1939: Montana

Area and Population.

Montana has an area of 146,997 sq. mi. and a population of 537,606 (1930 census), with approximately 3.5 persons per square mile. Helena, the capital, has a population of 11,803 and Butte, the largest city, 39,532. Ranging between these in population are Great Falls, Billings, Missoula, and Anaconda. Traversing the state east-west are three transcontinental railways — the Northern Pacific, Great Northern, and the Milwaukee — and U. S. Highways 2, 10 and 12.

On the southern border, with three entrances in the state, lies Yellowstone Park, oldest and best known of the National Parks; on the northern border, and wholly within Montana, is Glacier Park. Through these, and through the state in a northwest-southeast direction, passes the Rocky Mountain chain, constituting the continental divide.

Industry.

Agriculture and livestock yield about $100,000,000 annually; mines, about $55,000,000. In addition to the latter, gas and oil wells in fourteen of the fifty-six counties produce about 24,000,000 M cu. ft. of natural gas annually, valued at over $6,000,000 and about 5,500,000 bbl. of petroleum with a value of more than $7,000,000. Lumbering, hydro-electric power production, and out-of-state tourist trade are also notable sources of income. Dude ranching, fur trapping and fur farming also contribute materially. Manufacturing plants include three large smelters, five beet sugar mills, several oil refineries, flour mills, breweries, brick and tile factories, and many creameries.

Mineral Products.

The total value of Montana's leading metals, copper, silver, gold, zinc, and lead, was lower by more than 50 per cent in 1938 than in 1937, amounting to $28,096,746 compared with $58,402,016 in the preceding year. The estimated value for 1939 is $40,800,700 an increase of 45 per cent. Copper production, in which the state ranks third in the Union, was reduced 47 per cent in volume in 1938, to 154,426,000 lb.; and 57 per cent in value, to $15,133,748. The output rose again in 1939 to 197,110,000 lb. valued at $20,499,440. Figures for silver, in which Montana also ranks third, were proportionately reduced from 11,812,093 oz. (value, $9,136,654) in 1937, to 6,403,962 oz. (value, $4,139,935) in 1938. Silver production made new gains in 1939, the total being 8,898,450 oz. (value, $6,040,160). Lead was lowered in 1938 from 35,914,000 lb. to 18,654,000. Zinc showed an even greater reduction from 39,168 tons valued at $5,091,840 to only 8,844 tons valued at $849,024 in 1938. Gold production was substantially the same as in 1937, with 203,313 oz. The flow of petroleum amounted to about 4,907,000 bbl. in 1938; and natural gas to 20,463,000 M. cu. ft., a reduction for the latter of 14 per cent from the previous year.

Education.

As disclosed by the 1938 school census, there were in that year in Montana 160,109 children between the ages of six and twenty-one, of whom 110,403 were enrolled in public elementary and high schools. The cost of education per pupil (1937-38) varied according to district and county, from $69.34 to $179.69. Of the 5,507 teachers, 4,523 had at least two years of supplementary schooling, in addition to high school.

Finance.

The assessed (true) value of all property is $1,000,000,000, and the taxable value, $318,000,000. The total revenue for state purposes from all sources, for the year ended June 30, was $33,722,303; expenditures, $31,381,023.

Welfare and Correction.

Charitable and correctional institutions, with their locations and the appropriations for each during the year ended June 30, 1939, were: Training School, Boulder, $95,000; School for the Deaf and Blind, Great Falls, $50,000; Industrial School, Miles City, $55,000; Vocational School for Girls, Helena, $28,500; Orphans Home, Twin Bridges, $82,500; Prison, Deer Lodge, $150,000; Hospital for the Insane, Warm Springs, $350,000; Tuberculosis Sanitarium, Galen, $115,000; Soldiers Home, Columbia Falls, $38,500.

Legislative Matters.

In the 26th Legislative Assembly (Jan, 2 to March 2) the fifty-six counties were represented by one Senator each and by 102 Representatives. In the Senate the Democrats outnumbered the Republicans 31 to 25, and in the House, 58 to 44.

Laws were passed which provided for a correspondence school for pupils far from school centers, to be maintained from the general school fund and nominal fees; for conservation of soil resources and measures for controlling erosion; for cooperative non-profit rural electrification corporations; for conservation and utilization of grass and forage; for jury service by women, effective Jan, 1, 1940. Controversial measures were a bill to legalize and license gambling; and the so-called thirty-day divorce bill, to reduce the residence requirement of plaintiffs in divorce actions from one year to thirty days. The former failed of passage, and the latter was killed by the Governor's veto.

Events of the Year.

Crown Prince Olaf and Princess Martha of Norway were greeted with enthusiasm on a tour of the state late in May. At Helena, the Crown Prince was given a valuable cowboy saddle, bridle and riding regalia, provided by citizens of Scandinavian descent throughout the state. In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the creation of Montana Territory (May 26, 1864), and the 50th anniversary of statehood (November 8, 1889) there were celebrations at Helena, Butte and elsewhere.

State Officers.

The chief officers are: Governor, Roy E. Ayers; Lieutenant Governor, Hugh R. Adair; Secretary of State, Sam W. Mitchell; Treasurer, Ray Shannon; Auditor, John J. Holmes; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ruth Reardon.

United States Senators.

Burton K. Wheeler, James E. Murray.