The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-09-08
STOCK ASSOCIATION.
A seoeakAaaa aaes Views Of Assocaattoses s
In Generals and of the Shozskan
District Association ina
Particular.

I Particular
Il iaR pleasing sign Of the advance il
ideas among cattle growers that the subject
of forming stock associations is receiving
general attention throughout the Territory
ut the present time. Under the impetus
which was given by the formation of the
Territorial Association about two years
since 4 number were organized in various
districts, local ia their character, TO facilj-
tate the. conduct Of affairs on the ranges
included in each. By the formation of the
Shonkin Association, which has lately been
effected, fresh impulse has been given
the increment, and there Is reason to be-
lteVe that shortly there will be q similar
organization in the Judith country, and
that another will be formed to include the
lower neton. Marias and al the region adj.
,Iaeentst0 Benton on the north side Of the
Missouri river. Unthinking persons may
believe that because in some districts af-
fairs have got along after Il fashion here
tofore, that faxity and leaving much to
chance Will continue TO bring fair results
to the end Of time, but therein they=t1o not
proVethemselves wise, for cattle raising is
a business, and like amy other its best re-
suits can only he obtained BY conducting
iton truly business principles. Wherever
1t is possible TO hold a band Of cattle on a
distinct range, experience has shown that
it proves more remuncrativc to its owner
thanany herd does where running in COM
mon with score of others: because the
man who isolates his band can and will
give it an amount Of attention that cattle
on a general range, where there is no or
ganfzed way Of caring for them at all sea-
sons ct the year, have not heretofore re-
eeived. 1t must be felt by everybody en-
gagged in it, that cattle raising as conducted
on Western ranges is, in a sense, a huge
partnership. Disease, storms, theft, Indi-
All depredations, the insuflicency of bulls,
any inadequacy of facilities for handling
cattle, whatever affects the interest of one
man, as far rs his live stock is concerned,
bears proportionately upon the scattered
property Of every other man on the range.
When there were but few stockmen in
this district, and the herds were small,
comfy and the comparative
lighfness OF labo. rendered it possible to
esadudtsaffairs Informally, with ease, fair-
:. e.
ness and dispdton. But, atces<ians of other
cattle growers, with their herds, have been
made to the range from time to time, and
we may expect more in thefuture A sort of
partnership existing between
the occupants Of a range, the thought fol-
lows naturally that no business Of large
size can be carried on in manner to OBJ
tain from it the best possible results unless
it is established according to some definite
system. The fine results that accrue to
any man Of ability in that line, who op-
crates a herd away from al others, can as.
readily be attained by all the cattle grow
ers in any district, if they will effect an
andadopt some sensible, ,prac-
tieable plan whereby their various inter-
ests can be grouped and managed as one.
This perception of true business idea is
the origin Of the stock associations that.are
being effected throughout the West; and
we venture to say that few years hence,
any section of country occupied by a con-
siderable number of cattle growers, where
no organization exists, will be ridiculed if
not held in disrepute by those who know
the advantages that result from system.
With particular referencet to the Shonkin
Association we would say--it must not be
that the anticipated benefits can
be e=eyolved from the paper containing the
laws and appended names, but will result
from the degree Of spirit and sincerity of
purpose evinced by the members. Some
general rules are necessary for the guild
lnce of any body of men who unite for a
purpose; some definite principles must be
according to which the busi-
ness of an organization must be conducted.
These are found in the Constitution fur
nished by the Territorial Association, and
much OF value is contained in the Bylaws
of the Sun River Association, to all of
which we have pledged ourselves by auto
graph.
Outside of the formal document which
Is the necessary basis for future transac-
lions there are many other laws that must
be enacted by ourselves to bring about the
:xact.state Of affairs i'll this. district that
ire adapted to our5needs. That this can
not be accomplished in a day is evidenced
Ivy the large amount Of business that was
left over from the meeting held 9th ult.
Il is quite impossible to oinstantaneonslY ar
rive at correct conclusions in anything.
Considerable thought and discussion are
necessary to devise rules that shall be salts
factory to everybody concerned, for no
matter how reasonable and just certain
propositions.a appear to=part.of adeliberatiye
body they are liable to have a bearing ON
the interest Of another part Of the same
body OF men that impeis them to oppose
theiradoption. We can scarcely hope to
harmonic all interests from the moment
Of formal organization, nor will the plal.
be thoroughly com mprehended and found to
work with perfect smoothness at its begin
ming. The history of other associations is
that in some instances a year has been re-
luired for the proper development Of the
plan, and 4 general appreciation of=the
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