CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY. A vast barren tract, generally known as the Great American Desert, occupies the north-west portion of the territory. The remainder spreads out, for the most part, into undulating plains of great extent. Some parts of the territory are broken or mountainous. There are large numbers of wild animals, the principal of which are buffaloes, wild horses, deer, and prairie dogs. A portion of the Indian tribes have become partially civilized, have schools, churches, and a regular form of government. 44. MONTANA TERRITORY. Capital, Virginia City. Area, 143,776 square miles. Population, (1868), 60,000.* This territory was settled by emigrants from other states, and organized under an act of Congress approved May 26, 1864. It was formed principally from the north-eastern part of Idaho as organized in 1863. It embraces the head sources of the Missouri river, lying east of the Rocky Mountains, and of the north branch of the Columbia, lying west of these mountains and north of the Bitter Root mountains. Its boundaries are as follows: Commencing at a point formed by the intersection of the 27th degree of longitude west from Washington, with the 45th degree of north latitude; thence due west on said 45th degree to a point formed by its intersection with the 34th degree west from Washington; thence due south along said 34th degree of longitude to its intersection with the 44th degree and 30 minutes of north latitude; thence due west along said 44th degree and 30 minutes of north latitude to a point formed by its intersection with the crest of the Rocky Mountains; thence following the crest of the Rocky Mountains northward till its intersection with the Bitter Root Mountains; thence northward along the crest of said Bitter Root Mountains to its intersection with the 39th degree of longitude west from Washington; thence along said 39th degree of longitude northward to the boundary line of the British possessions; thence eastward along said boundary to the 27th degree of longitude west from Washington; thence southward along said 27th degree to the place of beginning. The Judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court and Probate Courts. The Supreme Court is composed of one Chief Justice and two Associate Justices. There is a Probate Court in each county but one. This court has civil jurisdiction in all cases where the amount in controversy is less than $2,500. The laws exempt homesteads worth $3,000, farming tools and seeds to farmers, and are equally liberal to other occupations. SUPREME COURT. Chief Justice, H. L. Hosmer, Virginia City. Associate Justices, H. Knowles, Deer Lodge; Ly man E. Munson, Helena. Salary, $3,500 each. TERMS OF SUPREME COURT. At Madison, 1st Monday in April, June, September, and November. At Gallatin, 1st Monday of May and October. At Beaver Head, 1st Monday of January, May, and November. At Missoula, 2d Monday of June and October. At Edgerton, 2d Monday of April, August, and November. EXPENDITURES FOR 1867. Payment on account of salaries of Territorial officers.. Payment to Governor as per apportionment. Commissions on disbursements. Territorial warrants paid and canceled.. Miscellaneous. $283.87 56,236.63 $56,620.50 56,346.10 $274.40 .$875.00 500.00 400.00 889.73 .53.231.37 450.00 PUBLIC DEBT. Outstanding warrants, November 10, 1867, $52,538.25 Amount of warrants issued from Nov. 10, 1866, to Nov. 1, 1867, Amount of warrants paid and canceled from Nov. 10, 1866, to EDUCATION. The administration of the Public School System is in the hands of a Superintendent of Public Instruction. This officer reports annually to the Governor, by whom the facts communicated are submitted to the territorial Legislature. County superintendents have charge of the schools and the local administration of the system. The returns have been very imperfect and exhibit no important facts in regard to schools, except in Edgerton and Madison counties. In the former, at the close of the year 1867, there were 1,920 persons between 4 and 21 years of age; 3 school districts had been organized, and $3,541.02 raised for the support of schools, of which $2,316.69 had been paid out. In Madison county, there were 8 districts. In the 1st District (Virginia City), a school was organized with two teachers, and maintained six months, at an expense of $2,168.25. The whole number of pupils attending was 224, with an average attendance of 124. POPULATION, WEALTH AND INDUSTRY. Since the organization of this territory in 1864, immigration has been steadily and rapidly increasing its population. During the year 1867, more than forty steamers arrived at Fort Benton with passengers and freight, and a large number of persons from the Eastern states and from California and Oregon reached the territory by overland routes. The population has not been definitely ascertained, but it was estimated at 60,000 in 1868. The vote in 1867, was 12,000. The office of Surveyor General in the territory of Montana was created by act of Congress, approved March 2, 1867, and surveys commenced as soon after as was practicable. The place selected as the initial point of the surveys, was the summit of a limestone hill, about 12 miles south-west of the junction of the three forks of the Missouri river. The base and meridian lines from this point run through the principal valleys east of the mountains. The land in the valleys is very fertile, yielding good crops when cultivated. 166,340 acres were under cultivation in 1867, producing fair crops of wheat and other grains. Several large flouring mills have been erected, and are doing a good business. The chief obstacle to successful agriculture is the necessity of irrigation, but the great extent of rich grazing lands affords excellent facilities for stock raising. Timber and building materials are found in nearly all portions of the territory. In mineral wealth, recent discoveries indicate that Montana will equal the most favored regions. Silver lodes of astonishing richness have been discovered, and much capital has been invested in building mills and furnaces for their development. The first silver mines discovered were on Rattle Snake Creek, opposite the town of Argenta. About the same time, silver was found on Prickly Pear Creek, and in other places in the western part of the territory. Great activity has been manifested in developing the lodes and in building mills. The first placer mines were discovered in 1862, on the Hell Gate River. The product of these mines and of others discovered that year and the next was so good that an impetus was given to mining operations, which has resulted in the rapid development of the placer diggings and the extraction of a large amount of gold dust. Most of the placer mines are on the headwaters of the Missouri, Columbia and Yellow Stone 'rivers, within the parallels of 45° and 47° and between longitude 33° and 37° west from Washington. The product of these mines in 1867 was estimated at $20,000,000. A large amount of money has been expended in the construction of ditches and preparations for future operations. A gold-bearing lode was first discovered at Bannock, in 1862; this was followed by other discoveries in that vicinity; since that time a large number of quartz lodes have been taken up and opened in different parts of the territory; some of these are very rich. The quartz is easily worked and yields largely, and much capital has been invested in mining enterprises. Several companies have been organized, and mills and machinery have been brought in and put in operation. Coal has been found on the Big Hole river, about sixty miles from Bannock City; on the east side of the Madison river; and at Summit District, near Virginia City. These mines are bituminous, and the seams do not exceed three or four feet in width, as far as known. Coal also exists on the head of the Yellowstone river. Brown coal, or lignite, is found in great quantities on the banks of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, valuable as common fuel, but of no great value for manufacturing purposes. It is also found on the head waters of the Seton and Marias rivers, branches of the Missouri. Lead ores occur in profusion, both as galenas and as carbonate of lead, in nearly all districts of the territory. These will not be worked at present, except when accompanied by silver. All the galenas are so accompanied, and generally in paying quantities of the latter metal. Copper lodes are abundant, showing at the surface ores ranging from 15 to 60 per cent. of metallic copper. These when located near the Missouri river may be immediately made profitable. The distance of this territory from the older states and commercial cities and the great expense of freight are serious obstacles to the full development of its resources. Assessed Value of Property, 1867. Number of acres of land under cultivation, 166,340; value, $314,578; 822 town lots, valued at $827,919; capital employed in merchandise, $1,102.547; money and credits, $546,502; valuation of horses, $171,217; mules and asses, $221,488; oxen, $549.794; cows and calves, $255,072; sheep, $15,430; swine, $48,334; clocks, watches, etc., $42,959; all other property not enumerated, $758,698; making a total of $6,308,118. Bank. There is one National Bank, with a capital of $200,000. 45. NEW MEXICO. Capital, Santa Fe. Area, 121,201 square miles. Population, (1860), 83,009. New Mexico was early settled by the Spaniards. It remained a Mexican province until conquered from Mexico and ceded to the United States by the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, Feb. 2, 1848. It was constituted a territory, with a portion of Upper California and Texas, Sept. 9, 1850. The above officers are appointed by the President. The legislative power of the territory is vested in the Governor and a Legislative Assembly composed of a Council and House of Representatives. The Council consists of 13 members, chosen by the people for two years, and the House of 26 members, elected annually. JUDICIARY. The judicial power of the territory is vested in a Supreme Court, District Courts, Probate Courts, and in Justices of the Peace. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices, appointed by the POPULATION, WEALTH AND INDUSTRY. Since the organization of this territory in 1864, immigration has been steadily and rapidly increasing its population. During the year 1867, more than forty steamers arrived at Fort Benton with passengers and freight, and a large number of persons from the Eastern states and from California and Oregon reached the territory by overland routes. The population has not been definitely ascertained, but it was estimated at 60,000 in 1868. The vote in 1867, was 12,000. The office of Surveyor General in the territory of Montana was created by act of Congress, approved March 2, 1867, and surveys commenced as soon after as was practicable. The place selected as the initial point of the surveys, was the summit of a limestone hill, about 12 miles south-west of the junction of the three forks of the Missouri river. The base and meridian lines from this point run through the principal valleys east of the mountains. The land in the valleys is very fertile, yielding good crops when cultivated. 166,340 acres were under cultivation in 1867, producing fair crops of wheat and other grains. Several large flouring mills have been erected, and are doing a good business. The chief obstacle to successful agriculture is the necessity of irrigation, but the great extent of rich grazing lands affords excellent facilities for stock raising. Timber and building materials are found in nearly all portions of the territory. In mineral wealth, recent discoveries indicate that Montana will equal the most favored regions. Silver lodes of astonishing richness have been discovered, and much capital has been invested in building mills and furnaces for their development. The first silver mines discovered were on Rattle Snake Creek, opposite the town of Argenta. About the same time, silver was found on Prickly Pear Creek, and in other places in the western part of the territory. Great activity has been manifested in developing the lodes and in building mills. The first placer mines were discovered in 1862, on the Hell Gate River. The product of these mines and of others discovered that year and the next was so good that an impetus was given to mining operations, which has resulted in the rapid development of the placer diggings and the extraction of a large amount of gold dust. Most of the placer mines are on the headwaters of the Missouri, Columbia and Yellow Stone rivers, within the parallels of 45° and 47° and between longitude 33° and 37° west from Washington. The product of these mines in 1867 was estimated at $20,000,000. A large amount of money has been expended in the construction of ditches and preparations for future operations. A gold-bearing lode was first discovered at Bannock, in 1862; this was followed by other discoveries in that vicinity; since that time a large number of quartz lodes have been taken up and opened in different parts of the territory; some of these are very rich. The quartz is easily worked and yields largely, and much capital has been invested in mining enterprises. Several companies have been organized, and mills and machinery have been brought in and put in operation. |