Deciphering cursive document from 1897 - Regarding leasing of farm equipment

[shawd]

I'm thinking it's "Ranch & improvements"

Definitely looks like improvements!  Thank you!

[josey]

My twopen'th....I think it is 'Studebaker four seater buckboard D Rauch' not & [maybe a model type?].

Also 'for every one hundred or fractional hundred ewes'.

[mckha489]

Wikipedia has

“ In the early 20th century, as horse-drawn vehicles were supplanted by the motor car, the term 'buckboard' was also used in reference to a passenger car (usually a 'tourer') from which the rear body had been removed and replaced with a load-carrying bed. These home-built dual-purpose passenger- and load-carrying vehicles were the precursors of the factory-built 'utility' or 'pickup truck'.”

So perhaps it is Rauch & improvments and that is what they have done to it.

[shawd]

Thank you everyone, that is all very helpful.  I'm sure I wouldn't have figured that out myself!

[shawd]

My twopen'th....I think it is 'Studebaker four seater buckboard D Rauch' not & [maybe a model type?].

Also 'for every one hundred or fractional hundred ewes'.

Makes way more sense!  Thank you!