Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-05-15
LIV I STOCK K.
Directory Of the Montana Stock Growers Asso-
citation.
President-R. s. FORD, Sun river, Cho-
teau county.
Treasurer-J. n. MING, Helena.
Secretary-Ross DEEGAN, Helena.
Assistant Secretary-W. III. SUTHERL1N,
Diamond City.
THE TRAIL VS.. THE RAIL.

line lOllOWlnS from the american STOCK
Man on this important subject will prove OF
interest to the stockmen of Montana, since
they are interested in knowing the best
means of reaching the eastern markets and
may learn somewhat from the experience
of Texas:
For a long time the few who thought
that the coming change in the manner of
marketing Texas cattle could be averted,
refused to admit that any plan could be bet
ter the old one of driving the unfortunate
stock something more than four hundred
miles to reach a place no nearer the market
where the consumer awaited them, than
that from which they started. The most
careless observer needed bat a moments
study to convince him that, with suitable
railroad facilities, nothing could stop the
trade from taking a new route to market.
The advantages were so many and so great
that the turning of all the fat stock OF Tex
as toward the railroads instead of toward
the trail was but a question Of time and OPP
portunity. The most determined opponents,
those whose opposition arose from a fear
that they would be losers by the change,
have been at last compelled to acknowledge
that they were wrong in their conclusions.
Public opinion and public experience were
against them. They could no longer deny
what everybody in the trade knew to be-
true, but, disappointed in their hopes of
getting a full share Of the trade they once
had wholly in their possession, they now
turn and say in effect that if they cannot
have all Chicago shall have none. We have
often urged attention to the facts which
have led Texas stockmen to prefer shipping
rather than driving, but we have seldom
called attention to Chicago's merits as a cat
tie market, simply because they were so
well known to all the trade that no work in
that direction was necessary.
Among all the stockmen we have q,aes-
toned upon this subject there was none who
claimed that driving is more profitable, ca
sier or in anyway better than, shipping by
rail. A few were incllhed to continue driv-
ing their young stock to the north to sell to
feeders, and it seems likely that this bust
ness will last for some years. but we think
there is reason to believe that by far the
SlCdbCi pdEU Vi ZIG CdGllG UIeu III TIE StaLc Oh
Texas will be fattened on their; native
ranges. Everything seems to favor such a
course. The climate is Enthusiastically
adapted to the raising and fattening of
stock food upon which to get a good
growth is abunant and cheap the range is
still vast in extent, although much contract
ed by the conversation OF large tracts of
range into corn producing land and grain
with which stock may be fattened is becom-
each year more abundant. The bust
ness is falling, into the hands of men who
be persuaded to run their stock off
In the spring, when it is thin in flesh and
before the grass has had time to start, when
can hold the cattle until fall and then
at leisure, when the animals are in good
RAGING AT AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.
A sensible man, a tiller OF the soil, writes
IN f1,a IT,. Ex.a... ~ Il $500 nxv