers at Bannack were discovered, and a small “rush”to the Territory commenced. In 1863 the rich placers at AlderGulch were brought to view, and miners and adventurers swarmedin from all parts. Then it was that the early social history ofCalifornia was repeated on a smaller scale in Montana. The lawlesselements assumed control, and for many months neither life norproperty was safe. Indeed, for a time the community was in astate of blockade; no one with money in his possession could getout of the Territory. Finally, the citizens organized a “VigilanceCommittee” for self-preservation, took the offensive, and after ashort sharp struggle rid the community of its disturbing elements.After the exhaustion of the placers, the population decreased, owing
to the migration of the floating mining class; but their place was soontaken by more permanent settlers. (H. G*.)
