The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-02

" AAAPA Awe ~"A~A
among stockmen is becoming more and more
settled that this year will prove a disaster to
the stock interests which will take the coun-
try long to recover from. The belief that q
heavy percentage of loss will disastrously
affect the future of the entire country we be-
lieve, however, to be erroneous.
The stock business in Montana has been
carried on in q most hap-hazard way, and
nature has done her best to make it the most
lucrative business in the world. For years
the climate has admitted o management, or
rather a want of it, that no other in the world
could successfully admit. While everything
went we'll and the winters did not bring an
unusual quantity Of snow, there was no need
of provision for the maintenance of stock,
and scarcely any for care or oversight 10
management; it was unnecessary to even
employ men to look after stock; and one
man could handle thousands, except in a GER
tain season when it is necessary to collect and
brand the increase.
There is no business under the sun which
can be carried on year by year with the little
oversight which has been given to the stock
business in Montana, and the present winter
has demonstrated that human labor is as
necessary in this as in other pursuits, to take
from it the el ement Of occasional disaster.
The results of this hap-hazard way of do
ing business have been repeatedly forseen and
foretold, but stockmen seemed to believe that
a condition Of things like the few years past
would be eternal, and only a few took pains,
bY provision for future contingencies, and
giving proper human oversight, to mitigate
the severity of an untoward event, such as
the present winter has brought about.
There must be sweeping change made in
the whole process of managing stock, or else
stockmen must be content to witness, every
few years, the entire destruction OF their
capital. And we are certain that the superior
facilities for stock-raising will bring the
change, and with it destroy the uncertainty
which at present hangs over the business, and
result in the end greatly to the prosperity and
growth of the Territory.
From Alaska to the Gulf, there has been
disaster. Texas and Colorado suffered ter
ribly from dearth the past season, and nearly
so per cent Of the stock in that section died
of starvation from that cause, Ca cause which
man is almost powerless to- alleviate, but
which can never affect Montana.) Here the
losses could have been easily prevented if
owners had hired a few more men and put
up a small portion Of that ri CHI grass that was
wasting under the snow.
The fact is, capitalists have been too greedy
for enormous and rapid returns on the money
invested. During the last decade abnormal
profits have resulted from the investment of
money in stock, ranging from % to so per
cent. Men have invested a hundred thousand
in stock, left the whole of it in charge OF 9
couple of men, and have gone back to the
States to enjoy the enormous surplusage re-
sulting from this business, draining the coun-
try of it's strength, and shutting out number
less small holders, who would have had this
land under cultivation and civilized, and who
would not have taken the abnormal risk OF
losing all from want of proper provision fo1
the maintenance Of their stock through such
a period as the present.
IF stockmen would either subdivide theil
| stock in the care of a number of men, OF
would eel it to poor men on reasonable
terms, they would reap 9 surer profit thar
they can by the present management, and w
believe, in the long run alarger one. suct
would each be obliged to cultivate 9 portion
of the soil, and improve 8 home for him
self. which would be positive gain to tht
whole country, and take from its most profit
able source Of income its present instability
1t has always followed, and always will
that such abnormal profit shall be accom-
panied with a corresponding risk.
Sheep are standing the winter better thai
cattle, especially where q reasonable amour
Of feed has been provided. They are NOR
easily handled in large bands than cattle
which ID great numbers il IS difficult even 9
provide for when feed has beer saved. Thos
which were il fair health at the beginning 9
the winter are apparently now in as goo
condition as ever. And where feed has nc
been provided there is an oversight which tn
stockmen are alone to blame for, for th
quantity Of grass to be obtained is practlcabl
without limit. Scotland has always bee