Old Missoula

Two Famous Farms Sold – 1901

The Miller and Spurgin Ranches Pass Into New Hands.

To Be Placed On Market

These Well Known Farms Will Be Platted and Sold for Gardening and Fruit Growing – Samuel Dinsmore Will Manage New Deal.

Missoula, April 7 – The small farm as a factor in the prosperity of Western Montana became more prominent last year than it had ever been before. Those who had previously engaged in market gardening and in small fruit raising branched out last summer more extensively than ever and there are none of them that did not prosper. That there is much faith in the small farm and the orchard is shown by the fact that all of the acreage that was last season offered for sale in the two Orchard Homes additions were disposed of last fall. The entire tracts were sold, most of them to actual settlers. Real estate men report that there the (sic) many inquiries this spring for acreage property of this sort, the 5 and 10 acre farms being very popular. Spring is now fairly here and the crops are being put into the ground. In a short time tree planting will be in full sway and hundreds of acres of new orchards will be started this season.

In this connection one of the most important real estate deals that has occurred here for a long time was the purchase Saturday by Samuel Dinsmore of this city of the two well-known ranches owned by Ed Miller and William Spurgin on the south side of the river just below the city. These ranches are among the oldest, best known and most thoroughly developed of any farms in Missoula county. Their location is well known to all residents of this section, and it is a matter of some surprise that the owners were willing to sell. These farms adjoin each other and lie between the two Orchard Homes additions that were sold last year. In the two farms there are about 700 acres of prime land. Mr. Dinsmore, in response to an inquiry from the Standard, said this morning; “I will have the land platted at once and will place it on the market as soon as the tracts are surveyed. Some of the land has already been sold and I have had many inquiries that indicate that there will be a host of buyers here as soon as it is ready for sale.”

The land lies partly on the bottom near the river and partly on the first bench above the meadow land. All of it is fine for small farming and fruit growing. It is certainly the best available land in the Missoula valley and there is land in the farms of sufficient variety to suit all buyers. There is an ample water right for the land and every condition seems perfect for the formation of a large number of small farms in this new addition. The land will be sold in tracts of from 5 to 20 acres. Its location is as picturesque as could be asked for and the character of the soil is the best. No finer location for a farm could be desired. It is only a mile and a half from Missoula, is close to schools, is well watered and fertile.

The above article appeared in The Anaconda Standard on April 8, 1901.

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