The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-07-07
LETTERS from thePE0PLE
The Great Couch Ranch on the
Beautiful River.
What Money Well Expended Can
Accomplish.
A Nucleus for the Finest Stock Farm
in the West.

The sun of Montana, while he visits
many lovely spots, shines upon no more
fertile, we'll watered and well cult
waited valley than that Of the Sun River.
In this favored valley, about ten
miles below Sun River crossing, on the
south side of the Great Falls road is To-
Gated the famous Vaughn ranch, lately
sold by its former proprietor to the pres
ent owner, Mr.. Thomas Couch, for the
handsome price Of $4,000.
1t was near sundown when we arrived
at the ranch. We were most Hospitality
received by Mr.. B. W. Phillips, foreman
and general manager, Mr.. Couch being
absent at Butte, where he is employed as
superintendent of the great Boston and
Montana Smelling company. The cor
diality of our reception by Mr.. Phillips
and the gracious attention to our comfort
manifested by his estimable lady soon
made lis forget that we were two thous-
and miles from home and we assure
them that while they were not entertain
ing an angel either awares or unawares,
yet their kindness toward us will long be
remembered.
Mr.. Phillips cheerfully devoted Il
couple Of hours the next morning to
showing us the principal points of inter
est about the place. On the site of where
the old dwelling house formerly stood is
being erected by Mr.. Couch palatial
brick residence, the largest in the terri
tory north of Helena.
This house is three stories high and con
tains twelve spacious rooms, the ceilings
of the first and second rooms being 10
feet. The building is AZ feet square and
has commodious cellar so feet square.
On each of the four sides Of the dwelling
is beautiful veranda reaching the full
length of the house, making delightfully."-
pleasant quarters for the sultry summer
afternoons. while their comfort is added
to by the shady groves OF trees laid out
in rows on all sides Of the house.
An imposing observatory crowns the
building, commanding a magnificent
view for miles up and down the river
which, glistening in the morning sun,
winds among the groves of cottonwood
and across the emerald meadows and vcr-
dant pasture lands over which roam hun
dreds of horses and cattle.
This ranch was purchased by Mr..
Couch for the especial purpose Of breed
ing the finest grades of cattle and horses.
We were kindly furnished by Mr..
Phillips with the pedigrees of the i'm
ported stations brought to the farm late
ly by Mr.. Couch, not for general service
but solely for the purpose of raising the
standard Of the stock kept on this farm
For lack Of space we cannot insert Ill the
pedigrees, as they are quite lengthy.
Forest Chief is bright bay, three years
old, II hands high, sired by Harrison
Chief and bred on Elmwood farm, Ills.
Luster is dapple gray, 8 years old
17i9 hands high, sired by Margo Jr., dam
Garty and was bred at Lexington, Ky.
Clyde, age years, 171a hands high and
weighs 1900 pounds, was imported from
Canada.
There are at present over 400 horses
and colts on this ranch.
In addition to the fine horses there are
30 fine blooded cattle just brought here
from Kentucky and Illinois, all of which
are registered stock, and are among the
finest looking animals it has ever beer
our good fortune to inspect.
A most perfect system of irrigation
gives to this ranch vcrdure that is il
strange contrast to other sections that are
parched by the extended drouth. There
is a large meadow adjacent to the build
Ing described above,in which we behclt
a luxuriant growth of old-iashioned time
thy, the only field found thus far in thi
country.