The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-10-27
Gov. Whites Annual Report.
Montana's Unparalleled Progress i'll
Material Wealth.
Richest of all the Territories and
Wholly Out of Debt.
Her Total Wealth Safely Estimated
at the Sum of $3.50, ,O0O,OnO.
Interesting Advance Estimates.


From the early examination of Gov
ernor Whites forthcoming annual report
appearing in the Herald we are enabled
to place before our readers this morning
synopsis of many of the more important
subdivisions of the document which will
doubtless be the last issued under the
territorial regime. His Excellency hav-
ing been for many years resident and
largely interested in the development of
the commercial, mining and stock-raising
resources of the territory and having,
during his incumbency AS governor most
intimately allied himself with the people
and all their diversified interests, he is
eminently qualified to speak of the ma
terial advancement of Montana and to
suitably present her claims for recogni-
ton by the Intelligent and enterprising
home e-seekers of the land.
| One of the most salient features of the
report is series of comparative tables
showing in cold figures the wonderful
progress of tic territory in the past dec
ade. Az :rti'tnrc, mining, manuractur-
ing and stock-growing are treated at
length, ;.,.l il Il manner wtN calculated
to show tv the world the condition OF our
principal industries, their growth, de-
velopment and future prospects:
POPULATION.
The governor estimates the white population OF
| ND I,,Ii Ia, ,cnf1E
based on the vote of last year, which was 4O,Ol4
and the subsequent immigration. The repor,
predicts that the census of 1890 will show Il popu
lati0n of over 100000.
:, WEALTH AND INDEBTEDNESS.
The total wealth of Montana is given at $3.50,
100000. The assessed valuation of the territor
last fall was ever $67,0OO,0OO, which represents
only about 60 per cent. of the actual valuation
exclusive of our mincs which are our creates
sources of revenue and under our laws are no
taxable The territory Is out of debt as whole
but the sixteen counties have an aggregate in
debtedness of about $16,0OO0O0, for which the
have substantial improvements to show. Tn
territorial assessment shows an increase of $47
1000 in eight years
The number Of live stock in the territory t0Tda
is placed as follows: Cattle. 1850, head horses
t 20, 600 head; sheep, 2150,OOO head. The value
these computed at market rates, would be b'
tween 10000, 600 and $50 100000.
: SCHOOLS.
: The condition of our school system the governC
:. shows by comparative statement of the sam
,. in 1878 and 1883, as follows:
1878 1883
= No school houses 80 8
No school children 4,lA N,6
@ No teachers lO4
a Value school houses S67,7OO $846,6
4 County tax $43,39 S3l7,4
" This shows marvellous increase in the last te
9 years in the number of school children and scho
: property.
a AGRICULTURE.
; The number of acres of land In Montana Is q
en- at 81 200, 900, of which over one-third or 81
% 600 1900 acres are classed as agricultural lands.
FORESTS AND TIMBER.
III This subject is treated In a general way. II
70 vast amount of timber in Montana is dwelt up'
and the loss by forest fires during the past year
ls carefully noted.
RAILROADS.
10 The actual mileage Of railroads III operation
ol given at 1884 miles, Under construction 26
milps Jyuder snryey or nroiected S75 miles,