WHITE EARTH, =310.5 m.= (2,099 alt., 240 pop.), founded in 1891, probably was named for the fine, white, clayey sand which has washed down into the White Earth River valley. It overlies the Laramie formation, which is exposed in many places on the sides of the valley, 150 ft. deep here. While diversified farming predominates in the vicinity, traces of the old West are still found on a few small ranches along the White Earth River between the route and the Missouri River to the S. TIOGA (Iroquois, _beautiful valley_), =321.5 m.= (2,241 alt., 435 pop.), was founded in 1902. RAY, =335 m.= (2,271 alt., 621 pop.), named for Al G. Ray, chief special agent for the G. N. Ry. when the town was established in 1902, is scattered on level land along the railroad right-of-way. It was one of the first towns in the United States to adopt a commission form of city government (1910). 1. Right from Ray on a graveled county road to the WILLIAM SIMPSON FARM HOME, =8 m.=, where there is an unusual COLLECTION (_open_) of South African oddities, collected by Simpson, a Scotchman, who during several years there obtained animal skins, beads, heads, and horns from the natives. 2. Left from Ray on a dirt graded county highway to the junction with another road, =10 m.=; L. here to the first WELL AND DERRICK of the Big Viking Oil Company, on the Nesson Flats, =17 m.=, a level bench just above the Missouri River opposite the mouth of TOBACCO GARDEN CREEK (_see Tour 10_). Interest in a prospective oil field here led to a 40-day $25,000 survey and the expenditure of $195,000 in test well drilling by the Standard Oil Company of California in 1937. More than 200,000 acres in oil leases were taken up in the vicinity, and the company plans (1938) to expend another $200,000 before completing the test drilling. Opposite Nesson Flats near the mouth of Tobacco Garden Creek an attack upon a river steamer was made by a Sioux war party July 7, 1863. The Sioux, goaded to hostility by repeated violations of treaties and corrupt handling of annuity goods by governmental agencies, had met the _Robert Campbell_ at Fort Pierre, S. Dak., to ask for the goods due them. When Samuel M. Latta, Indian agent in charge of distribution of the boat's cargo--a newcomer in the Indian service, arrogant and none too scrupulous--withheld one-third of the goods, the Indians vowed to follow the boat up the river to Fort Benton, its destination. For 600 miles they harassed the steamer, pouring shots into it at every vantage point, attacking the crew at each woodyard, and making life miserable for all on board.