Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-11-06
GARFIELD COUNTY
BOASTS PLENTY
OF ELBOW ROOM
3 Sll PERSONS ARE RESIDENTS
OF AREA COMPARABLE
TO CONNECTICUT

OF AREA COMPARABLE
TO CONNECTICUT
To Garfield county goes the dubious
distinction of being one Of the most
Wide open Of Montanas many wide
open spaces, but nevertheless 1t has
some attractions viewed by more than
merely the 2,641 persons who reside in
its 4.793 square miles. an area about
the size of the state Of Connecticut.
Points of principal scenic interest
lie to the north OF the county seat of
Jordan. There, between 20 and so miles
away, are the badlands of the Mis-
souri, river and the fringes Of the great
Fort Peck reservoir Also to the north
In the Hell creek area are important
fossil beds of prehistoric creatures, in
GLIDING triceratops, dinosaurs and
tyrannosaurus. Big Dry lakes 10 miles
Of shore line is dotted with inviting
picnic and camping spots and affords
mer and skating in the winter.
Garfield county may be a bit shy on
residents but it is especially proud of
couple of local boys" who recently
gained national attention through
their exploits with the United States
armed forces. Most anyone can relate
the heroic deeds of Sergeant Edward
j. Saylor, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Ed Say
lor of the Brusett country, and of
Aviation Machinists Mate John R.
McCants of Jordan. Sergeant Saylor
took part in the Yankee bomber raid
on Tokyo headed by Brigadier General
James H. Doolittle, while McCants
played an important part in the
aerial rescue of parachutist who be-
came tangled on his plane as he
jumped and hung on the tail of the
speeding plane for 30 minutes over
San Diego before being saved. These
men. say Garfieldians, are the type
which have helped build the county.
Livestock Main Industry
Livestock raising is the financial
backbone of the county. Last year
some 10000 sheep. 10000 cattle, 5000
horses and a lesser amount of hogs
were raised by county ranchers. The
sheep brought their owners $500. 900
and the cattle 100000. Grain growing
dairying and market gardening also
are industries which yield substantial
incomes to farmers. Ignite coal min
ing and numbering add to the county's
revenues.
Considerable grain was grown last
year. Crested wheat led the list with
10000 acres followed by wheat with
$685. acres, oats, barley and rye with
1894. alfalfa 6,082, corn 4,459 and flax
1882.
There are as yet no large irrigation
projects in the county. An estimated
500 acres are irrigated by pumping
plants from the Musselshell river, Big
and Little Dry creeks and small flood
irrigation projects scattered through
out the county. Big Dry dam project
offers opportunity for putting an ad-
ditional 500 acres under irrigation.
Jordan lays claim to being the
farthest from railroad of any town
in the United States. 1t is 86 miles to
Miles City, the nearest rail connection.
The founding and history of the
town of Jordan is a story in itself as
related by Butte H. Upton, editor of
the Jordan Tribune, the county's' sole
newspaper. Editor Upton says that the
town had its beginning when Arthur
Jordan, a venturesome pioneer, pitched
his tent on the north bank of the Big
Dry in the summer of 1896. For three
yCuIS lac oAAdtGCA VA q S1dllI U1ldG W.
day comprises most of the present
townsite, little dreaming that on a
distant day the tree lined creek bed
would fringe prosperous village.
1t was late in the fall of 1899 that
the trail blazer conceived the idea that
his farmstead was the center Of po-
tential trade territory extending 40
miles or more in every direction and
offering trading point for stockmen
and cowhands in the sparsely settled
region. Acting on this bunch he put
in small stock Of goods including the
indispensable Bull Durham" smok-
ing tobacco. few hardwood neckyokes
and other necessities.
In that same year this first resident
shrewdly figured that a postoffice
would be needed to put his dream city
on the map. He got in touch with
Washington and soon the postoffice
was established. The towns name,
however, Upton claims, had no con-
nection with the name of Arthur Jor-
dan, but rather was chosen as a ges-
ture of loyalty to his friend, w. B.
Jordan, head of a big ranch supply
house in Miles City.
Plenty of Elbow Room
At the time of Arthur Jordan's ar
rival, it was possible to travel from 40
to SO miles in all directions without
observing any evidence of civilization
or finding a roof under which to unroll
a bed In 1911 and 1912, when it
seemed certain that railroads were
going to be built through this territory
with Jordan as possible objective,
settlement increased at a rapid rate.
Both the Great Northern and the 500
were maneuvering for strategic right
of ways and runors of early construc-
ton of both roads was welcome news.
Coincident with these rumors there
came great influx of homesteaders.
But still, after 80 years, the county
has no railroad traversing its rolling
hills and prairie lands
Water for the vast acreages now
lying untitled is considered the county's
greatest need. Lateral roads connecting
with through highways, telephone con-
nections with rural districts and stor-
age reservoirs for conservation to run
off water also are needed badly.
While graSShODDer invasion of 1Q4N