Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-04-09
BOOSTS JUDITH GAP
George E. Swan Of Billings, Says Good
Things About Judith Gap Country

George E. Swan. ut the head of the
publicity bureau Of the national dry
farming congress, with headqua rters
in Billings, spent u day in Judith Gap
last week. After returning home to
Billings he wrote the following for
the northwestern newspapers, which
was published broadcast:
Judith Gap, Montana, April 7th.
(SpeciaD Judith Gap, one Of the
youngest towns in the state, located
ut the entrance to the famous Judith
Basin, furnishes one of the fine ex-
amples Of the enterprising cummun-
tiles that are springing up and flour
isl,ing in the so-called dry farming
sections Of Montana.
In few parts Of the country are
there more productive fields or condi-
tions more favorable to the raising Of
crops without irrigation.
Last August the townsite was absO-
lutrly nnoccnpied. Today there is
growing village Of 300 people, 81 bust
ness houses, modern buildings, round
house and shops Of the Great Nor
tkrrn railroad, and every evidence Of
progressive citizenship.
The business houses include two
general stores, three rooming houses,
two restaurants, two lumber yards,
two livery stables, one bank, two
bakeries, one laundry, a live weekly
newspaper, two real estate firms, one
drug store, millinery, also jewelry
store. One doctor and one dentist
have located here. Plans are under
way for the building Of at least three
churches and school house. The
town, rs yet, is not incorporated, but
the organization Of a local govern
ment is expected to be effected within
\ short time
Judith Gap people do not call their
agriculture dry farming, but they are
deeply interested in the Dry Farming
Con,ress, which will hold its fourth
convention ut Billings, Mont, next
fall, and will make Il special effort to
send cretiitable exhibit Of non-irri-
gated products to the Inter- National
Exposition of dry farm products,
which will be a feature of the Billings
Congress.
Judith Gap is the switch board
from which live wires radiate and
electrify with ambition and achieve
ment large agricultural area.
Among these ''live wires" is one who
might be called the Poo Bah of Judith
Gaps. j. Small, editor of til Judith
Gap Journal, United States commits
sioner and townsite agent, is a most
enthusiastic booster for Montana and
especially his section. Daily he re-
ceives inquiries from all parts Of the
country regarding the resources and
possibilities of this section and they
lose none of their attractiveness in
his replies.
Judith Gap said Mr.. Small, "is
the geographical center Of Montana
and the natural distributing point for
all that vast fertile area rom LON
bard to LewistoWn and from Billings
to Great Falls. Business houses al
ready have begun to realize this, al
though our town is less than nine
months old. Two cold storage houses
and one general merchandise distrihu-
ting house have located here, and
three more cold storage houses and Il
fruit distributing house are making
final arrangements to establish here
Three grain elevators will be built
here this simmer.
'All of the land open to homestead
within radius OF fifteen miles of
this place has been taken up, but
farms can be bought at al average
price OF SIS per acre.
'This is the center of one of the
greatest grain districts in the country.
AS an instance Of extreme success in
an unusually good year, a farmer
near Moore told me he harvested y
bushels of hard winter wheat to the
acre with only ordinary cultivation.
The average yields, and last year was
unusually poor, are 25 to 35 bushels.
oats and other grains give good re-
suits.
.'Most of the settlers have not given
the close attention to intensive culti-
vation advised by the Dry Farming
Congress, but have been content to
harvest such crops as they might by
ordinary methods. They are awake
however, to the fact that by greater
attention to the details of cultivation
and seed selection, they can increase
their crops, and expect to see this
rapidly develop into one Of the pre-
mier dry farming districts of this
pre-eminently dry farming state.
! ".Indit1 fan wants ro,,.ocno%o%;o -,