Fergus County Democrat. [volume], March 14, 1905, Image 1

About Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919

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Fergus County Democrat.
Vol. I. No. 31
LEWISTOWN, FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA, TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1905.
Price 5 Cents.
FINE COUNTRY
ON ALL SIDES
Special Correspondent for the Dem
ocrat Tells of Benutiful and
Fertile Country.
SOME MAGNIFICENT RANCH HOMES
Several of the Finest Places in the
State Adjacent to Utica—The
Village Is Prosperous.
As fertile a section as in the J udith
Basin is the big scope of country
stretching from the foothills of the
Belts at the head of the Judith river
east to Ross' Fork and north to Rocky
Ridge, taking in the districts sur
rounding Utica, Stanford, Philbrook
and Geyser. All grain crops indigent
to this section ot the continent are
raised with success while the root
crop is good in the bottom lands and
where irrigation is possible.
In the immediate vicinity of the
Judith, from the foothills to Phil
brook, are some of the richest farm
lands in the west and crops raised on
the farms in that locality are far
above the crop statistics of the state.
From the time when the earliest set
tlers penetrated to this garden spot of
the state it lias been noted for its
natural resources and agricultural
possibilities. As fine a grazing coun
try as there is in the west, it was the
headquarters of some of the largest
stock ranches in the county until the
rapid settlement of the district neces
sitated the removal of the larger herds
to the more unsettled country further
north.
The oldtimers yet tell of the time
when the succulent prairie grasses
reached the hubs of a freight wagon
and the entire country was covered
•with so heavy a crop of wild hay in
the fall that work horses .would pull
through the winter in excellent shape
without extra feeding. This scope of
country is situated in a natural basin
and is protected from the more rigor
ous blizzards which rage further north
and it is a well known fact that the
precipitation of moisture during the
year is far above the average for the
state. It is very seldom that a fail
ure of crops is reported as the result
of a non-sufficiency of moisture and in
fact but once during the past fifteen
years has such been the case and that
only on higher lands.
There are in the neighborhood of 25,
000 acres of good ground under cultiva
tion within a radius of teii miles
from Utica and revenue derived from
the working of these lands and the
raising of stock in that section ma
terially assists in the prosperity of
the county. The grain crop will av
erage 40 bushels to the acre; two crops
of alfalfa are harvested each summer
and three tons of meadow hay to the
acre is procured on the bottom lands.
Excellent stands of alfalfa have been
raised in the immediate vicinity. The
Sage Creek Sheep Co., S. S. Hobson
and Waite & Morse are the largest al
falfa growers in the neighborhood,
while it is raised as one of the princi
pal crops on many of the smaller
ranches.
The two crops of alfalfa raised dur
ing the summer will average live tons
to the acre each crop, while on some
of the river lands three crops are
grown. The Waite & Morse ranch is
one of the largest properties in the
neighborhood of Utica and there is in
the neighborhood of ten thousand
acres under fence. A considerable
portion ot this ranch is under crop
cultivation. S. S. Hobson owns one
of the prettiest ranches in the county,
which is situated about two miles
from Utica. This property is located
on botli sides of the Judith river and
on it are raised some of the largest
crops per acre that are harvested in
the district. The Sage Creek Sheep
Co., situate about eight miles from
Utica in the direction of Stanford, is
a very valuable property and in the
neighborhood of 3,000 tons of hay is
stacked there during the summer.
There are many smaller ranches and
farms scattered throughout the sec
tion and the intending settler with
money will find no difficulty in secur
ing a home; though the greater por
tion of the land suitable for home
stea ' are already tiled on. Experi
m.uts are being conducted by S. S.
Hobson with a view to ascertaining
what kind of a crop of winter wheat
can be raised on the benchlands in
the upper Judith country and as the
soil is as rich as any benchland in the
county, it is almost a certainty that
the results will be satisfactory.
With a suitable system of irrigation
the entire bench lands adjacent to
the foothills of the Belts could be
farmed to advantage and as natural
reservoir sites are numerous this
would be easy with a sufficient am
ount of capital. The coal lands of
Sage creek are among the best in the
county and it was only a short while
ago that Mr. Robertson of the Mon
tana Railroad accompanied by coal
experts visited this property in order
to ascertain the quality and quantity
of the supply. The surrounding hills
are highly mineralized and it is only a
distance of eighteen miles from Utica
that the sapphire mines are located.
The Iluntoon ranch on the upper part
of the Judith embraces a large acre
age of highly fertile lands, while I. F.
David is running a garden ranch a
short distance from the camp at the
sapphire mines, where he supplies the
mines with all manner of vegetables
which lie raises with little trouble.
The soil on the bottom lands is a
heavy black loam while the soil on the
bench lands though naturally lighter
is rich in quality and would raise good
crops with cultivation, as has been
demonstrated on the Rock creek
bench wtyere the soil is not so deep as
in the region of Utica. Water is ob
tained close to the surface on the bot
tom lands, while the liquid necessity
can be obtained almost anywhere on
the higher lands by sinking to a depth
of 100 feet. C. W. Belden, the owner
of the lazy Y ranch at Utica, has ob
tained water by sinking 100 feet on the
bench to the north. Mr. Belden has
an extremely valuable property and
owns the biggest cow outfit on the
Upper Judith with the exception of
William Ettien, who is situated in
Pig Eye at the extreme head of the
basin. The nearest railroad point is
Moore, twenty-two miles distant on
the Montana Railroad. Lewistown is
forty miles to the southeast and the
rich depression in which it is situ
ated, is separated from the upper
basin by a series of benchlands which
are being rapidly settled by farmers
from the overcrowded districts of
Iowa, Nebraska and other eastern
states.
Utica was at one time the principal
trading point for the upper basin but
now the business is divided with the
small towns on the Montana Rail
road, though a large volume of trade
is still handled by the Utica Mercan
tile Co., at that point. A first class
school house was erected a few years
ago and is fitted up with the most
modern conveniences. In the neigh
borhood of fifty children are under
the guidance of Prof. Perrine and
Miss Kate Doolittle who have charge
of the institution.
The Great Falls Stage Co. runs a
through line from Great Falls to Lew
istown and makes the trip in twenty
four hours. The locality is easy of
access from the railroad and a short
trip from Moore or a pleasant journey
from the Falls lands the visitor at
Utica in good condition. There are
fifty families living in Utica and the
immediate vicinity; the town sup
ports two hotels, three saloons and a
first-class general store. The Metho
dist church is a very neat little build
ing and is presided over by the Rev.
Paul Adams. Drs. Posky and David
look after the physical well being of
the residents of the district. The
locality is extremely healthy, possess
ing two of the principal requisites for
health, pure water and an ivigorating
atmosphere.
In Memoriom.
Lewistown, Mont.. March 11. '05.
Whereas—An allwise ruler of this
earthly forest has deemed it best and
wise to call from our midst our worthy
Brother Purley Atkinson and
Whereas—this court and order has
thereby lost a faithful member and
officer, the community a respected
citizen and the family a kind and lov
ing son and brother. Therefore be it
Resolved, That Court Judith No. 8,
F. of A., in convention assembled
hereby extends its sympathy and con
dolences to the bereaved family—and
further be it
Resolved, That these resolutions be
spread on the records of this meeting
and a copy be sent to the bereaved
mother and that our charter be
draped in mourning.
Committee: S. it. Anderson,
Wm. F. Hirscu,
Jens. S. Nielson.
Don't forget that Surprenant, the
sign writer, is doing business at the
old stand.
THINKS ROAD
WILL BE BUILT
Manager John E. Bright of the
Citizens' Electric Company Re
turns From the East.
WORKING E0R ELECTRIC ROAD
Bright Outlook for the Joining of
Kendall and Lewistown With
Steel Rails.
Manager John L. Bright of the Cit
zens' Electric Company, returned Sat
urday night from Columbus, Ohio,
whither he went for the purpose of
interviewing some capitalists who
had previously been interested in the
Lewistown-Kendall Electric road pro
ject. He saw his men allright and
while he is always conservative when
speaking of future business enter
prises, he informs the democrat that
the chances are exceedingly bright for
the beginning of work on the road
within thirty days.
The only point upon which the east
ern capitalists are in the least doubt
ful is the ability of the electric plant
located up on Spring creek to furnish
sufficient power for the road. While
Mr. Bright has no doubts on that
point, he requested that they send out
an electrial expert to look over the
plant and ground and this they prom
ised to do. A gentleman from Chi
cago is expected this week. If his re
port is favorable, and there is very
little doubts on the subject, the road
will be started as soon as a few pre
liminaries are completed.
UTICA NOTES.
(By our Special Correspondent.)
Miss Mamie David died at the Da
vid ranch on the upper Judith on
Saturday afternoon, as the result of
serious throat affection complicated
with lung trouble. Dr. O. F. David
was the attending physician. The
deceased was twenty-six years of age
and was the adopted daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. C. C. David. The funeral
services were held at the David ranch
on Sunday morning and the funeral
cortege reached Utica at two o'clock.
The interment, which was attended
by a large number of friends of the
bereaved family and the deceased,
took place at the Utica cemetery Sun
day afternoon. Miss David has made
a large number of friends by the ami
ability of her disposition and is sin
cerely mourned by the residents of
Utica and vicinity.
The snow storm of last week, which
continued with severity for several
days, makes things look brighter for
the farmers end the ranchers on the
Judith and insures a plentiful supply
of water for the coming season. (Br
ing to the continued fine weather
the ground was extremely dry and
hard to cultivate. It will be in good
shape however as soon as the first
warm weather arrives and farming
operations will commence early owing
to the absence of frost.
Sheep and cattle wintered well on
the upper Judith and but little hay
was used in feeding. The stock in
terests of every descript ion are in good
shape and the cattle and sheepmen
look for good returns this season.
The cattlemen in this section are
realizing that it is necessary to take
better care of the stock since the
fencing of the open range and conse
quently beef steer will be in shape to
put on the market earlier this season
than heretofore.
A meeting of the voters of the
Utica school district was held on Sat
urday for the purpose of nominating
candidates for the office of school
trustees, Martin Messner and G. W.
Trask received the nomination. The
election of trustees will take place on
the first Saturday in April. The
action of the meeting did not receive
the approval of the entire district and
there promises to be some interesting
complications later on.
W. Polly will take charge of the W.
Ettien ranch about the 15th of the
month. Mr. Polly will move his fam
ily to the ranch as soon as possible.
W. S. Smith and Mr. Rand of Lew
istown were in Utica on a business
trip last week. While in Utica, both
gentlemen attended the K. of P.,
meeting at which Wyman Wink ley
was introduced to the goat, the meet
ing resulting in much satisfaction to
the goat and a more extended experi
ence on the part of Mr. Winkley.
Considerable activity is noticed in
the Yogo mining district, both at the
sapphire mines and at the old camp
camp at the head of Yogo creek. Both
sapphire mines are working as many
men as possible considering the earli
ness of the season and operations are
proving very satisfactory, in the old
camp preparations are being made to
start work early in the spring and
Matt Dunn has already made arrange
meats to put a force of men to work
the first part of next month. Ap
pearances are very favorable for a
prosperous season in all the camps in
the district.
Chris. Olson and Florence Holland
were married in Utica last week. The
wedding ceremony was a quiet one
and was performed by the Rev. Adams
in the presence of a few immediate
friends of the bride and groom. Mr.
Olson is well known as tin industrious
young rancher of the upper Judith
while the bride is a sister of Mrs.
Walter Waite of Utica.
Andy Matthews and E. F. Tuttle
and wife of Stanford attended the
meeting of the Odd Fellows which
was held at Utica on Saturday.
The visitor to the town of Utica is
generally greatly surprised by the am
ount of business transacted daily and
in reality the town is doing propor
tionately better than some of the
larger cities of the county. An up
to-date tonsorial artist is badly needed
in Utica and the bewhiskered popu
lation of the town would greet his ar
rival with joy and immediately loosen
the "gee string" of their pocket books
and part witli their hirsute append
ages. Since the departure of the last
barber, sticking plaster lias been at a
premium and several very forceful
and comprehensive epithets have been
invented by the "boys" who shave
themselves.
A WORTHY ENTERPRISE.
The People of This City Should Pat
ronize Band Benefit Concert.
The band benefit concert to be given
in Culver's hall next Monday night
should be accorded a most generous
patronage. Thare are two good and
sufficient reasons for attending this
entertainment.
In tlie first place, it is going to lie
one of tiie greatest musical treats ever
given in Lewistown. Those having in
charge the active arrangements of the
program are exerting themselves in
order to provide attractive and special
musical features. In t lie second place
by encouraging the band boys, there
will be music on the streets during
the summer evenings.
Lewistown ought to supporta band.
The members of the band have kept
toget her under difficulties and for the
last two or three months, have been
practicing assiduously. Several of
them have been compelled to go into
their own pockets to buy instruments
and music and it is now time for the
public to show their appreciation of
this determined spirit by giving the
boys a boost with an overliow house at
their concert next Monday evening.
Bids Wanted.
Sealed bids will he received at the
office of the Judith Basin Milling Co.,
until April 4th, for the erection of
their Mill Elevator Penstock and
Flume. We ask for bids, the con
tractor to furnish all of the material
or to perform the labor only, the
Judith Basin Milling Co., to furnish
all material. Plans and specifications
can be seen at the company's office.
A certified check of 10 per cent to
show good faith must accompany all
bids. Bids will be opened on April
5th at 5 p. in. We have the right to
reject any or all bids.
Judith Basin Milli.no Co.
Irrigation Company Formed
Articles of incorporation of the
Crystal Lake Power and Irrigation
company were tiled with the county
recorder Iasi week. The purpose of
the company as given in the instru
ment of incorporation, is to locate,
appropriate and acquire title to land
and a right to use the waters of
Crystal lake for irrigat ion and power.
Crystal lake is situated in the fool
hills of tiie Snowy mountains at ttie
head of Rock creek. The incorpora
tors are also given tiie right to con
struct dams, reservoirs and do till of
the things necessary to storing and
distributing the water of tiie lake.
The life of the new company is 40
years and tiie principal place of busi
ness will tie at Moore. The capital
stock is $50,000. Patrick Nihil I. it.
G. Pen we 11, Park W. Penwell, W. J.
Owen, J. w Moore. T. J. Robinson,
M. W. Penwell and A. M. Campbell
are the incorporators.
HE HAS NEVER
EOUND IT OUT
Cruel Joke on Unsuspecting Tom
Riser the Jolly Jokester of the
North Moccasins.
E. W. KING SETS THE TRAP
Introduced a Native Montanan as
a Tenderfoot—Tom Swallowed
Bait. Hook and All.
Numberless moons ago, while all
this region was yet in the plast
state and tiie tepid waters of Warm
Spring were hot enough to scald hogs
in, Tom Riser entered over the mushy
trail to the North Moccasin moun
tains and since that time Tom has
been the principal promoter of every
thing that tends to make life worth
living in that favored region. Tom
is not one of those reserved persons
who wants to make himself noticed
because of ids retiring, unfriendly
ways; on the contrary lie is one
those men who greet you witli
warmth that dispels the idea within
you that tiie world lias for centuries
been weighed down with a load of hu
man selfishness. Ever since. Tom
first arrived in tiie Kendall district
lie lias constituted himself a reception
committee and no stranger lias enter
ed those gates that Tom didn't bid
him welcome, and incidentally peddle
a load of confidential dope to him
that would suffice the veriest glut
ton. Tom is not an ordinary hotair
distributor; lie goes at you witli an
earnestness that creates confidence
and a self assurance that, compels be
lief: an ordinary prevaricator is abso
luteless helpless in Tom's hands, just,
as a common, ordinary raconteur gets
awfully tiresome when Tom is around.
So long lias Tom enjoyed the dis
tinction of being tiie medicine chief
of all the "josliers" around Kendall
that lie had even forgot to think
about anybody jobbing him. That's
where he fell down. Last week E.
W. King came over from Bozeman.
Accompanying Mr. King was Nelson
Story, Jr. also of Bozeman. Mr. Sto
ry was born in Montana and, to use
his own language, "was raised In
cow camp." Tom Riser didn't know
this for Mr. King introduced Story
him as Mr. Nathan Strong of St. Louis
whose father had so much money that
lie had sent the "boy" out here
squander a lot. of it. When Tom
heard that he tightened up his licit
hole or two and prepared to camp on
"Strong's" trail. Thirty years
Montana hasn't dulled Mr. Story's
propensities for perpetrating a joke
and I lie way lie peddled the greenhorn
stuff to Toni caused Johnny Rush,
the stage driver, to shed tears
Mr. King and his friend stayed in
Kendall live or six days and before
they left Tom ad mill.v claimed rela
tionship with Story, alias Strong,
happened that they hud mutual ac
quaintances in St. Louis: this was
enough for Tom. lie confidentially
handed it; out that he knew all of
Strong's folks down In t iie old t own;
in fact had gone to school with the
old man, and at onetime was engaged
to the old lady, but had to go on
voyage to the Celebes Island to look
after some mining ground for he
London Exploratian company and
while he was gone the old man cut
him out. He didn't care for that,
though, for the "boy" was going to
send up a hundred thousand dollars
for him to do some prospecting on,
and if things looked good when that
was gone he would put in some money.
It seemed kind of good to see one of
the Strong family again, for it had
been so long since iie had heard from
them he was afraid they had all died
off; and the boy knew so many people
down there that lie knew in the
"early days" that it was sure refresh
ing to meet him. Tom just spouted
around in tins strain until he had
every other prospector in the camp
wishing lie would go away somewhere
and ease up.
Story, alias Strong, didn't get much
rest either; Tom showed him where
the volcanos were spouting when lie
first came to the country: lugged him
around to all the prospect holes and
entered into scientific dissertations as
to how tiie molten gold speeded
through the fissures and smeared its
jacent ground; explained t lie workings
of different kinds of mills, Hunting
tons and stamp mill and all kinds;
(Story owns a foundry which makes
mining machinery); and then lie fin
ally told him all about how the bron
chos out here do hand springs with
the riders, and how wild it was only
about four miles north of Kendall,
where one first began to see hostile
Indians. Tom loaded and reloaded
until Story's absorption gear was al
most cut out, in the bearings: still
Story stood well to his guns and never
flinched, not even while Tom told him
the broncho riding stories. It,doesn't
require a vivid imagination to picture
Tom riding a broncho, hut it would
be easier to make a mental crayon of
him falling olV a handcar. Finally,
after they had been in Kendall nearly
a week, Mr. King, trom sheer regard
for a good fellow like Tom, took
Story with him and returned to Lew
istown: Story wanted to stay and
learn all about western life in one les
son, but Mr. King was afraid Tom's
Imagination would break down. Tom
lias long reigned the undisputed mon
arch of "joshers" in the North Moc
casins: he is probably going around
now t ickling himself over tiie loads he
handed young "Strong," for lie never
caught on, and Mr. King, who is so
tender hearted that way, wouldn't
tell him for fear that it, might wound
ids feelings.
It didn't take Postmaster John
Jackson, Jr., very long to discover
that there were positively no pilgrims
in Mr. King's party; not after they
turned the saddle around on his sad
dle pony and sent that well ordered
equine across the country like he was
possessed of seven devils; at,in can tie
ing the cause of his mental disorder.
Jackson knew whom to "cuss," but
Tom still tarries in ignorence.
ADDITIONAL LOCAL.
Eggs 25ets per dozen at, Lehmans.
G. B. Stuart of Kendall is in the
city.
Free concert at the Art Music Store
tonight.
Roue meal for chickens at Abel
Brothers.
A carload of apples has just arrived
for Lehman.
Hear the "Light Cavalry Overture"
by Suppe, tonight at, the Art, Music
Store.
The Lewistown Furniture Co., has
a swell lino of cane rockers at from
$3.25 up.
II you once use one of llie Lewis
town Furniture Co's Vandergrift
washers, you will use no other.
E. 11. Crabtree, superintendent of
the Maginnis mine, was in Hie city
the latter part of the week.
FOR SALE Two good ranges,
chairs, tables, etc. All in good
condition. Apply to C. F. Hirscli &
Son.
Fred Alton, a prosperaus young
stockman abd rancher of Denton, was
a business visitor to this city yester
day.
J. L- Stuart came in last night from
the Judith mountains where lie is de
veloping some mining properties. Ills
property is located near Malden.
Harry Boggs, the popular young at
torney. is having a house built in the
western part of the city. George An
derson has the contract for the build
ing.
My dear, these are the finest bis
cuits I ever ale. Yes John, that St.
Clair Range we got of the Lewistown
Co., deserves the credit. It is the
best baker I ever used.
Don't fall to look over t he new line
of lace curtains, portierres and coucli
covers at the Lewistown Furniture
Co. They can furnish your house in
an up-to-date and economical man
ner.
Rasmus Frederickson, a hi year old
lad, arrived In the city last night
from Sweden, leaving made the long
t rip across 1 he ocean alone. He sailed
from Denmark the 22nd day of Feb
ruary. He will go to Maiden to make
his home with his aunt, Mrs. Anna
Wight.
The dance given Tuesday night by
the Red Men was one of the most
pleasant occasions of tiie sort ever
given in the city. The hall was
crowded and the members of the pop
ular order under whose auspices the
dance was given, saw to it that every
body was kept busy dancing. The
boys cleared a neat sum from tiie
dance.
For choice meats, fresh fish, oysters,
poultry and new vegetables come to
tiie new Central meat market, Abel
Bros.