Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-01-04
FERGUS COUNTY RESOURCES.


During the past yeal, and more es
pecially within the last two months
LewistOwn business. men, prominent
stockmen and farmers and resident
real estate agents and immigration
solicitors from other counties, as well
as the chief officers of the Montana
railroad have expressed an urgent
wish for the publication of a pamphlet
fully descriptive of the resources Of
Fergus county.
1t is only within the year which has
just closed that the agricultural pos
realized, and even today it is doubt
full if any resident knows even ap-
proXimately what is the tillable area
Of the county and what crops in each
locality will yield the best returns.
Even the climatic conditions have
~. .a n reported and when a
representative of one of the transcon-
tinental railway companies was in
LewistOwn two weeks since, he was
unable to procure from any publication
the rainfall during the past three
years, or even an estimate, save from
the records of the local observer
Some weeks ago an eastern million
aire, chatting with several Lewistown
business men, said that if he were de-
string opportunities for investment
he would look no further than farm
lands in the Judith Basin; that in his
Judgment they would double in price
as soon as their value became known
and quadruple in value within ten
years
To this subject the Argus will adj
dress itself within the year 1905.
When, in the fall of 1900, the Argus
undertook to publish a pictorial edi.
ton, descriptive of Fergus county, its
resources and it's possibilities, few re.
allied what an undertaking it was and
even the publishers found that plans
as they were matured, greatly widen.
ed the field. When the pictorial edi
ton was given to the public in the
following April it was felt by the
proprietor of the Argus that the mum
Der printed was far in excess of any
possible demand and liberal adverts
ing was resorted to in order to push
the volumes from the shelves. The
stock was soon exhausted, and even
now, three years later, there is scarce
ly a week that but one or more re-
quests are received for copies of that
edition.
"A great deal of the matter which ap-
peared therein is now wholly made,
.quate to present conditions: the agri-
cultural resources were scarcely men
toned then, for the farmers having
nothing but the local market, had but
scratched the soil.
Today, while every citizen of the
county is proud of the mines of Fer
gus county and their great output-this
year far exceeding that of the year
'before-is proud of the great sheep
and cattle interests, the greatest
source of pride is what has been &C.
'complished by our farmers in twelve
mfonths since the coming of the rail
road gave them access to the markets
OF the world.
caused to be published, during the
past year, pamphlets descriptive of
this county's resources, but general
circulation of these could not be I'M
dertakan for the simple reason that
they were in the interest of a particu-
lar agent or firm.
The demand of Fergus county is for
larger population; the dividing of the
greater holdings into many owner
tiles; the development of it's soil by
those now here and many now making
a bare living in eastern states and
longing for the opportunities offered
10 tnem IN the west.
1t is the plan of the Argus to i'm
mediately begin the accumulation OF
matter for such a publication as here
outlined; every fact which can be
CLEANED will be carefully stored for
later use; actual results, as appear
ing in the state and county press.
views of residents and visitors anC
everything pertaining to such publ
cation will be laid aside for use when
the time is ripe to compile the mat
ter Many pictures of county scenes
especially agricultural, will be secur
ed and already arrangements are il
progress for the publishing of a sec
tional map of the county, shown;
mountains. valleys, streams, postoffi
ces, schools and mail route lines, gol
fields, coal fields, farm lands, grain
lands, etc.-a complete index and al
to the prospective investor in Fergu
county properties.
All of this is no small undertaken
and haste will not be allowed to i,
terfere with merit. When a sufficier
amount of matter shall have been a
cumulated a prospectus will be issue
+ and it will then be deter aimed whet
/. erj it is best to publish the book wit
:. out previous assistance and depeI
l.t 81.