Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-02-24

wv 10y u Flcil tsASi
the stock ranches of the east side. We found
less snow upon the mountains than we ever
saw before at this season of the wear; vet
the grades were full, making travel for sew
eral miles rather tedious. Where a year ago
the snow was five feet deep upon a level, it
is now less than a foot. Now, the dug-ways
are only full then travel made it's way over
snow banks ten to twenty feet in depth.
Two miles beyond the range we came to Mr..
Alexander Watson's sheep rancho. Here in
the midst Of the lofty snowy peaks of the
Rocky mountains, within two miles of the
summit, Mr.. w. is wintering his little flock
of two hundred sheep, without hay or feed
other than what they are able to forage from
the hillsides. 1t is q little remarkable to see
this miners home converted into a sheep
rancho. The sheep are doing we'll and show
but little sign Of scab, Notwithstanding they
were driven from Red Bluffs, California the
past summer.
Three and a half hours after leaving Dia-
mond we arrived at RAIDERS rancho. While
our obliging host, Mr.. e. j. Harris-meT~
chant and landlord--was preparing dinner,
we sauntered forth to reconnoiter Auerbach
& RAIDERS flock and sheep sheds. The for
mer are not in the best condition, being
very thin and afflicted with the scah. The
latter was built of small fencing poles, and
covered with willows and hay-a good COW
ering, and a good shed if the walls had only
been proof against the winter blasts. But
they were rather low and altogether too
temporary.
Leaving our horse here, we walked over
to Camp Baker, one mile distant, pulled at
the fist Of Major Reed and Captain Clifford,
called on our friend Gaddis, attended the
sale OF Government stock, met many of the
most prominent citizens of the valley and
some from the Missouri valley, then turned
ourself about forJ. T. Moore's, about twelve
miles to the north. We called by the way,
on Mr.. Stephens, and looked through his
flock of sheep, numbering n thousand
three hundred, which Notwithstanding it is
their first winter in the country, are in good
condition, and owing to their having been
dipped since their arrival, show but little
sign of scab. THIS flock is of the Spanish
VICIl1O O1CCus wv VC4O SilVNh ~ OS
calf which, owing to the. fact of its-beilg a
heifer, will be pretty hard for our ranchmen
to beat. #'
Bidding our friends good-day, we went on
our way, arriving at our destination in good
time. MI. Moore has an excellent rancho,
good house, commodious stables and pas
lures, and is getting out poles to fence in a
Ioroa n,ao1nW tho .apnoinO l1nn,nr Mr. M
had no fine stock to tempt us with, his entire
herd being upon the Muscleshell, from which
place he had just returned. He reports
stock interests in that section f1attering, and
likely to improve with each succeeding year.
Sunday evening we rode over to l.. Lewis
Beaver Creek rancho. This is, we believe,
the best thoroughbred stock rancho in
Meagher county, and is not second to many
in Montana, so tar as u knowledge eX-
tends. The residence is neat and sufficient
ly commodious, and built of large hewed
logs, with a dirt roof, and a large bay win-
dow fronting the road, in which we noticed
a number of rare and beautiful house plants
which added much to the ~coziness Of the
room Within-rather a new feature for a
frontier home. Having spent a few hours
in pleasant conversation, we sailed forth
to see what we could find that would be of
interest to our readers. To those who are
looking for romance, we would say we saw
nothing calculated to please them. But'the
lover of stock may follow us with some de-
gree of interest We first visited the poul-
try yard, saw a nice lot of graded fowls and
soueral of fancy breeds. among which was