Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-07-13
STOCKMEN ARE
WELL PLEASED
Grass on the Ranges in Fine condi'
ton and Cattle Doing Well
Water Plentiful.
LAYING BEGINS THIS WEEK
Opinions of Leading Ranchers and
Stockmen Throughout the Coun-
ty Are Favorable.

The weekly crop bulletin published
by the Great Falls Tribune and bear.
ing date of July 18th, contains the fol-
lowing:
"Fergus-A week of not weather;
no growth of crops except where ir.
rigated; unless rain falls soon the
range will be very short; grasshup.
per becoming numerous stock suf-
fering for water"
Where this report could have come
from is a mystery. for 90 tar as can
be found out from the stockmen
throughout the county the range and
stock are in first-class condition. As
tn the crops the ranchers say they
have not looked better in years TIM
they do right now. The cattle and
sheep are fat and the hay crop is al
most ready to get in.
After reading the foregoing bulle
tim a representative OF the Argus
made IL a point TO interview ranch
men from various parts OF the couU
~ anu lutSs "lllOul all
said the country is looking better
than ii has for years. Oscar Steph.
ems says the range out his way is far
ahead of this time last year and the
hay is doing fine. The crops are very
far advanced and everything points
toward a successful year The condi
tion OF the cattle. said Mr.. Stephens
is excellent, Is they are fat and al
most ready for market now. He is
figuring on making a shipment in q
short time and says the cattle are In
good shape to stand 1t.
John Elliot. of Highfield. says thai
the grass on the range has a far bet
ter start this year than he has seeI
1t for years. They have not had 6
great deal of rain around Highfelt
but everything is in a iourishing con
dition. The water Is plentiful and IL
Mr.. Elliot's own words "the cattl,
and sheep are hog fat" The cattl,
especially are doing fine and he say,
they are in better condition now thar
they have been for a number of years
In his opinion the prospects of a gool
year for the cattle and sheep mel
are far ahead of last year at this time
Reports from Christina and tn,
surrounding country are to the effec
that the grass is in excellent shap
and that there is an abundance of wa
ter for the stock. Will Fergus say.
the range is in good shape and tn
rains of the last two weeks hav,
done wonders for the crops. TIL.
grass has been so good that the sheeI
are almost too fat. He thinks tina
any report that conditions are bal
throughout the county is a mer,
dream of some newspaper man witt
is a long way from the sea of opeI
atoms.
As to the report about the grass
hoppers, ~diligent inquiry has faile'
10 bring to light a single instanc,
where there are enough hoppers 4
do any damage at all. Charles Clar,
says that everything is lovely out il
the neighborhood of Ross fork an,
better. He will begin haying thi
week and looks for a good hay crol
The cattle are in good condition an,
the crops are far advanced. Water i
plentiful and the outlook for a goo,
year is promising. He says he ha
not seer any hoppers out his way an,
doesn't believe there are any in tina
locality.
If there is anything in the repor
'n the Great Falls Tribune the condI
tions stated must exist only local.
and are of no general extent what
ever, for around Lewistown and tn
surrounding country things coul
scarcely look better. Fergus count
is prosperous and will not have to b
second TO any in the state when tn
ranchers' books are balanced in III
fall.