Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-03-14

my last article were mostly in regard
I the interest Of our entire Territory, an
a were generally SO understood by We
5 thinking people. AS far as personal inte
: est is concerned. l am only one stool
!, grower of an inferior notability anon
: the numerous sufferers, and il e have
be ruled by the confused mixture Obtaine
on the com,nunistic principle. can stan
my portion Of injury and injustice wit
the rest until we are compelled to take til
steps toward lettering our condition
Under the present system it is impossible
for us to improve our cattle.
The introduction Of thoroughbred cattl
into Montana is completely stopped. Tn
shippers have met with no encouragement
but OH the contrary have lost money in TIN
speculation. Stock-growers do not fee
Justified in buying high priced cattle while
constantly exposed to the mercy Of scrub
progeny.
Here 1 will reproduce reply cceiv-
ed last spring from man of different
opinion. Zine stock" said he, ''arc OF
no object to me. If want to raise snakes
it is my own business having an equal
right to the ranges of Montana, can herd
them right among your cattle, and you
cant help YOURSELF
Evidently this man is in earnest and but
speaks the sentiment Of number of stock
growers in the Territory. as can be seen
by their raising this kind Of stock.
We, to-day, are powerless to help our
selves. Under this system those stock
growers who have taken the most pains
and expended the most money for the im-
provement of cattle in Montana, are get
ting very much discouraged by obtaining
scrub progeny in exchange tor genuine
property. one head Of which will pay to
the country at least thirty times the
amount in taxes as scrub will. Is it not
strange that good reasons were found for
ordering scrub stations out OF the way.
while scrub bulls ale permitted to occupy
the first possession in the cattle herds.
Our light horned Durham bulls get whip
ped almost invariably by the heavy horned
scrubs. If a proprietor tries to protect
his herd from the damage done by these
animals by driving back the approach of
inferior cattle. he is subject to prosecution
for molesting another mans property.
What then shall we do? l can't see that
we can do anything but appeal to the
proper authorities for protection. Why
not protect the Improvement Of cattle as
well as horses: The cattle are of more
value to Montana than any other kind of
stock. Perhaps some one will say: 1.-THE
people Of Montana are too poor to buy
fine cattle, even halfbreed Durham"
What. too poor when man can buy
good half-breed Durham yearling bull for
the price Of two common steers. We will
remain poor great deal longer if we don't
hurry up and improve our cattle in quail
ty. The main drawback is that too many
are hesitating to buy an animal of superior
breed when compelled to turn him among
a lot of ''snakes," rs our friend called
them.
Mr.. Hunter. our main Eastern beef ship
per. says that Montana has lost in quality
of beef for the last few years, and especi-
ally In Gallatin and Madison counties, We
felt the effect of it last summer. The
short-hon cattle first imported to Montana
are getting old, and in many localities are
too closely related. We all know that in
Montana we can improve any breed of cat
lie, but the frequent renewal of blood is of
first importance for the improvement.
The English breeders come to America
and purchase shOrt-hons to improve their
cattle. The Americans go to England for
the same purpose. The short-horn cattle
are recognized the world over for their SUI
periority to any other breed. 1t would be
an absurdity for us here in Mo ,tana to still
argue the reduction of price on these cat
tie. and attempt to place them in competi-
ton with scrubs. We can be very easily
convinced OF such an error If We will but
read of sales made in the United States
and elsewhere, MS reported in live stock
journals or standard papers. When We
read reports Of sales where an entire herd
is sold for two hundred to i've hundred
dollars all around--of Others where over
ons Thousand dollars each was obtained
for IN entire herd--and when one animal
commands from five to twenty thousand
dollars. such as the six head that were sold
at the New York Mill sale two years ago
for $l5S, 200 and the tenth Duchess OF
Airlrie that through her progeny brought
to her proprietor s7l 600 in gold, At eight
years OF age, aad six females lett; We are
left to imagine that no one win introduce
such valuable cattle into Montana for our
benefit u,less We change our minds and