The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-06-09
LIVE STOCK IN MONTANA.
How Sheep and Cattle Flourish
and Fatten on the Sweet
Grasses of Her Rich
Valleys.
4 Paradise for Stock Growers,
Dairynen and Farmers
Rapid Growth and
Glowing Prospects.

10 t:ie energetic, adventurous minds
to-day the glowing future OF the new
West and the rich possibilities they picture
there, make the new, rich and fertile sec
tions now being opened UP by that miracle
working engine of civilization ana en-
.iphfnent-the railroad-seem very
Eden. a garden OF the gods. The hidden
wealth and vast resources OF Montana neeC
but II e magic touch of the locomotive to
Weld Up al sors Of treasure troVe TO those
who hay,. the nerve and the disposition &c
brave toll and privation for their sake. The
Pioneer Press has kept abreast OF the pro-
gress of this growing young giant, SO TAI
~ keeping the world informad OF it is con-
cerned, and will continue the good WORK
Anent the theme, reporter corraled Mr..
Paris Gibson, an old citizen of Mime
apols, and proceeded TO round up this
gentleman's store Of interesting facts con-
cerning Montana. Mr.. Gibson is largely
engaged in the sheep business out there. ls
a close observer and Il man whose rella-
billy needs no vouching for here Inc
series of queries and answers were as fol-
lows:
"Is Montana much eff a sheep country p
eyes, sir. There is no section in these
United States better adapted to the raising 9
of sheep and WOOL
HAS the industry IN .de much progress
there?"
sit has. There are now some GOO, 900
sheep in the Territory, probably 250,O00 OF
them being in thecounties of Meagher and
Choteau. They IRE manly blooded sheep
high bred Merinos. The first sheep which
reached Montana were driven i'll there
from the westward, coming from Califor-
MIA, up through Oregon, and from Ore
gon. This was ten years ago. The yield
of wool last year was 5000, 900 pounds,
and feel certain that ten years from now
it will be $4,000. 600 pounds per annum.
The business is yet in its infancy. A few
sheep We're driven in ten years ago, but it
is only within the past four or five years
that it was begun in earnest. Montana
wool is the highest priced and most popu-
lar of Territorial wool that reaches Boston,
our chief market, because it ghrinks less
and is cleaner than any other. Our ranges
are clean.
THE SHEEP SECTION
proper lies east of the Belt range, a spur of
the Rocky mountains which leaves the
main range at Dearborn, near the north
ern edge of the Territory, and extends
southeast to Livingston, lying north of the
Yellowstone and extending to the Black
foot reservation. This industry is grow
ingmo rapidly than any other in Mon
tana 1T is the thing for men of small
means, for cattle raising is fast passing in
to the control of men and companies with
large capital, who will soon have it all.
There is 10 trouble between Montana
sheep and cattle raisers, as there has been
in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. In
deed many of our stock men own both cat
tie and sheep, and all dwell together in
unity. We have now two railroads and
the river to ship our wool by, and we ex-
pect the water route to be kept open and to
always act as check upon excessive rail
rates. We shall ship most of our wool by
river from Fort Benton and from points
on the Northern Pacific along the Yellow
stone hereafter. We have had low rates
heretofore and expect them in the future.
Our rate on wool to Boston has been lower
than the rate from any other wool grow
ing section as far rs we are. We do not,
as rule, feed our sheep in the winter, as
the range is usually free from snow, but
the winter of 1SS0-s1 was an exception,
and the heavy loss of sheep, averaging 20
per cent throughout th Territory, warm
ed growers hat they must be prepared.
Hence they have put up an ample supply
of hay since then, but have not fed q
pound. By careFul stacking this hay can
be kept four or five ysars, so that the ex-
pense of guarding against severe winters
is not heavy. Last year the losses Of sheep
were not over per cent Ill tne 4erritof!,
WHICH is almost as well as the Eastern
growers, who house and feed them, do.
Montana mutton has a fine reputation,
and we have a good market for it. Men of
good horse sense, active and diligent, can
get rich in the sheep business in Montana.
We don't want any other class there
CATTLE RAISING.
elbow about cattle raising?"
"The situation is somewhat peculiar.
Cattle were first driven in there from the
West, the same as sheep, and few years
ago outsiders began to learn that Montana
cattle We're the finest for beef in the land.
The result is that the Territory has been
drained Of its 'stock' cattle,
fstaers calves orc \ en- that NOW nrieas are