Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1890-01-08

Lewis and Clarke and Meagher counties,
and wal instrumental in the placing of
some very valuable properties. Mr..
Couch, though II conservative and reti-
cent man ordinarily, has ever been an en-
thusiast on the subject of the copper
| mines of Butte, of whose vein structure
| and the metallurgy of whose ore he has
been a tireless student. Less than three
years ago, in company with Captain John
Daniels of Michigan, he examined and
| reported on n group OF mines embracicg
| the Mountain View, Colusa, Liquidator,
West Colusa and others owned by G. X.
| Larabie and the Montana Copper com
pany. The result of his report was the
purchase of these properties, their con
solidatinn and he organization of the
Boston & Montana Copper and Silver
Mining company. The magnitude of this
enterprise, the acceptance Of the manage
ment by Captain Couch and the splendid
| results which have followed to the stock
holders and to the city of Butte are set
forth elsewhere. Captain Couch has
reason to be proud, and his friends and
the people of this great district are proud,
Of the success which has attended the
operations of the boston q Montana com
pany's plant and the certainty of greatly
enlarged achievements in the future.
The moving spirit of the concern at this
end of the line is the capable, practical
and indefatigable superintendent. He is
familiar with every detail of his respon-
sible labors. He personally supervises
the development of every mine the com
pany is working, and still finds time to
keep the big smelters and Commentators
in full blast and to conduct every depart
ment of the company's affairs. Lately
Mr.. Couch has bought and stocked one of
the best ranch properties in Northern
Montana. 1t has cost HIM already $780,
600, and he regards it as his home, yet it
is not likely that he will leave the bust
ness of mining, to which he has been
brought up; nor the service of the cor
poration with which his relations are SO
pleasant"
THE HOME RANCH.
His home ranch is located in the broad,
rich Sun river valley, a short distance
above Great Falls. This ranch was locat-
ed by Robert Vaughn in 1869 and was the
first homestead located in this part of
Montana. 1t was purchased by Capt.
Couch from that gentleman In 1889, to-
gether with the stock, and includes 1000
acres, enclosed with a good fence. Gross
fences divide the farm into convenient
pastures, meadows, orchards and grain
fields. No farm in the state is better
supplied with water. A large irrigating
ditch taps Sun river near Fort Shaw, 10
miles above the ranch, and brings an
abundant supply of water. The system
Of cross bitches is SO planned that every
foot o. land on the ranch may be watered.
AN ATTRACTIVE POME.
On a beautiful sight near the centre of
this domain and overlooking the placid
waters of the river Captain Couch has
erected a beautiful home. The house is
built of brick and is planned after the
latest designs in architecture and contains
10 large rooms, skillfully arranged with
a'view to comfort and convenience. Here
the captain enjoys the leisure moments
of his busy life with his worthy family.or
opens his hospitable doors to the visitor.
The house and furnishings represent an
outlay of more than $4,000.
FINE HoRsEs.
At the head of his draft stables Captain
Couch has placed Lustre, 43S5, National
Register of French Draft Horses, Vol. v.
This animal is a steel gray, coming four
years old, stands II hands high and is
! very wide in proportion. He weighs 1900
| pounds, stands we'll on good legs and feet,
has excellent action, is high.spirited and
intelligent, and is q king among show
horses.
Forest Chief, by Harrison Chief, is at
the head of the trotting stock. The sire
of this horse has a record of $50 and he
is a descendant of a long line of thorough
bred ancestors. He is a beautiful bay,
high-spirited, kind and has good .ction.
On this model ranch are over $50 mares,
many uf which are standard and well
bred animals; among them are fine spec
linens of the Morgan, Black Hawk, Nam,
brine, Hambletonian, Knox and Clay.
This is one of the finest herds of horses
in Montana.
Five of these young horses are in train
ing at the North Montana Fair grounds,
where they are doing some excellent
work and will no doubt make creditable
records at the fall meeting.
GOOD CATTLE.
Besides raising different breeds OF
horses, Captain Couch has about 600
head of cattle. These include thorough
bred specimens of the Shorthorn, Hereford
and Holstein breeds. The greater mum
Der of these cattle are kept on his Smith
river ranch. This ranch is a fortune In
itself. Located at the junction of the
Smith and Missouri rivers, it includes
oyer 400 acres Of natural meadow lands
which annually produce two tons Of hay
per acre. The remainder of the ranch
} about 1,100 acres lis excellent pasture
land and the entire ranch Is surrounded
with a good substantial fence.
1t IS difficult to estimate the good which
will result to the stock interests of Mon
tana by the importation Of such blooded
stock as Captain Couch has recently
purchased and the careful attention giver
by him to training and breeding.
Mr.. John Weber has the Management
of these ranches and stock, and although
a young man, is already attracting atten
49, lrlfc o,oc.af.1 h-,sno,, o,o.uorr