Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-05-31
JUDGE CHEADLE
BOOSTS FERGUS
GIVES SOME FACTS ABOUT PROS.
PERlTY IN THE JUDITH
BASIN.

Judge E. X. Cheadle stopped over
in Butte last week, while on his way
to Virginia City to hold court for Judge
Galloway, and while in the great camp
was interviewed by the Inter-Moun.
tain. The judge took occasion to do
little boosting for Fergus county,
and let the people down there know
that no section of the treasure state
is enjoying greater prosperity than our
own Judith basin. The judge said:
1.-THE fact is if all parts of the state
were enjoying the same measure of
prosperity that is the portion of Fer
gus county, Montana would so far lead
all of the states in material growth
as to be away ahead of the procession.
The things predicted tor the Judith
country a few years ago are now
coming to pass. Until a comparative
ly recent period the resources of the
central part of the state were prac-
tically unknown. Most persons who
gave Fergus county thought believed
~ " pe great, DdllSn "dolS, SOou
only for the grazing of cattle and
sheep.
Has a Variety Of Resources.
''As a matter of fact, there is only
one county in the state that has
greater variety of resources than Fer
gus and that county has nowhere near
the aggregate wealth of our county,
believe. We have extensive interests
in every line except in numbering.
Our mines produce more gold than
all the rest of the state put together,
if am not misinfOrmed; we have the
only sapphire mines worked at a big
profit and the only ones in America
producing the blue oriental stones.
For many years Fergus was the prin-
cipal wool producing county in the
state, and now it's agricultural inter-
ests are becoming prominent. Fergus
ranges were the first ranges employed
by cattlemen. 1t is not generally
known, but Fergus county grows as
fine fruit as may be found anywhere
in our latitude The Fergus county
apples shown in the last two years
at the state fair equal in quality, if not
quantity, those of any section of the
state
Zone of the great things that has
contributed to the prosperity of the
Judith country is the fact that land
values are steadily going up. A few
years ago there were thousands OF
acres of land not even filed upon in
the Judith country that are now worth
big money. That was before it be-
came known that fine wheat crops
could be grown in sections where ir
rigation was impracticable. Since 1t
was found that big crops could be
raised without irrigation, land values
have risen enormously. They are still
far below what they will be worth
Lands may be purchased now for 81
and $12 an acre that will, in my opin
ion. be worth double that in two years
"The farmers in the Judith are max
ing money 1t has come TO my per
sonal notice that the first crops o.
some of our farmers was more thar
enough to pay for their lands. In the
vicinity of Moore on what IS known
as the Rock creek bench where there
is little irrigation, the farmers las
fall raised crops of wheat that brought
them $40 an acre. That was not ar
uncommon yield. Now, a few year:
ago no one supposed those lands were
worth anything except for grazing
purposes.
Lewistown is Prosperous.
"Lewistown itself is growing. al
though | cant say there is anythin'
approaching boom. A steady growtl
that keeps pace with the development
of the rest OF the country is what w
desire, and that is what Lewistowl
is getting The city is the distribu'
ing point for an immense territor
and a territory that is growing i
wealth and importance each yea
Il must always be a good and pro-
porous community for it has the bacl
ing Of good country about it,