The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-02-20
ALTITUDE OF MONTANA.

The fifth bulletin from the census
bureau relates to irrigation in Montana.
In speaking Of the altitude Of the state
it says that taking its area as a whole 40
per cent is less than 5000 feet above sea
level; 81 per cent from 5000 to 5000 feet;
IA per cent from 5000 to 1000 feet; o per
cent from 1000 to 5000 feet, and Z per
cent over 5000 feet. The average rain
fall for the whole state is given at from
IL to Is inches. The agriculture of the
state. the bulletin says, is principally in
its western part. If by the western
part is meant the west half of the state
from a north and south line drawn mid
way between it's eastern and western
boundary lines, the statement is correct.
If, however, that portion of the state
west of the Rocky mountains is referred
to as the western part, the statement is
not correct.
But 1t is of the states altitude this
article is devoted. About half of the
state. the bulletin says, is less than 5000
feet in altitude. Yes, considerably less.
According TO Professor Garnett, of the
Hayden survey, the average altitude of
Montana, including it's mountain peaks
and valley lands, is 5000 feet above sea
level. If Professor Garnett be correct
his measurements have never been dis
puted-the average altitude of Montana
is 1000 feet lower than Colorado, 5000
feet lower than Wyoming, and 1900 feet
lower than New Mexico. These figures
show that the state occupies a depres-
sion in the Rocky mountains, the effect
of which depression is noticeable in the
material modification of the climate.
4 comparison of Professor Gannctt's
figures with those Of the census bureau
would indicate that the latter set them
up rather too high. The altitude OF Mon
tana cities, towns, mountains, and lakes.
as given by him and taken from Profes-
sor lIaydcn's report of railroad surveys,
and revised by Colonel w. w. Lacey of
Helena, has always been regarded as
nearly correct as ii il possible to meas
ure them. The 10th meridian divides
the state into two almost equal halves,
the portion lying east of that meridian
containing the larger area. Big Sandy
is almost on the line of the meridian.
Great Falls is about twelve miles west of
the 1llth meridian. Thus it will be secu
that much the larger portion of Montana
lies east of this city. Great Falls-or,
to be exact. the Missouri river opposite
the mouth of Sun river-is 1913 feet
above sea level. This city is Il few feet
above the average altitude OF the state.
Blackfoot agency-longitude 1l2.3O- is
3,1G9 feet above sea level. About two
thirds OF the area Of the state lies east
of that meridian. Fort Benton is 2.Sli
feet; Big Horn City, situated at the ex.
treme eastern end OF Yellowstone coun-
~. is 1881 feet. and Carroll, on the Mis-
souri, river, is 2.2i7 feet. The average of
these five points is 1897 feet. which is
about the average altitude Of the inter
vening country. Thus we find that 66sa
per cent Of the whole area Of the state
is less than 5000 feet above sea level.
Going across the range the table
shows that Flathead lake is $500 feet
above sea level. Missoula 3,3lS feet
and Deer Lodge 1916 feet, the average
Of these three widely separated points
| being $3.50 feet. Deer Lodge is but
about ten miles west of longitud" l-.20,
or very nearly upon the same meridian
as Blackfoot agency. These attitudes
are the attitudes of at least 10 per cent
of the agricultural and grazing lands of
the state. The figures OF the census
bureau make but As per cent of the area
Of the whole state under 5000 feet. Pro-
fessor G~annett's figures show a much
larger area under that altitude.
Ascending into the more elevated
cities We find the altitude Of Butte is
$500 feet; Helena. 4,266; Bozemau,
1850: Gallatin City. 1885; Boulder City,
5000. and Virginia City. 5,788, the aver
age OF the six places being 5000.
From the above data it is shown that
the average altitude of the inhabited
portions of the state, including it's alti-
tudinous cities. is but $500 feet, while
the average altitude of about all its ag-
r%icultural and grazing lands is less than
5000 feet. The highest point in the
state is Emigrant Peak, 10,629 feet.
Next comes Mount Powell, near Deer
Lodge, with an altitude of 10,5W feet,
the lowest of it's high points being Null
lap's pass with an altitude Of $3.50 feet.
II the object of the figures of the census
bureau is to give the average altitude of
the irrigable lands of Montana. and it is
presumed they were given for that pur-
pose, they are misleading and do the
state injustice. The altitude Of at least
70 per cent of the area of the whole state