Large beds of coal and deposits of iron-ore, building-stone, coal and extensive claybeds are also found. The mining of sapphires began in 1891, four regions are worked, and Montana leads the Union in this country.
Forestry. More than one fourth of the state is covered with timber. In the western part white cedar, white pine and Engelman's spruce grow, and along the streams are forests of cottonwood. In the dry portions are stunted red cedars, which are of great value to the settlers, as they supply wood and posts. An alpine species flourishes on the summits, and assists irrigation by holding back the melting spring snow. The government forest-reserves include a considerable portion of the state's timber, nearly 11,700 square miles.
Agriculture and Stock-Raising. Near the streams is a rich black soil; a sandy loam on the bench lands; and grazing lands on the bluffs. Dry farming has been satisfactorily tried on the uplands, and the experiment station encourages this method. In the order of relative importance the crops are corn, wheat, oats, barley and hay. Yellowstone Valley produces two and three cuttings of alfalfa, and cereals are extensively grown, through irrigation, in Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison Valleys. The orchards produce apples, cherries, plums, apricots and peaches, while small fruits, as blackberries, strawberries, currants and gooseberries, grow in large crops. Stock-raising is one of the industries, the flocks running wild, guarded by shepherds and dogs, and horses and cattle are kept in large herds on the great ranches. Montana has more sheep and produces more wool than any other state.
Manufactures. Foremost among the industries stands ore-smelting. The largest smelter in the world is at Anaconda; there are many in Butte; and one each at Helena and Great Falls. There are some large lumber mills, sawmills and some extensive factories which make doors, sash, blinds and furniture. A woolen mill is located at Big Timber, a biscuit and cracker factory at Helena and malt liquors in all large places. Montana has 4,207 miles of railroad, and is served by the Great Northern the Northern Pacific, the Burlington, the Oregon Short Line and the Milwaukee and St. Paul roads, the last putting it into direct connection with Chicago.
Education. Although Montana is quite a young state, her educational system is admirable. Twelve hundred teachers are employed and handsomely salaried, and more than 25c. is spent every day on the education of every child. In 1898 the state passed a law establishing county high schools, which are supported by county assessments and are under separate administration from city schools. The state School of Mines is at Butte, the state normal school at Dillon, the state agricultural college and experiment station at Bozeman, the state university and Sacred Heart Academy at Missoula, and Wesleyan University at Helena. A summer school of sciences was established on Flathead Lake in 1899 by the state university. It is known as the University of Montana Biological Station, and is well-patronized by other states as well as Montana. There are institutions for the deaf-dumb-and-blind, for the insane, a reform school, a soldiers' home and a penitentiary.
History. There are several United States posts on the boundary line of Canada and at other places, to keep in check the Indians, and four Indian agencies with their reservations. Montana was admitted to the Union in 1889, and has a population of 376,053, of whom 12,500 are Indians. Its capital is Helena (population 12,515). The other chief towns of the state are Butte City (population 39,165) and Great Falls City (population 13,948). Montana was early visited by fur-traders and French missionaries, but was not settled until after the gold discovery in 1861. It has been the scene of many Indian wars, notably the terrible massacre of General Custer's forces by the Sioux. See Idaho and Montana by H. H. Bancroft.
Montana, University of, is at Missoula in the western portion of the state. It consists of a preparatory department, a college of literature, science and the arts and a school of mechanical engineering. It is endowed with 72 sections of land granted by Congress in 1892, with the proviso that the land may not be sold for less than $10 an acre. The university was established in 1895. It now has 22 instructors and 360 students, of whom about a third are in the preparatory department and about 100 pursue courses in the arts. There are 22 students in mechanical engineering. Tuition is free, except in the law-school when that shall be established. Its library consists of about 16,000 volumes, and its income is about $65,000 a year.
Mont Blanc (mônt blŏn). See Alps.
Montcalm (mŏnt-käm′), Louis Joseph, Marquis de, was born near Nîmes, France, Feb. 29, 1712. He became commander of the French army in Canada in 1756, soon capturing the British fort at Oswego. Crossing Lake George, with 8,000 French and Indian troops, he took Fort William Henry, where the Indians' massacre of the helpless women and children has left a blot on his memory. He defended Ticonderoga against a large British force under Abercrombie, and then moved to protect Quebec. In the attack by General Wolfe the French were driven back into the city, and in the retreat Montcalm was fatally wounded, dying the next morning, Sept. 14, 1759. When told of his danger he said: “So much the better; I shall not live to see the sur-
