Morning journal and courier., 1882-07-24
Stock Raising in Montana.
A Talk With q Pioneer About its Cattle
 and Sheep.

A Talk With a Pioneer About its Cattle
 and Sheep.
 From the St. Paul {Minn.) Pioneer -Pressl
 A representative of the Pioneer Press was yesterday introduced to couple of gentle men at the Merchants Hotel, both of whom were interested in stock raising, the one in Montana, the other in Texas. The Texan was on his way to Montana with view to deciding for himself the advantages that the latter offered over Texas for stock raising The Montana man is the junior member of firm which consists of himself and brother, that are considered as among the heav1est stock men in the Territory. They were al most the pioneers in stock raising in the Ter ritory of Montana, having commenced about sixteen years ago. Previous to this they were engaged in freighting from St. Joseph, Mo, to Denver, Col, and afterward, when the railroad was completed to that point, from Denver and Salt Lake to Helena, Mon tana Territory, which was then coming into prominence mining camp. These long trips were made with mules and cattle. Six teen years ago the last trip of the season was made rather later than usual, and, owing to delays on the road, it became necessary to winter in Montana. With great mlsglvlngs as to the result, the mules and cattle were turned loose to find what subsistence they could for themselves through the winter months. Spring arrived when what was their surprise to find that the cattle turned up in magnificent condition with sleek, well fed look that showed they had had no trouble in providing for themselves. It reported that year to be deeper than usual. This, in conjunction with the fact that all the deer and elk they killed were found in remarkably good condition, led the brothers to the conclusion that there was no better country in the world so we'll adapted to pur- poses of stock raising Returning to Den yer, therefore, they sold their steers and mules and bought stock cattle which they drove into Montana, and from that date un- til now they have been among the largest stock men in the Territory. From cattle they went into sheep and the raising of horses, both of which latter more profit able than cattle. It stated that sheep were every year becoming more numerous in the Territory. Sheep require more care and attention than cattle and give corresponding ly larger results. It is also business that requires less capital than it does to engage in the raising of cattle. The expense of herd ing snd shearing including herders pay and board, for one year, for herd of 2.OO0 is about $2, 900. The yield of wool will aver age S1 15O per head, or 8 total of $3, ,OOO. The increase of lambs can be calculated at 25 per cent. of the original number of the herd, and, at the end of the year they of equal value to 8 full grown sheep. their value would be $1 ,OOO. The gain, therefore, is almost 100 per cent, with ordinary atten- tion It is estimated that there are now about 200, 900 sheep in the eastern part of 
 Montana, and the number will increase rap. idly, as new people constantly going into the business. In response to an inquiry as to the sheep freezing, it was stated that such | th1ng was unknown. It is true there have been losses, but in all cases death has been caused by suffocation on account of the pens having been too small, so that the sheep have crowded together, one on top of the other; l this causes them to sweat, and then when they are turned out into the cold air in the morning they take cold and die. The best cattle and sheep region was stated to be the country between the Clark's Fork bottom and the Musselshell river. In this district the largest owners of cattle and sheep are | the Northwestern company, Alfred Meyers < Brother, Granville Stewart, Dr. Bembrick, Nelson Story and Hobson 6 Sweet These | men have each herds of from 3, ,O00 to 0,OOO l head of cattle, beside large herds of sheep. The exceptionally fertile and temperate re- zion is, however, practically unoccupied as 1 yet, and the stock interest of Montana is at | present but in it's infancy.