Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-09-12

fEdlIle county, lOcaUtO IN ltle center
Of eastern Montana, has some of the
finest ranch and farm land in the
state and, on the other hand, some
of the most desolate. yet scenic. land
in the region.
over $4,000 Of the county's ], 25O,O
acres are classed as farming land and
much of the remainder is high class
grazing land. But the rest is mainly
rugged stretch of bad lands, more
pronounced in this county than in any
other. They exhibit the startling eff
fects of wind and water erosion with
variegated colored seams and coal
veins running through them and
topped with pines and scattered cedars.
Also on the scenic side in Prairie is
one of the finest dude ranches in this
section Of the west, the Kempton
ranch. This pioneer horse and cattle
ranch was established in 1882 and is
located In a green, springfield valley
in the center of $500 acres of decided
land extending to the banks Of the
historic Powder river and adjacent TO
many thousands of acres of open
range. Many activities make up the in
formal ranch schedule, including trips
to the nearby bad lands. Kempton's
is a favorite eastern Montana meeting
place and convention site during the
summer months.
The Big Sheep mountain area 30
miles north has a recreation center,
tennis and badminton courts and
swimming facilities which attract large
numbers Of visitors and Is one Of the
favorite vacation spots In the county.
The area near where the Powder
dumps into the Yellowstone, IS miles
east Of Terry, Is dotted with choice
picnic spots. Side roads out Of Terry
travel along the Powder for Is miles
past big cattle outfits and the former
range Of the famous KIT, a Texas
Longhorn outfit.
Along the Yellowstone in this area
Is a spot mentioned in the journal
of Captain Clark. Travelling down
river by canoe in the spring Of 1906.
his party's journey was interrupted for
two days while a tremendous herd Of
buffalo completed its fording from the
south going north TO feeding grounds.
Twenty-Five miles northwest of Terry
is another historic spot, Crook Rock,
where the Sioux and Blackfeet en-
gagged in bloody battle.
Prairie has two main valleys slcing
through its rolling hills. The Yellow
stone river cuts the county almost in
equal halves from east to west and
the Powder river flows from the south
east to the Yellowstone.
AS in the neighboring counties, live
stock raising and farming are the
principal industries In this area. Last
year there were 10000 cattle. $500
sheep, $500 horses and 100 swine
raised in the county and $4,000 acres
of wheat averaging 10 bushels an acre
and returned 81 cents a bushel for
high protein.
Coal mining and natural gas pro-
duction also are important sources OF
revenue in this area. Part Of the Cabin
Greek gas structure Of the Montana
Dakota Utilities Co. is In the eastern
edge of the county and supplies Miles
City, Terry and Glendive. Terry is In
the center of an extensive artesian
water structure which is the city's
only water system. These wells spring
from 600 feet are crystal clear and
cool and with a pressure Of 20 pounds,
each well serves from 6 to 10 city
homes.
Irrigation development and work by
the soil conservation service have been
OF great benefit to the county. Buffalo
Rapids unit l is now irrigating 1000
acres in the county, and unit VIII
put an additional 1900 acres under
water, thus realizing the countys
greatest need-irTigatio
The drouth years caused widespread
damage in Prairie county but the most
spectacular catastrophe to strike the
area occurred early on the morning
of June 10, 1888 That morning as the
milwaukee, railways crack Olympian
passenger train sped westward, flood
waters rushed down Custer creek In
the far western edge Of the county.
The train plunged into the swollen
creek and AZ persons met death. 1t
was one Of the worst tragedies in mod
ern railroading.
One Of the most interesting elections
in the history Of the county occurred
IN 1882 when Glenn Buckingham,
democrat, and Roy Stith, republican,
each polIed 7O8 votes for the office OF
county clerk and recorder. They
tossed a coin. Stith won and gave
Buckingham the job OF deputy.
Prairie, with a 1910 population OF
2,A1O persons, ranked 4Sth in the state
In area, its 1,727 square miles placed
it seth. Terry leads the population
centers with 1912 residents, while 9TH
er towns are Fallon, Mildred, Spring
Greek and Zero.
More than 10 years after territory