1940: Montana

Area and Population.

The third largest of the states, Montana has an area of 146,997 sq. mi., about one-third being west of the Rocky Mountain divide. The elevation varies from 1,800 ft. to 12,850, and the mean average is 3,400 ft. above sea level.

During the last decade the population increased by 4.1 per cent, to 559,456 (1940 census). Gains in 25 of the 56 counties ranged to a high of 70.5 per cent in Glacier County, and losses in others reached a maximum of 47 per cent in Petroleum County. These changes are accounted for, in part, by a drift from farm areas to towns, and by a larger movement from non-irrigated farm and grazing regions to other areas within the state where more water is available. The largest cities are: Butte, 37,081; Great Falls, 29,982; Billings, 23,261; Missoula, 18,449; and Helena, the capital, 15,056.

Agriculture.

Crops harvested during 1940 from a total of 6,777,000 acres had a value of $61,483,000. Receipts from livestock bring the estimated farm income to $107,500,000.

Mineral Products.

Montana's leading metals showed notable gains in production during 1939, their total value amounting to $40,937,870, compared with the reduced sum of $28,096,746 in 1938. Copper production, for which the state ranks third in the Union, increased from 154,246,000 pounds to 195,654,000, with a value of $20,348,016. Zinc made proportionately the greatest gain, from 8,844 tons in 1938 to 34,799 in 1939; lead production was almost doubled, at 33,110,000 pounds; silver and gold made substantial gains, at 9,087,371 oz. and 264,173 oz. respectively. The output of petroleum and natural gas compared favorably with the figures for the preceding year.

Education.

The public schools, including 1,890 elementary and 191 high schools, had available for the year ended June 30 a total of $8,462,000. The 3,697 teachers in elementary schools received salaries averaging $1,045 per annum for 175 days of actual teaching, and 1,466 high-school teachers were paid an average of $1,322. Enrollment in elementary schools was 74,791; in high schools, 32,045; and average daily attendance was 69,283 and 28,531 respectively. Text books are supplied by the districts at no cost to the pupils.

The Greater University of Montana comprises the University at Missoula, State College at Bozeman, School of Mines at Butte. State Normal School at Dillon, Northern Montana College at Havre, and Eastern Montana Normal at Billings. Other colleges privately supported are Carroll, at Helena, and Intermountain Polytechnic at Billings.

Finance.

The state general fund for the fiscal year received $3,365,000 from more than a score of sources, of which the most important were revenue from state liquor control, $2,191,000, county taxes, $673,000, mines taxes (metals, oil, gas and coal), $424,000, corporation taxes, $302,000, insurance taxes, $299,000, and income taxes, $217,000. Expenditures from the fund were $5,063,000, of which 40 per cent went for public welfare, 23 per cent to custodial and penal institutions, 15 per cent for boards and departments, 7 per cent for the Greater University, and the remainder for water conservation, the judicial department and miscellaneous expenses.

Property taxes levied were $24,685,000, of which only $2,609,000 became delinquent. The accumulated tax delinquency was reduced by $2,304,000.

The state's total net bonded indebtedness amounts to $9,261,000.

During 1940 the public welfare department administered the expenditure of $4,366,000, and in addition distributed surplus commodities having a retail value of $1,138,000 purchased with Federal funds. These expenditures do not include the cost of operating and maintaining the custodial institutions, which would increase the total for public welfare by more than 28 per cent.

Political Affairs.

Certain changes which resulted from the general election of Nov. 5. took effect in January 1941. Governor Ayers, seeking reelection, was defeated by Sam C. Ford, Republican. The Secretary of State and the Auditor were reelected; incumbents of the other four offices did not seek reelection. The vote for president was: Roosevelt, 145,698; Willkie, 99,579. Senator B. K. Wheeler and Congressman James F. O'Connor were reelected. Congressman J. Thorkelson was replaced by Jeannette Rankin, who in 1916 was the first woman to be elected to Congress.

State Officers.

Governor, Sam C. Ford; Lieutenant Governor, Ernest T. Eaton; Secretary of State, Sam W. Mitchell; Treasurer, Thomas Carey; Auditor, John J. Holmes; Attorney General, John W. Bonner; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Elizabeth Ireland.

United States Senators:

Burton K. Wheeler, James E. Murray.