The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-03-01
The General Prospects Of the Stock Inte,
ests in Northern Montana.

During the past week we have interviewed
several Of our prominent stockmen and have
succeeded in picking up various items of in
terests. The one thing most patent is that
there is general feeling of content verging
almost on enthusiasm among stockmen and
they certainly have good reason to be
junilant. When the miner ''strikes it rich -
the merchant has big run the farmer &C.
cures abundant returns from the soil, or the
printer enjoys an advertising boom-you
can always ese it in their faces and actions
A man struck with goodly section of pros
perity usually wears contented and good
na,ured countenance, and that's what's the
matter with the stockmen at the present
juncture. The winter has been 80 favorable
hat there has been absolutely no loss of cat
tie or sheep and the herds are, at thesclose of
winter, in as good condition as they We're
last fall. La addition to this very gratifying
fact comes the equally assuring information
that there is boom in prices. Some deal
els are holding their herds at 1913 head, to
be delivered at the roundup, while last year
At this time they could be bought for $18 and
$50. Last year steers sold for S27 and $2S,
while even now purchasers are engaging
them at $50, with prospect that the prices
will be even better. The advent Of the
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
ia Montana has advanced the interests of
stockmen The drive to the railroad is now
n comparatively short one, and the cost of
marketing cattle reduced in proportion, thus
increasing the profits OF the herd owners. I
has also opened market for Montana NUT
ton, and hereafter there will be thousands of
fat sheep shipped to the eastern markets an
nually from this Territory. The experiment
was tried with success last season and there
is every reason to believe that the present
season our wool growers will ship heavily.
The demand at Chicago for Montana beet
and mutton is active and they always CON-
mand top prices. AS the railroad approaches
Benton-as it will within two years, via
tie Musselshell and Judith Basin, If not
from other directions-the stock interests of
Northern Montana will grow rapidly. Even
at the present time the outlook for this in
dustry is 50 favorable that we may confident
ly expect extensive investments during the
forthcoming summer. The outlook for this
foremost industry in Northern Montana
could not be brighter.
ADVANCED PRICES.
There is marked rise in the price OF cat
tie, says the Herald, ease and west as indie t
ed by the brisk demand at advanced figures
IN all markets Of consumption and supply
There is an animated inquiry from Chicago
buyers for Montana beeves, and offers of $50
per head for four-year-olds are many and
multiplying. This is an advance over the
ruling price of last year of 81, the average
for Montana bee7es of that age being $26
during 1881. A recent offer here is noted nj
$50 for the herd of Mr. Reed, Of the Prickly
Pear valley, numbering upwards Of three
hundred head of three. fonr and five year
olds. The inquiry for stock and dairy cattle
also show unusual activity, the demand le,-
parenily exceeding the supply. Recent sales
of considerable herde of stock animals have
been effected at $2O@$21 per head with