Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-03-14

the upper Judith country and as the
soil is as rich as any benchland in the
county, it is almost certainty that
the results will be satisfactory.
With suitable system of irrigation
the entire bench lands adjacent to
the foothills Of the Belts could be
farmed to advantage and as natural
reservoir sites are numerous this
would be easy with a sufficient am
cunt of capital. The coal lands of
Sage creek are among the best in the
county and it was only short while
ago that Mr.. Robertson of the Mon
tana Railroad accompanied by coal
experts visited this property in order
to ascertain the quality and quantity
OF the supply. The surrounding hills
are highly mineralized and it is only
distance of eighteen miles from Utica
that the sapphire mines are located.
The Huntoon ranch on the upper part
OF the Judith embraces large acre
age of highly fertile lands, while l. f.
David is running garden ranch
short distance from the camp at the
sapphire mines, where he supplies the
mines with all manner Of vegetables
which he raises with little trouble.
The soil on the bottom lands is
heavy black loan while the soil on the
bench lands though naturally lighter
is rich in quality and would raise good
crops with cultivation, as has been
demonstrated on the Rock creek
bench where the soil is not so deep as
in the region Of Utica. Water is OBJ
tanned close to the surface on the bot
tom lands, while the liquid necessity
can be obtained almost anywhere on
the higher lands by sinking to depth
Of 100 feet. G. W. Belden, the owner
of the lazy Y ranch at Utica, has OBJ
tanned water by sinking 100 feet on the
bench to the north. Mr.. Belden has
an extremely valuable property and
owns the biggest COW outfit on the
Upper Judith with the exception of
William Ettien, who is situated in
Pig Eye at the extreme head Of the
basin. The nearest railroad point is
Moore, twenty-five miles distant on
the Montana Railroad. Lewistown is
forty miles to the southeast and the
rich depression in which it is stu
ated, is separated from the upper
basin by series of benchlands which
are being rapidly settled by farmers
from the oyercrcwded districts of
Iowa, Nebraska and other eastern
states.
Utica was at one time the principal
trading point for the upper basin but
now the business is divided with the
small towns on the Montana Rail-
road, though large volume of trade
is still handled by the Utica Mercan-
tile Co., at that point. A first class
school house was erected a few years
ago and is fitted up with the most
modern conveniences. In the neigh
borhood of fifty children are under
the guidance Of Prof. Perrine and
Miss Kate Doolittle who have charge
Of the institution.
The Great Falls Stage Co. runs a
through line from Great Falls to Lew
istown and makes the trip in twenty
four hours. The locality is easy of
access from the railroad and short
trip from Moore or a pleasant journey
from the Falls lands the visitor at
Utica in good condition. There are
fifty families living in Utica and the
immediate vicinity: the town sup
ports two hotels. three saloons and
tirst-class general store. The Metho-
dist church is very neat little build
ing and is presided over by the Rev.
Paul Adams. Drs. Posky and David
look after the physical well being Of
the residents OF the district. The
locality is extremely healthy, possess
ing two of the principal requisites for
health, pure water and an ivigorating
atmosphere.