Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-05-23

EDToRs ARGUS: The writer made 10
visit lately to some of the big ranches
OF our sister county. On the way
missed Mrs. BarrOws at Ubet, was
Hospitality entertained at the home
ranch Of Charles Severance near Okla.
This is the headquarters for twenty
six thousand sheep, kept in ten bands
on different parts OF their immense
range. under the charge of five expert
snced fOremen, each in charge OF two
bands. Mr.. Severance experimenting
the whole. Only two hundred tons OF
hay were fed during the winter; a
thousand tons are left over. This hay
is mostly put up and delivered at the
several stations by contract, some of
it as low as $3.50 per ton. The home
ranch has excellent stables. sheds, cor
rails, hay lofts, grararies. a boarding
house for the employees, and a fine
house with a fine library and other
appointments, presided over by Mrs.
Severance formerly Miss Hussy-a
graduate of "Vassar" and lady of
fine literary tastes.
The next ranch of Importance Wis.,
tied was what is known as the Cooper
ranch, owned by Lewis, Hussy &
Moore, three miles west of White Sui
phur Springs, consisting OF sixteen
hundred acres of good arabic and
meadow land, under the superintend.
ence OF James o. Mari, a natural-born
foreman. This ranch is run on the
plan of making the most money with
the smallest outlay, without the pre-
tense OF making it home. The men
were called at daylight, teams OF six
and eight horses, mostly "bronchos,"
were fed, harnessed and in the field by
Z O'Clock. About six hundred acres
are put into grain each year, six hum
dred more summer-fallOwed, to be put
into grain next year, and four hun
dred kept for meadow. About a hun
dred head OF steers have been fed all
winter, and several fine stations are
on the place, including pair OF very
small "PintO" yearling Shetland
ponies.
The next place visited was the home
ranch of Len Lewis on Smith river.
Mr.. Lewis is engaged principally in
raising sheep, cattle and horses, and
has some fine stations for sale, some
of them imported. Mr.. Lewis was not
at home, but his representative name
sake took pleasure in showing us the
fine stock, and Mr.. Lewis excellent
lady talked stock and particularly
horse intelligently, proving that a thor
ough, practical knowledge of a hus-
bands business is not inconsistent
with true cult ure and refinement. They
are also finishing a pleasant house,
which they are fitting up with a pleas
ant library and all the modern i'm
provements.
We also made a call on John p.
Moore and his good lady. Mr.. Moore
has some fine cattle and horses, and is
just finishing a fine, large, two-story
dwelling.
One thing is noticeable to an "old-
timer" that meals and beds at hotels
and stage stations cost just as much
now as they did in Montana fifteen
years ago, and stabling just as much
as it did when oats were three cents a
pound and hay $50 ton. For the
most and best service in the stable line
us to Brewers Stables" at
White Sulphur Springs, and for model
horse ranch, clean and tidy in all its
appointments, we must place John
Days on Buffalo creek, in this county,
ahead OF anything we have seen in
Montana. Mr.. Day has also some fine
horses.
F.