1942: Montana

Area and Population.

Montana's area of 146,997 sq. mi., is larger than the combined areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio; the state population, totalling 559,456, is less than that of such cities as Buffalo, Milwaukee or San Francisco. Montana's largest city, Butte, often called the 'richest hill on earth,' has but 39,532 people. Helena, the capital (14,905), had its beginning in 1864 as the trading center of Last Chance Gulch.

Approximately two-thirds of the state lies east of the Rocky Mountain chain, and one-third is in the drainage area of the Pacific. The high prairies of the eastern portion are well adapted to grain farming and stock raising. The mountainous regions contain rich mineral stores — copper, gold, silver, zinc, chromium and others. Great forests cover much of the area in the western part of the state.

Three trunk railways traverse the state on their way from Chicago and Minneapolis to the west coast, and two others afford transportation southward. Two east-west Federal highways cross the state and three others accommodate travel north and south. One of the latter connects with the southern terminal of the new Alcan road to Fairbanks, Alaska.

Agriculture.

Farmers and stockgrowers, favored in 1942 by weather and moisture, produced crops and livestock valued at more than $200,000,000. The principal crop, wheat, yielded 73,783,000 bu., valued at $70,832,000. Other important crops included hay, sugar beets, oats, flaxseed, barley, corn and potatoes. For the sale of milk from 167,000 cows, dairymen received $10,000,000, the largest amount since 1930. Creamery butter production was 12,600,000 lb., cheese 1,898,000 lb., and ice cream 1,759,000 lb.

Finance.

Banks enjoyed a large increase in business, but because of lower interest rates on investments, not so large an increase in earnings. As of Dec. 31, the forty-one national banks had resources amounting in the aggregate to $150,173,000, an increase of almost fifty per cent over the same date the previous year. The resources of the sixty-nine state banks amounted to $129,100,000, the highest since 1919.

Education.

For maintenance of its public schools during the year ended June 30 Montana expended $11,033,000 — an average of $107 for each of the 103,000 pupils enrolled, a per capita increase of $7.60 over the general maintenance cost of the preceding year. A decrease of 3,000 in the number of school children (6 to 21 years of age), may be attributed largely to the removal of families to other states for employment in war industries. Of the 5,136 public school teachers, 1,227 were men and 3,909 were women. The average salary paid to the 3,182 women teaching in elementary schools for the school year of nine months was $1,078. The men, numbering 453, were paid an average of $1,165. In high schools the men outnumbered the women 774 to 727, but the women were paid $1,435 as compared to $1,264 received by the men.

On account of war activities and military service, enrollment at all of the units of the Greater University — including the University of Missoula, State College at Bozeman, School of Mines at Butte, State Normal at Dillon, Eastern Montana Normal at Billings, and North Montana College at Havre — decreased considerably, more particularly in respect to the number of male students.

Defense.

War-bond sales during the year reached a total of $38,000,000, much in excess of the quotas allotted. On the basis of sales per capita, Montana ranked sixth among the states. In respect to the number of volunteers in the United States Army in proportion to population Montana ranks eighth. Support of United Service Organizations and the Red Cross is gratifying. Scrap metal collected in the second half of the year totalled 84,410 tons, a per capita average of 301 lb., which exceeded the state's quota by fifty per cent.

State Officers.

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

United States Senators:

Burton K. Wheeler, James E. Murray.

1941: Montana

Area and Population.

The third largest of the states, Montana was first settled by whites in considerable numbers during the gold rush which began in 1862, was organized as a territory in 1864, and admitted to the Union in 1889. Its 146,997 sq. mi. are traversed by the Rocky Mountains in a northwest-southeast direction, through Glacier National Park and thence to Yellowstone National Park on the southern border. The mean elevation is 3,400 feet above sea level. The eastern two thirds is drained by the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers.

The population, 559,456 according to the 1940 census, is more than ninety per cent white. Indians number approximately 15,000. Butte, a mining center, has a population of 35,081. Other cities are Great Falls, 29,982; Billings, 23,261; Missoula, 18,449; and Helena, the capital, 15,056.

Education.

The school census records 149,666 inhabitants of school age (6 to 21), of whom 74,058 are enrolled in elementary public schools, and 31,713 in public high schools. The average salary of teachers in rural schools in $797. Those teaching in graded schools average $1,113, and high-school teachers receive $1,410.

Agriculture.

Among the state's important industries is farming, including livestock raising, wool growing, and dairying. Leading farm crops are wheat and other cereals, hay, and in irrigated areas, sugar beets, alfalfa, and beans. Notable increases in dairy products, as compared to 1940, were evidenced in 1941 by the manufacture of 437,319 pounds of butter, a gain of 3.3 per cent; 179,834 pounds of cheese, an increase of 14 per cent; and 457,839 pounds of cottage cheese, 16 per cent more than in 1940.

Mineral Products.

In the production of metals Montana ranks third among the states. This is primarily due to copper, in which the state also ranks third, and of which there were produced in 1940, chiefly by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, 252,782,000 pounds, an increase of 29 per cent over 1939, and with a value of $28,564,366. This was equal to more than half of the greatly increased total value of the state's metals for the year, $55,825,078. Production of gold and silver was also above that of the previous year, the former amounting to 272,602 oz., the greatest since 1887; and the latter to 12,361,050 oz., a 36 per cent gain over 1939. Lead, advancing from 33,110,000 pounds in 1939 to 46,072,000 in 1940, was almost doubled in value at $2,303,600. Zinc production rose from 34,799 tons to 52,587, with a proportionately greater increase in value. The state also produced 25,544,047 M cu. ft. of natural gas, and 6,768,000 bbl. of petroleum.

Legislative and Other Matters.

Legislation enacted by the Assembly, Jan. 6 to March 6, included acts for: (a) Payment of benefits from the public welfare funds of the state to victims of silicosis, a pulmonary disease to which hard-rock miners are susceptible; (b) construction near the Capitol of a Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building, to which will be moved the state historical library now housed in the Capitol; (c) reemployment of state and county employees inducted into military service; (d) reduction of the membership of the House of Representatives from 102 to 90; and (e) a law referred to as the 'Reorganization Act,' which provided for appointment by the Governor of an advisory committee to make, with the advice and assistance of consulting experts, a study of the state government, and to recommend to the Governor and to the Assembly changes designed to minimize duplication and overlapping of departmental functions, inefficiency and useless expense.

During the first six months of operation of the Silicosis Act, the Public Welfare Commission received benefit applications from 370 miners, 75 per cent of whom resided in Silver Bow County (Butte); of these, 260 were approved for benefits of $30 per month. Thirty of the approved applicants died during the six-months period. Other activities of the Commission included aid to 6,419 dependent and needy children, amounting to $12,28 per month; aid to 291 blind persons, averaging $23.24 per month; and old-age assistance to 12,526 persons, including 442 Indians, amounting to $21.41 monthly. Under the Federal school-lunch program, administered in Montana by the Public Welfare Commission, 105,000 lunches were served in 1941. The Commission also administers the Federal food-stamp program throughout the state. Approximately 8,000 families are eligible for such assistance. Food-stamp purchases aggregated $2,228,700.

The citizens of Montana were the first to reach and over-subscribe a state quota for the National Red Cross war-relief fund, the Montana quota being $130,750. They also promptly contributed the state allotment for the United Service Organizations. From May 1, through December, they purchased national defense bonds aggregating in issue value $6,849,000.

Finance.

The state net income from all sources, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, was $34,816,805.83, and expenditures were $33,109,951.85. In the same period the Public Welfare Commission (not including custodial and correctional institutions) expended $4,048,359.99; and the Unemployment Compensation Commission paid out $3,263,611.30. The Industrial Accident Board paid to claimants under the Workmen's Compensation Act, during 1941, $1,240,000.

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.

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.

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.

1938: Montana

Area and Population.

Admitted to the Union November 8, 1889, Montana ranks third in size among the states, with an area of 146,997 square miles, approximately one-third lying west of the Continental Divide. The average mean altitude is 3,400 feet above sea level, the extremes being the Kootenai River in the northwest corner of the state, 1,800 feet above, and Granite Peak, north of Yellowstone National Park, 12,850 feet. Forty million acres are classified as agricultural land.

In population, Montana ranks 39th, numbering 537, 606 (1930 census), of whom 517,327 are whites, and of these 444,366 are natives. There are 14,798 Indians, 2,571 Mexicans, 1,256 Negroes. The Federal estimate in July 1, 1937, gave Montana a population of 539,000. Butte, the largest city, has a population of 39,532 (1930 census); Helena, the capital, 11,803. Other important cities are Great Falls, 28,822; Billings, 16,380; Missoula, 14,657; Anaconda, 12,494.

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 cubic feet of natural gas annually, valued at over $6,000,000, and about 5,500,000 barrels of petroleum with a value of more than $7,000,000. Lumbering, hydroelectric 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.

Of the total value of Montana's metals for 1937, which amounted to $58,402,016, copper, in which the state ranks third in the Union, accounted for nearly 60 per cent. With an increase for the year of 32 per cent over 1936, or 289,056,000 pounds, compared with 219,088,000, copper values were $34,975,776 in 1937 as against $20,156,096 in the preceding year. Gold production, too, increased substantially, from 180,209 oz. to 202,252 oz., a rise of 12 per cent, chiefly from lode mines. Silver, in which Montana ranks second, or next to Idaho, remained much the same in amount and value as in 1936; production being 11,812,093 oz., valued at $9,136,654. The state also produced 5,805,000 bbl. of petroleum; and 39,168 tons of zinc (value, $5,091,840). This was a decrease in amount for the latter of about 20 per cent from the preceding year, but with a slight rise in value.

Education.

A total of about 105,000 children are enrolled in the public schools of Montana, including grade and high schools. In 1935-36 enrollment in private and parochial schools totaled 8,073. In 1937 there were 3,433 pupils enrolled in vocational education classes.

Events of the Year.

As a result of the general election of November 8, the majority in both houses of the Legislative Assembly will continue to be Democratic. A referendum vote sustained an act of the 1937 session of the Assembly which provided for the sale of liquor by the glass for consumption upon the premises.

Ranking as a major disaster in 1938 was the wreck of the 'Olympian,' a westbound train of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad on June 19, when forty-seven lives were lost. The wreck occurred about thirty miles east of Miles City, at Custer Creek where a cloudburst had weakened the railroad bridge. Earlier in the year, on January 10, a Northwest Airlines plane crashed fourteen miles northwest of Bozeman, killing ten persons.

Notwithstanding a damaging earthslide, continued progress was made in the construction of the great Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River, a Federal project being built by army engineers. The Montana Power Company completed its Polson Dam on the Flathead river, a hydro-electric project, the dam being 200 feet high and 800 feet long. Several large gold-dredging enterprises operated successfully in Montana during the year.

State Officers.

The chief state 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.

Judiciary.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Howard A. Johnson; Associate Justices: Leif Erickson, S. V. Stewart, C. F. Morris, and A. H. Angstman, Clerk of the Court, A. T. Porter. Members of the Court are elected upon a nonpartisan ballot.

United States Senators:

Burton K. Wheeler and James E. Murray.