The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-04-11

Ilcal progression plan, showing how a
given amount Of stock, properly selected
according to gender, etc., would increase
and multiply, and replenish the Mon
tana ranges in manner that would
double discount the fiocks and herds of
an ancient but knowing party named
Jacob, who was once very successful in
partnership with q gentleman named
Laban in the cattle raising business
this, however, was in another State
Then itemized accounts of the expenses
OF a range, including fires to heat the
branding-irons. Then tables of yearly
profits in which i. is assumed that the
capital is borrowed at per cent. per
month, which it seems is the Western
rate Of interest.
THE EXPERIENCE NEEDED.
Isn't it necessary to have some ex-
perience going into this business?' ask
ed a reporter
"Yes-some. A years preliminary
study in the busin ness-in the employ
ment Of any old cattle man in Montana
or Wyoming-after that Willingness
| to do your own work rather than hire
expensive help, is all that is necessary
| for q person with small capital to ac
quire a competency in q very few years.
In starting into the cattle business on a
small scale much more rapid progress
can be made by utilizing most OF the
cows in dairying. It is remarkable
fact that large portion OF the money
invested in cattle is borrowed capital,
and upon this high rate OF interest IS
paid. II $4,000 were invested in cat
tie placed on suitable ranges it would
easily double itself in five years, besides
| paying an annual dividend of 10 per
I A & GDl0 inv cd
| in Texas cattle it would double itself in
four years, and pay semiannual divi-
| dend of per cent. The figures [ have
shown you on paper all hold good on
the ranges Here is the return Of a
ranch for five years, and from it you can
see that actual experience bears me out. y
| The General here showed some length
| ened accounts of the business done on
ranch with $25, 900 borrowed at 10 per
cent, the totals showing $50, 500 net prof
it in five wears, with interest paid and
| the ranch considerably increased in
value.
Are the ranges getting scarce in the
| West?n
Eyes; in few years it will be a diff
cult matter to find a vacant range ID
Wyoming, Nebraska, or Montana suita-
| BILE for or capable of sustaining 5000
i 1edu Ot cattlG. IC WllCI-CCalcC5 6si y
fast being taken up or squatted upon by
small herders or branches of large
! herds
PROFITS OF A JOINT STOCK COMPANY.
"You have special faith in associated
capital, General?'
"Well, / believe that great joint stock
company formed to breed, buy, and sell
horses, cattle and sheep would prove
| tot + no n don hf
but such company properly managed
would declare an annual dividend of at
least 25 per cent. Such company
should buy Texas cattle, locate them on
ranges, placing 5000 head on each ranch,
then breed them up for the market, in
creasing quantity and quality as fast as
possible, selling all beeves whenever MAJ
ture and cows as fast as theylbecome too
old to breed from or are found unsuita-
bic for breeding purposes. Most OF the
money realized from sales at first should
90 to fill UP the herds with good young
stock The company should locate with
a view of buying up the land, and should
aim to be controlling power in the beef
trade by monopolizing government con-
tracts and the Eastern markets as far as
possible
ENGLISH INVESTMENTS.
is there much English cap1Ial 1n-
vested in cattle out West?"
Yes; during the last few years the
English have invested heavily in Amer
lean stock cattle, and are now reaping a
rich reward on their ventures. 1t is es-
timated that nearly one-sixth OF all the
new herds in the country are owned by
| English capital. That the English have
hit it SO far there is not doubt but
whether their good fortune will continue
| is quite another matter. Many say that
the present high price OF beef is due to
the large body Of cattle withdrawn from
the market to raise herds. The enter
! prise Of the English has aroused the
| Americans, and American capital IS
now seeking investmentin in cattle raising
out West 1t is the large amount Of for
eign capital seeking investment in cat
1 tie that has driven the price up SO high.
Cattle this spring are higher than ever
before for stock purposes, and SIS, $50 and
S32 per head are not considered too high
prices to ask. hope soon to see cattle
lower. when they can be bought for say
SIG to SIS per head. Not that am sam
guine that such will be the case. The
cattle business has been SO long neglect
ed that it cannot be picked up at once
in the face of population of 55,OOO,OOO
of people and their enormous demands. =
DRESSED BEEF.
"What do you now think about the
dressed beef business ~
II say the cattle must be killed at the
ranges and shipped dead rather than
alive Since have been in Chicago !
have seen hundreds of steers slaughter
ed, and in many cases the beef was more