The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-05-02

ON THE ROAD.
The Wool Growers Country-S Something
About the Gentle Shepherdess of
Montana Severance & Co.'s
Ranch of Ranches.

The country about Martinsdale for a
considerable distance is the natural home
OF the sheep husbandman. Here are
the Smith Bros, Hatch Bros. Sayre
Bros, A. McGregor, Severance & Co,
and many others whose herds number
away up in the thousands and who are
doubling up their capital about every
two years. The exclusive farmer has
but little business locating on the Mus
selshell, as the valley is not especially
adapted for agricultural purposes; but
as q stock country it is hard to beat We
notlced, however, in passing through
the Musseishell country, last week, that
the grass was not nearly so forward as
III the Basin, nor was the old grass as
rank, indicating, probably, that the for
mer section, like the country about Ben
ton, suffered by the drouth last season.
Inc contrast IN the appearance of the
two sections was very marked, but as
we learned, it has not been SO in other
years.
Good sheep locations, such as have all
the requirements for safely and con-
veniently conducting the business-hay
ground, good water, timber convenient.
good feed and well protected winter
ranges-are decidedly scarce here as
well as in other portions Of the territory.
Major Wallace, of the Judith, who is
largely interested in the business of
wool growing, said to us that first rate
sheep location, having all the essential
requirements for successfully conducting
the business on q large scale, is now
worth, without Improvements, $5 900,
ana the time is not far off when such
ranges will be held at even bigger fig
uFes, with good demand A trip of
week or two through the Judith and
Musselshell countries will readily con-
vince one that the wool interests of
Montana are looming up.
Ihere are but few ranches to be seen
from Martinsdale to the Gap. The first
Is MIR. McGregor's sheep ranch. He
controls an extensive range and has sew
eFal thousand head of sheep
The next ranch is in Hopley's hole,
great coulee with nice stream of water
near its head We had the pleasure of
Edlng with Sam Fishel, of Fort Magin-
ms, the we'll known scout, back from
Martlnsdale, and he explained how this
place got its name. When, some years
ago mail service was established be-
tWeen Helena and Carroll, party went
through to locate the road and establish
stations. A Mr.. Hopley was one of the
number and at this place he fell into
lathel deep hole containing water and
was with difficulty rescued by his COM
pahlons. In remembrance of the adj
venture the valley was called Hopley's
noie-a name it still retains. It is
"ooot half way between Martinsdale
and Okla.
but interest now mainly attaches to
l1ls place because it is the home Of "the
saiiepherdess Of Montana Miss Jennie
oorson, who has fine sheep ranch here,
GSonltfolling ~ the entire valley and splen-
eioc eio fenge, both for summer and winter.
MISS Corson was formerly book-keeper
" WIN L. b. Weare & Co.. Chicago, where
sue made the acquaintance of Mr.. T. c.
ioWer. Hearing some of the Commo-
uofes eloquent discOurses on the stock
tenterests OF Montana, she caught the
ieVer and decided to invest, her project
lgcelVlng the Endorsement of her en-
ployers, who had full confidence in the
young lady's business qualifications.
p past summer she came up the river to
Denton, and after looking around awhile
purchased the Milrea s. Oleson band of
nslieep and ranch at HopIey's, paying for
we same 10000 cash. This spring she
Purchased for ST 900 Severance q Had
,eys ranch. just below her, and now has
pr dpnL4ooaDly as good sheep ranch, taken
ailogether, as any in the territory. On
account Of the rapid rise in the price OF
'Aeep and the increased value OF good