Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1881-04-15
CONDITION OF STOCK.
How the Herds Of Cattle Have Win
tered in Montana,

How the Herds Of Cattle Have Win
tered in Montana,
The severity of the past winter has,
caused much anxiety about the numerous
herds of cattle and sheep in Dakota and
Montana. There are localities in both
territories where stock has suffered severe
]y but in every instance little fore
thought in the fall would have averted
the disaster. The winters in the north
western ranges have always been so mild
that it has not heretofore beer deemed
necessary to make any preparations what
ever for the cold weather. The past WIN
ter has demonstrated the fact that al
though such extreme cold seasons may
not come dozen times in a century, yet
it would be advisable for stockmen to
build sheds and provide a small amount
of hay so that in case of deep snow the
stock can be kept during the winter sea-
son. 10 show that the loss of stock this
winter has not been as large as has been
reported, the Miles City Journal recently
contained the following: "The last two
winters have fairly tested the capablllty
Of this section for winlering large herds
of stock. The winter of 1879SO was the
severest which white settlers in eastern
Montana had experienced, and the past
winter was fully its equal in intensity.
But owing, probably, to the peculiar dry
ness of our atmosphere the snoWfalls have
not -, q ll,y |, ClaraG oott1o in ,,roc,r
ing sustenance from the rich, dried grass
with which the ground is everywhere
covered The snow has lain on the sur
face like a fine powder, blown about by
every breeze, and never thawing 80 as to
Hence there has been pasturage to some
extent throughout the season, sufficient
not only to keep the vital current flowing
but also strange as it will appear to out
siders, to keep the cattle in tolerably good
condition. This natural provision tor
winter com bined with the perfect shelter
afforded at all seasons by the so-called
"bad lands" Will render eastern Montana
the safest and most profitable stock rails
ing region for a couple Of generations to
come.
We have taken pains during the
past week to ascertain by personal in
quiry the condition IL which the Yellow
stone cattle men found their herds after
the breaking up OF winter this veal. The
following result Of inquiries will show
how well founded are the claims cf this
valley for supremacy in this immense and
lucrative industry. Messrs. Brandenbury
e Van Gaskcn, ON the Tongue river, re-
ports small but unimportant loss out
Of their herd of !, 500 head. John Ming,
on Pumpkin creek, up the Tongue river,
has 800 head, mostly beevcs, with $50
COWS and yearllngs. Ee bas lost during
the past winter not more than five or six
head. Myers Bros on Pumpkin Greek,
out OF 1000 head OF steers have not lost a
single head. MIR. n. w. Comeford, on
the Yellowstone, at Rosebud has 400
head and has lost none at all. Thos Alex.
ander, near the same place, has $50 head
and has lost none. Mr.. Curlau, six miles
east of Rosebud, lost four out OF herd OF
100, but they were drowned and did not
starvc or freeze to death. Among the
many large and small herds at leases
Bottom there were absolutely no losses
during the winter. Messrs. Poindexter IL
Orr, about sixty-ive miles up Tongue riv-
er, have herd of 1000 sheep and 500
head Of cattle. They lost fifty sheep and
two old cows. Up the Yellowstone, al
Sweetgrass, Alflsd Myers has herd OF
about 5000 head Of stock. IN the winter
OF 1870 he lost nearly twenty five per cent
Of the herd with which he began the sea-
sea During the past winter his loss has
been only about five per cent Mr.. Mlnej,
on the Yellowstone, near Miles City, has
wintercd herd of 500 sheep and has lost
none. In word, there have been no cas-
ualties, attributable specially to the Sc
we're winter among our Montana cattle,
excepting in one or two cases OF large
herds of unacclimated cattle, such as the
herd Of 5000 Texas steers brought INTO
the Tong ue river last fall by Mr.. Groon.
These cattle we're thin and out Of condi
ton when winter opened and unable to
"rustle" through the snow for food OF to
otherwise cope with the conditlons to
which they were newly subjected. This
herd, we are informed, has lost quite
heavily, but it is an exceptional case, and
the result Of fmlsmanagement. Outside OF
that single instance we have not been
able on close inquiry to learn ofany stock
raiser having suffered during the past
winter" ....s