The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-04-26
Ohoteau Lodge, No. II, I. O. O. F.
A Question for amen 20 Consider
BENTON, April 18th, 1882.

BENTON, April 18th, 1882.
To the Editor Of the River Press:
Allow me to make q '.small talk" through
the columns OF your paper. | will try and
not get off on a very high horse. and if | do
make plumbers I hope your readers will over
Experimenting"
l have seer many articles on mining,
farming, stock raising, etc. in your paper,
but have never seen an article on the trans
fer Of stock. | have watched our advocate
of stock interests, the H~us6andmdn, for
something of the kind, but have failed to see
the subject referred to. It has heretofore
been customary in selling a band of cattle to
sell for so much ahead, calves to go with
COWS. 1t one is buying cattle this is a big
inducement but on the other side, if he is
selling, there is a big sacrifice. He has been
st the expense and risk of his stock for the
winter. and we well know what the expense
and risks are, and his herd will not number
as many in the spring as at the previous fall,
and then to sell at the same figures seems to
the ..writer to be Il foolish and unbusinesslike
custom. Say a man has = band of cattle
from which he can brand 200 calves during
the Season. His spring branding will be
about $50, and IN the event Of selling be can
not we'll deliver the stock until the last
of July or first Of August-that is after the
spring branding. Those 100 calves are worth
the same as the rest OF the herd, or say $40
per head, as | have known that price TO be
paid. Then you would get from fifty to sixty
more calves from your fall branding, and
this increase, with the growth of the young
stock, seems to me to be ample compensa-
ton for a mans money anu trouble for the
ensuing six months-till he had began TO re-
ceive an Increase from the entire herd.
This northwestern country is the only
stock region where the calves are thrown in.
In Wyoming, Colorado and Texas every
thing is counted, and l think if the stock
men b. re should calmly consider the matter
and decide not to give away a whole years
profit tor the sake OF selling, when by united
action in this Case they could get paid for
os@AJ S&AAs Aho pASoSAe ILL OAC
of loaning Il thousand dollars at interest for
a year, and selling the note at maturity for
the principal, throwing the interest in. The
above clearly illustrates the present system
Of selling cattle. If a sheep man sells his
flock before lambing or shearing he figures
on both his clip and increase, and after that
time the lamts are counted as part OF the
band. Some men will argue that if you sell
to d party who wishes te Drive he will loose
his calves. He may lose a few OF The young
est, and some that ONE on the road ; but at
this season of the year there is no great num-
Der coming, and a calf two weeks old, it a
herd is properly managed, will travel a few
hundreds OF miles. the distance from one
range TO another. As / said above, | think
that the stock men will do we'll to think over
this subject and agree on demanding pay for
their caivee-somelhing for their years in
vestment, work, trouble and risks.
[ would like ~ hear from others on lhis
subjuct-ejiher tar nr against 1t. COWBOY.