The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28
AN lNTEsEeTGNG COMPARISON.

#i#.# tAN ~ q &1SExS Il N II 9ePaN II "a lis rs II ..
Col. George Clendenin kindly furnishes US
the following correspondence, showing the
cost of raising q beef to the age of three
and a half years in Texas and in Montana 3
.NEWBURGH, n. Y Nov. 3. 1881.
"Mr. Geo. Gendeu5n, J., Fort Benton:
DEAR SR-Your courteous and valued
replies to my circular on Cattle Raising in
Montana give me encouragement to ask q
further favor at your hands. | desire to pre-
sent in my report on the Beef Production Of
the United States statements by Well-inform-
ed cattle men of the estimated cost Of ma
turing q grass feed beef steer on an open
range. Having procured such interesting
statistics and presented them in my Texas,
California, Oregon and Washington reports,
now in the printers hands, it seems desirable
to exhibit the same expenses incident to rails
ing a three and a half year old steer in your
Territory, and | would ask that you give
your kind attention to q form or statement
enclosed with this letter, which was present.
ed originally by Mr.. Charles Goodnight, a
well known Texas trail driver, now located
with q large band OF cattle in the Pan Handle
of Texas. The formula suggested by Mr..
Goodnight has seemed SO we'll adapted to an
itemized showing Of the cost Of fattening q
bullock on the range that I have gladly
adopted il, and hope you may be persuaded
to fill in the blank enclosed with the items
recorded by your observation and experience
in running cattle in Montana. Mr.. Good
night interprets Rrage as follows: He pays
$3.50 by the lot for two year old grade Short
Horn balls noW, considering them as useful
among twenty cows on the range two years
as SIRE ss1es, each of the forty calves got by |
item properly charged to the expense of ma
turing each steer calf to three years old past.
Hoping this explanation is satisfactory, and
begging an early reply, I am,
'Very-truly yours,
"CLARENoE GoRDoN,
Especial Agent in charge Of Meat Produc-
ton, Transportation and Export"
THE TEXAS ESTIMATE.
LAG AO11OVA1S Is bAG COSt VI 4dlSluS a. DEGl
to the age of three and a half years, on the
ranges in the Pan Handle of Texas, as es-
mated by Mr.. Charles Goodnight, OF that
Interest on value of COW, at s12,5 so for one year,
at 10 per cent al 25
Cost OF sirage Service of graded bully ......... i 50
Holding: COW and calf on range one year, and
Holding steer two years and six mopths......:. 2 50
Taxes for three years, al &c. per year......... Is
Ir1 WING TO kAnRaa market f{ial1ua11 Erp Hrp, $500
DOluU 80
Proportion Of animal loss stimated on herd. / IS
Total 90 Is
Value Of steer, ~ years old, in Kansas market Is 20
Net profit. s14 rs
n. B.-The above table is based on the cost incident
. r~anching herds OF 5000 to 10000 head, when high :
grade bulls are used. The cost Of raising a calf steer
rom herds Of smaller size would exceed this estimate
IS the wholesale principle in running cattle enables a
took man to reduce the per capita expense and thus
the profit.
THE MONTANA NJ
The following is the cost of raising a beef =
Q the age of three and a half years, on the
in Montana, as estimated by George
ilendenin. Jr., OF Fort Benton:
interest on value of cow at $40, for one year, at
ost Of sirage Service of native or graded bulD. 3 50
Iolding cow and cal Que year and branling CT so
gliding seer TWO years and six months ....... 2 so -
axes for three years, at 21c. per year. So .
irving to local market. within the Territory. so
roportion Of animal loss estimated on herd. 2 90
& 81 year old steer IN Montana aaile. IS g g
Net .$l5 SO
\. B.-All Of the steers sold in Montana this year !
ought s2s and $50. think, perhaps, the cost Of q
olding may be q little more and the loss correspond