Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-08-17
ON THE ROCK
CREEK BENCH
CHANCES GOOD FOR BUMPER
WHEAT CROP IN THAT
SECTION.

THE wheat crop now being harvest
ed on the Rock creek bench is certain
ly fine said Mr.. Watson OF the Ar
gus, who returned Wednesday evening
from a trip extending as far west as
HarlowtOn. On my return home. |
left the railroad at Garneill, where l
remained all night and the following
morning drove down the Fork to Straw
and then zigzagged through lanes
across the bench TO Moore. Every
where the wheat is ripening rapidly
and many crops are already in the
sheaf. The stand is good and the heads
appear well filled. Comparing the crop
with that of last year, should say
that it viii not be less than fifty per
cent heavier-perhaps more. Oats and
potatoes do not appear to have done
well and l was informed that many
Rock creek bench farmers have come
TO the conclusion that good crop of
oats cannot be depended upon until
either by boring or other means, much
more water is secured than can be
had at present.
AT HarlOwtOn there appears to be
feeling of confidence that the Mil
waukee road, now building through the
valley, will make Harlowton divis-
ion point. They believe they are for
tunately located, about midway be-
tween Miles City ana Butte and the
point where the road to LeWistOwn
Will connect with the main line. MI h
work is now being done along the riv-
er few miles below Harlowton, but
no graders are working near the town
at present. The surveys made indicate
that the road will keep close to the
river and that the junction of the
track to Lewistown with the main
line will be at a point very close to
old Merino, a mile distant from the
present location of Harlowton. This
TACT gives real estate values an I'M
settled condition, for the town may
be forced to move a little. but asi>le
from that business men are we'll salts
fed with the outlook. Both the UrnSr
Mercantile Co. and the H. E. Mar
shall company, the two general mer-
chandlse stores, are doing very much
heavier business this year t1an last
and A. c. Graves is kept rustling in or
der to provide the meats required in
that section and his customers east
and west. for it is not an unusual thing
for Mr.. Graves to receive orders from
Lewistown dealers in meats.
The State Bank of Harlowton, re-
Gently organized to succeed the pri-
Vate bank of Harlowton, is doing a
handsome business, according to Pres
ident Urner. and he is certainly we'll
pleased with prospects
AT Garneill Corey Bros. who have
big contract along the new Billings
d Northern grade, are preparing to
make their main camp for the fall
work and this promises to make Gar
neill a very lively point for several
months. w. H. Peck and A. w. Shreib-
er are both very busy and prosperous
merchants and preparing to sell large
quantities of provisions and general
merchandise to the grading camps.
But Garneill needs some farmers. With
in a radius of few miles are thous-
ands of acres of fine land but few
crops. Winter wheat has scarcely been
tried and little is growing but native
grass. While | sat talking business
with one of the Garneill merchants a
farmers boy came in to buy some po-
tatoes (shipped from Helena and sold
at cents pound) and little later
there was in inquiry for eggs-case
eggs-by the wife of nearby ranch
man. That kind of farmers will never
succeed themselves, nor build up a
prosperous community.
Sidney G. Jones. division engineer
on the Billings & Northern and two
assistants, are nicely settled at Straw
and Mr.. Jones reports that the con-
tractors on his division could finish
their work before the winter set in, if
permitted by the railroad people. but
that the heavy work at either end of
the line is going to delay them so that
the chief engineer does not desire
the work through the Basin unduly
hurried.
Standing at Straw one can see no
less than four camps of graders and
the western hills are almost hidden
by the clouds of dust which arise from