The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1882-06-29
The Black Hills Roundup.
Cheerful but Larger Returns from the Dead
wood Cattle District Great Increase
and Minimum Loss.
Herds Worth an Average of $4,000 More
Than Last Year on Account of the
Rise in the Price of Cattle.

Rise in the Price Of Cattle.
DEADwooD, D. T., June 2O.-I have been
in hopes that in this would be able to
present report from the annual roundup,
but owing to heavy rains and the swollen
condition of streams, progress has been very
slow, and the Ingathcrlng of scattered
herds is still far from complete hence moth
ing OF q definite character can be stated
other than that all stock passed through the
winter in fine shape, and that the yield of
calves this spring has been unusually large.
NJ. &. ConnOrs, one OF The heaviest dealers
III this section, came i'll from the roundup
last evening. The drive was corrallcd on the
Box Elder by high water, and there was no
telling when a crossing would be affected.
He was very much clatcd with the prospect
tive results of the year, and while not able to
even approximate the ayaregc total loss
from all causes during the past twelve
months, he is positive it will not exceed q
per cent. The heaviest losses occurred late
in the season by drowning, and principally
in Pennington. and Custer counties. The
increase by propagation will reach, if not
exceed. GO per cent. Speaking of the con-
dition of stock, Mr.. Connors said that it
could not be better. ''In short" said he,
there is scarcely head unfit for market"
The advance in marketable stock is of
course causing great eXultation among
growers, who, when cornered, admit that
they know of no good reason for it. Mr..
another heavy raiser, informs me
that the advance is about SS head. To be
more clear, twO-year olds, twelve months
ago were worth an average of SIS a head,
while two-year olds now are in great de-
mand at S26 As herds in this neighborhood
average about 1000 in number YOU will
perceive that owners have been enriched
about $4,000 each by the advance. Add
to this the natural increase of herds by the
dropping of calves, and pretty accurate
idea of the profits of stock raising NAV be
obtained.
Shipments will be heavy so soolf as the
round up is over, when it may be reason
ably expected eastern prices will decline and
relieved of present oppressive
'ates.' Few cattle will be driven in this
season and the few from Oregon. Mon
ana and little breeding stock from Min
,csota and Missouri. Texas cattle have
always rated low in every market. while
growers of that State have never manifested
/ disposition to improve the quality OF their
brands, seemingly content to allow
heir herds to multiply among themselves,
Texas brands are more unde-
'irable than ever. Stock growers Of Dakota
md Wyoming cherish altogether different
IDEAS, and while anxious to increase the
quantity are equally determined to improve
irc ut,uiity, amt crIn1uru
han ever to breed up. \ drove of eight !
Minnesota, while number of buyers arc
n Missouri and other States hunting up
FLOODED stock. The good results of this |
'olicy will, of course, not be apparent at |
'nce, but the time come when Dakota
,eef will attain popularity and command
special high price above all other supplies
imply because of the care attention and |
wisdom now exercised This cattle bust
less is conducted on a scale of the greatest |
of which the East and large
PORTION of the West for that matter. can
orm no accurate idea. In what may be
ermed the Black Hills locality, there are
It present 100000 head, exclusive of work
took, while careful computation places the
lumber in the Territory at 10000 head.
the average value of all ages at
20 a head and we find total of ;15, ,Oo0, 600
epresented by this one industry. If the |
took men had succeeded in opening the
iouX reservation for their exclusive occu-
'ancy (Which, Fortunately for Dakota, they
ave not the number of cattle would have
een at least doubled this year. As it is
however, carefully considering the increase
rom all sources over the losses from ship
nents, and all causes, it is safe to say that
he roundup of 1883 will show grand total
f 1, ,OOO, 900 head in the Territory, represent
ng $50, ,OOO,0O The business is conducted
nth only little labor, little expense and ex-
lete stsck is turned out to range for another
leven months, unattended III many instan-
cs and compelled to rustic for food IN
he winter as well as in the summer. In
1o %o~ |
Y ranging herds upon land beyond the
lrisdiction of any assessor or tax gatherer
s. for Instance, unorganized counties of
-hich Dakota and Wyoming have so many
f Indian treaties prohibit the encroach-
lent of whites, but the difficulty is over
ONE in certain cases at least that | could
lcntion, by the marriage of white stock
lcn into Indian families when the former
ecomingsnembcrs Of the tribe to certain
xtent, are entitled to tribal privileges and
and they receive it. Other
rowers, disregarding the prohibition, drive
heir stock upon the reserve during the tour
f the assessors, and return them afterward
hey assume great risk of capture of them
elves and cattle by the reds, but they will
Ugly take it under the temptation to avoid
to public fund. The expense
, all such growers, therefore, in carrying
lcir herds from roundup to roundup is
onfincd entirely to the pay and subsistence
their 'cow boys" or herders.
Crop prospects improve continually.
nusual quantities of rain have fallen, but
le growing grain has been improved and is
lpidly maturing with every indication of
n unprecedented cut. A hav famine was
imminent at one time but that has been I
rcvcnted, and farmers are now preparing
, gather one of the largest and best crops |
yer sccured.-V. V. ". in the Pioneer-Prcss. ;
Good Wool Producers.