Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-03-21
Fine Agricultural Country in the
Vicinity Of PhilbrO0k on the
Upper Judith.
QUANTITIES OF NIGH GRADE WOOL
Some Magnificent Sheep Ranches
Are Located in That Rich Sec
tion of the County.

Some Of the most thoroughly i'm
proved ranches and farms in the
county are situated in the immedi-
ate vicinity Of Philbrook on the up
per Judith. The river bottom widens
at this point and excellent bottom
lands are thus formed.
A fair example of what the hay |
growth amounts to, is the John Duff
field ranch where 300 tons of heavy
bluejoint and meadow hay are cut
yearly and where with the necessary
amount of irrigation in the neighbor-
hood of 700 tons could be raised.
Mr.. Duf11eld is turning his attention
to the raising of thoroughbred cattle
and has small herd of very we'll bred
Galloways as starter. This prop
erty consists Of 100 acres and was
until lately known as the home Of
the "circle dot" horses, though Of
late years Mr.. Dutfield has disposed Of
his horse herd and turned his atten-
tion to the breeding Of mules and has
raised some magnificent animals in
that line.
One notable fact in connection with
this section is that owing to the con-
traction of the rauge number of the
smaller slockmen, those who cannot
run their herd to advantage without
the use of the free range, are desir-
Gus of selling out and would do so at
a reasonable figure. AS the result of
this move there is no doubt but that
few years will see this section and
other farming sections in the hands of
the farmer and small mixed rancher.
Clarence M. Goodell owns fine
piece of property close to Philbrook,
which years of intelligent cultivation
have made it a highly improved stock
ranch. Mr.. Goodell has had consider
able success in the raising of horses
and has turned out some of the best
samples of horse flesh in the county.
The ranch consists of in the neighbor-
hood of 5000 acre of which the greater
part is suitable for any kind of farm
ing. A magnificent crop of hay is
harvested and alfalfa is raised with
first class results; two, and in places
three crops are cut. Mr.. Godell raises
all kinds of mixed stock and owing to
his excellent pasture attains first
class results. On the home ranch at
Philbrook is one Of the most up-to-
date collection of ranch buildings in
the county and it is here that an at.
tempt has been made to grow fruit
trees which has been attended with
some success.
The Goodell ranch is famed for its
white faced cattle which have almost
reached perfection by a careful system
of breeding and handling.
At present Philbrook is in the cen
ter of a sheep raising district. In the
early days the cattle industry thrived
in tho vicinity until the sange herds
were moved north to the open coun
try. Many will remember the time!
when the ''l2" cattle were held on thi
, side OF the river and E. J. Morrison raj
. his cattle outfit at Philbrook. II
| those times the towu was bus,
r trading point and experienced sea
l son of prosperity which lasted for sew
: eral years. Though at present th'
! town is extremely quiet, it is Ger
: tainty that with the rich farmland.
t surrounding it that Philbrook vii
Z, again become prosperous.
: There is considerable open country
S toward Indian creek and to the cas-
1 also on lower sage creek where sheel
: are still ranged. While cattle are still
t found scattered throughout the coun
: try, yet the larger outfits run thei
t stock toward the badlands during tn
S the summer months and feed larg
S portion of them during the winter a
i the home ranch. Among the shee
p ranches in the vicinity of Philbrook
I the Porter ranch operated by job
: and Charlie Porter. Joseph Ga
e lagher owns considerable land in thi
|, vicinity and carries on mixed ranchin
with considerable success. Mr.. Ga
lagher has aptly illustrated what ca
be accomplished by hard work and a