Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-04-11
Spring Greek Farming District One
Of the Most Fertile Local.
tiles in the County.
ON EAST FORK AND CASTLE CREEK
This Portion of the County Is Thick
ly Settled and Unusually
Well Cultivated.

The Big Spring creek farming dis
trict stretching to the south east of
Lewistown for seven miles has not it's
equal in the county for farming pur-
poses while on the low lying benches
to either side is some of the best |
grazing land in this section Of the
state. The land on the creek bottom
has been cultivated for many years
and consists of a rich black soil which
will raise anything which will grow
in the northern portion of the con-
tinent.
From the town limits to the source
of the creek, where the big spring
gives forth many gallons of water
each minute, the lands are fenced
and comfortable farm buildings can be
seen at short intervals. The creek
is full of magnificent mountain trout,
whitefish and other finny denizens of
our mountain streams. Many a
speckled beauty has been captured in
Big Spring creek which would tip the
scales at from two to three pounds.
A fairly successful effort has been
made to breed quail in the brush on
the river bottom and though they
are not yet plentiful yet they are fire.
quently heard and sometimes seen
by the disciples of Isaac Walton
while pursuing their peaceful pas
time.
| Henry Suprenant cultivates small
farm almost within the city which
yields bountifully of crops of all kinds
while the ranch and farm operated
by Frank Day is notoriously one Of
the best in the district. Jake Har-
mon and John Borgh own fine farm
ing land further up the creek and
both gentlemen own coal mines from
which large part of the coal supply
of the city is procured. Mr.. Harmon
also runs a bunch of cattle which
reach marketable shape early in the
season as the result of the fine range
in that vicinity. Alfalfa and all va
rieties of fodder are raised in pro-
fusion in this fertile district while
winter wheat is grown with phenom-
inal success in this locality. The
breaking of the sidehills and the
benchlands is very noticeable this
spring and almost every farmer in
this district is preparing a small
patch of land for winter wheat.
Samuel Phillips owns large ranch
a short distance up the creek from
Lewistown and winters in the neigh
borhood of 5000 head of sheep. This
is a fine stock ranch and an adequate
amount of feed is raised in any kind
Of year owing to the facilities for
irrigation. The James Sullinger
ranch is in the direct vicinity of the
big spring and is one of the best
places on the creek. It was origin
ally a natural hay meadow and raises
fine crops each year.
Charles Wright has purchased con-
siderable land in this vicinity during
the past two years and owns many
acres of land which he is cultivating
to its entire capacity. A short dis
tance from the Wright holdings is
the plant of the Citizens Electric
Light Co: one of the most up to date
lighting plants in existance in the
state.
Oats and wheat will average forty
bushels to the acre, while alfalfa and
timothy run as high as three tons each.
On the east fork are number Of fine
ranches, among which are the places
belonging to Doctor Willard, Perry
Heath, E. r. Frame, Phil Lang, Lin
coin Lang, Walter Downing and
Dorme Jackson. Judd McWilliams
is located on Marcott, while Ernest
Busch has fine ranch on the same
creek.
Mainly cattle are raised in this sec.
tion, which is contingent to excellent
! range and the best of water. The 10
} cality is extremely fertile and consid
} cradle success has been experienced II
the growing of winter wheat. Gar
? den truck of all varieties has beer
J raised with success, while the hay
I. crop is an exceptionally good one
The district is we'll cultivated ane