Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-10-26

lAEKE i ONU ." SikSt VI SAtso y
h our Territory that have prospered like its
livestock interests. The farmer has flour
khed for season. but few abundant harvests
have followed each other in succession. The
granaries of the country have scarcely been
dlled, ere The devouring grasshoppers have
cut off the supply. And he who has made
money one year, has paid it out in the next
'huppers have set at naught.
The miner has had average good fortune,
but mining, at best, is tickle and uncertain.
Few but are, at sometime successful, yet in
the end, only a small percentage make more
than a good living, and it is safe to say that
tho miners of Montana have not been at ex-
ception to this rule.
There is no class OF men who have kept
pace with those who have given their atten-
ton to cattle, and at the present time we
can scarcely name a more lucrative and
profitable business. Ten years ago cattle
were up to a fabulous price, but the fall off
IN demand and the increase in supply
brought about q tumble which proved dis
astrous to the hopes Of many, and caused a
number Of failures in business, but those
who were prepared for the worst have
hravfd-it through, and are once more the
most prosperous class in the land.
Cattle e down, down, until it seemed
there was no bottom, but it has, at length,
commenced to advance. There is no longer
i question as to what is to become of our
surplus. Beef, when our home consump-
ton failed it, found it's way East, as natural
sy as water runs to the sea.
Our ranges which, four or fyesyears ago,
were declared destroyed, are as good, if not
better, to-day than ever. The terribles long,
cold winter, which some croaKers have been
phrophesying would come and destroy all
stock which depended upon the range for a
living, we have escaped for ten years and
we have reason to think will escape for ten
years longer, and may BEES hundred. We
are, therefore, forced to the above conclu-
don.
Plugging fror. t-v vApv.iStavv VI tire Irast,
we can see nal1gllt but q bright future in
store for our stock-growers. Their life is
passed OH the frontier. They are our hardy
and fearless pioneers. AS true horsemcn as
ever mounted bronchos, they scour our
prairies like the, wind. endure the hardships
Of. camp-life and face the winter storms as
they come. But, after all, this Is not to be
compared to manual labor. Their work is
performed upon horseback and has the
charm Of excitement about it which makes
1t pleasant-so much SO, that once in the
business, there's scarcelya man who would
exchanged for any other. I'he profits are
not fabulous. No man can get rich, raising
beef, in q few years, but, if we consider the
comparatively small risk to be taken, we
must concede that the profits are not easily
excelled.
There is d vast contrast between the busi-
ness here md In the States. There, the
summer is spent in %cultivating feed and the
winter in feeding it. Here, the summer is
passed in the saddle, gathering, marking,
branding, ETC.. and in the winter the cattle
4. let shift for themselves, while the owner
l. snllgly ensconced in his cabin.
Ten years ago many owners were contin-
tally driving their cattle around to choice
ipots Of feed, good watering places, ETC., but
now 1t Is admitted that stock make their
own selection OF localities best, and as to
Nater-there are thousands Of head that
never taste water from December TIL March
md come out b~eef-fat. In fact, there are
Hose who hold to, the theory that stock
Without water does best.
For a steady, sure, reliable business, we
:now Of nothing better. Our pastures are
- So ray