The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28
Written for the HOLIDAY RIVER Press.
OUR CATTLE INTERESTS.
Introduction Of the Bovine
Race into America.
Adaptability Of this Territory for
Breeding Cattle on q Gil
gantic Scale.
Improvements il the Present System
Suggested.
The Chief Danger to which the business
is E~xposed.-The Probable Future
OF the Industry.
BY NJ. z. MIINER.

has IN all ages Deen Inc uSeIul companion VI
man. They were always esteemed articles
of wealth and sources Of prosperity. The
ancients had such & high esteem for them
that among some nations they were an object
of worship, which doubtless originated in a
devout appreciation of their admirable quail
tiles. The genus is not indigenous to this
continent, but was first introduced into Mex
leo by the Spaniards, in the sixteenth century.
In that mild climate they increased rapidly,
and are the origin of the great Texan herds
of the present day. The English, Dutch and
other colonists of the Eastern coast brought
cattle Of their native countries with them.
From these diverse and miscellaneous be-
ginnings the cattle Of the present day origi-
mated. AS emigration PROCEEDED to the in
terror they become still more intermlxed, IN
til they become an indefinite compound Of
all breeds. Thus our SO called native cattle
have no distinctive quality or character.
Americans, above all people intelligent
in agricultural pursuits, have until lately been
the least enterprising about improving their
breeds Of cattle. That may be owing to the
wide resources in land we possess, which
leads us to be satisfied with numbers rather
than quality. There is no doubt that we are
u~neconomical. in our conduct of the business.
We must in many respects change our meth
DDS before we can bring it to the point Of
dignity and profit it is entitled to by it's i'm
portance.
The diversities OF climate in the United
States render it the most favorable country
on the globe for the production Of neat cat
tie in all their varieties. The virgin soils Of
q new country are more free from diseasing
influences than regions that have been pas
tured for centuries. Particularly in this Ter
ritory are they free from miasmatic and
other deleterious influences. Local disor-
ders like the 'black-leg' at intervals occasion
apprehension, but such have never been
altfrningly %virulent. The cattle plaques that
afiict Texan herds are here unknown, for
the conditions are not favorable. The pleuro
pneumonia is what cattle growers everywhere
have most reason to dread. That is a disease
imported from Europe. Timely care will
prevent its spread.
That the value Of neat cattle as the CHEF
industry Of this Territory may be fully un-
derstood we would like to give statistical
facts, but the limited time at command for
writing this article renders that impossible.
The writer is thoroughly imbued with the
idea that stock-raising IS it could be carried
Oh IL essentially a dignifed and noble pur-
suit, as worthy the attention Of gentlemen as
are the professions. As conducted in the
great West it Is after 9 fashion a return to
classic days and the times of patriarchs,
when q mans wealth was computed by his
live stock, and that was a recognized medium
Of exchange in commercial transactions.
Cattle for beef demands our first considera-
ton. Our chief discretion should be to select
those varieties best suited to that purpose.
Happily they are within available reach. II
only requires a little enterprise to become pos
seased of them. Throughout b eTerritory nat
ural grasses Of. succulent growth and most
nutritious qualities abound in profusion. AS
in the Highlands Of Scotland, but On an i'm
mensely larger scale among our mountains
and On our table lands cattle may breed in
multiiudinous numbers to be driven to mark
cts ID the populous States. "A man can count
on the digits Of one hand the years that have
elapsed since American cattle were shipped
To foreign ports for consumption, yet that
branch Of the industry attained the respecta-
BE dimensions Of 200, 900 head the past
year. When the foreign prejudice against
American products shall have been fully
overcome, we may reasonably expect TO see
the figures given increased fVe-fold annuallya
In England, which will always remain our
chief market across the sea, great stress -
placed upon the quality Of beef which Is in
hearent in the breed. Men Injured By long
habit to Q partially for common cattle, may
insist on the equality Of rough beasts 70 the
finer ones. 1t is true that the Texans have
become as hardy as buffalo, and from their
peculiarities Of structure and disposition are
the most prolific Of our cattle. But, beet
eating people know the difference between .
good and poor article when the joint or STEAK
il aerved. Brought TO market, %uncoutn,
mongrel steers will not command half the
price of the fine, smallsboned, clo~sely-knlt,
higb-grade Durhams and Herefo1ds.
Many writer's Of authority fell into the er-