St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-06-08
CattIe-Herding in Montana.


From Letter in New York Times.
Cattle raising in Montana, like wheat
raising in Dakota, is pursued on the
brOad-gauge plan. 1t is the paramount
industry of the territory, and, like
nearly everything else in the great
Northwest, is fabulously profitable
when conducted on business-lille,
common sense basis. Unlike wheat, it
is not absolutely dependent on the
weather for success, and, therefore,
many persons who are familiar with
the subject regard good ranch as alb
sOlutely certain to yield IA quick and
ample fortune to the lucky pOssessor.
There is no doubt that this is true in
large measure, though many minor
considerations are involved, which
make it risky for an inexperienced per
sOn-Or, in the vernacular of the region,
Il tenderfoOt-tO embark in a stock
raising enterprise. 1t is true that Mon
tana possesses advantages over any
other state or territory for the pursuit
of this industry, but there are hundreds
of young men from the east who have
heard of this great beef bonanza, and
who are rushing in wildly and invest
ing their money recklessly in IA bust
ness of which they know nothing
Such investors will generally lose their
money. The bluff, hearty, good-na-
tured "cattle king" looks upon such
reckless youths, with pretty much the
same contempt that the average New
Yorker regards the latest outgrowth of
American folly,-the dude,-and even
the boys speak of ''tenderfoot''
| with a quiet sneer that shows he has
had experience with Il species of hu-
manity which he has less respect for
| than the cattle over whose welfare he
watches.
Miles City on the Yellowstone is the
cattle metropolis of Montana. Here
| the "cattle kings" and ranch-owners
cOngregate in the hotels after making
| their shipments and talk of their bust
ness prospects, the state of the market,
| the chances for favorable winter, and
| the respective merits of bunch and buff
! falO grass. As a rule they are quiet,
reserved men, with rough exteriors,
but gentlemanly in manner and thor
oughly in earnest in the pursuit of then
lucrative calling. They are mostly
men above the average in intelligence
and the Difference paid to them by the
smaller fry and the cowboys is notice
able. They are men who own OF have
Il controlling interest i'll vast herds ot
cattle, and have large interests al
stake. One of them who gave mucl
information about the business said he
had that day shipped 600 head of steer,
to Chicago, and on the following day
would send off 800 more. These were
from one of three herds owned by him.
each of which numbered about I0,00t
head. He expected to net an averag,
of $40 il head for his present shipments
or $40, 800 for the lot. He would ac.
company the cattle to Chicago, and af.
ter they were sold would spend 4;
! month or six weeks with relatives il
the East. Then he would return t,
his ranch, where he expected a hare
winter with plenty of work. An invi
tatiOn to witness the loading of tn,
cattle was gladly accepted, and on til,
following day | was not late at the ap
pointed place. The pens into whicl
the cattle are first driven are construct
ed so that nineteen or twenty head b,
passing through narrow gates, cOllec
in separate pens. As soon as the requi
site number has passed into pen,
cowboy stationed on the top of tin
strong fencing and out of reach of tn
cattle, closes a gate behind them an,
the wild steers are in a trap. There i
only one place of egress, which is up
narrow inclined plane. A train of car
has been run alonside of the pens, an
the door of each car is opposite an
close to the opening through which tn,
r. cattle expect to escape. When all is i
readiness a cowboy gives a shrill cal
which usually frightens some timi
steer, who makes a bolt up the incline
, plane and into the car. All the other
follow him, and in an extremely shol
time the cars opposite the pens are ful
and the train is started along unit
empty cars are again in position, whe
+. the same process is repeated. Their
is no little risk in making up "A lOat
b The cattle are wild and unused to rC
D. straint of any kind, and the dexterit
$ of the cowboys with their long prod
Z is all that prevents serious troubles an
delays.
At the present time hundreds
young men from the east and fro
. England are seeking to become owne
st of ranches in the Northwest. They a
tempted by the almost fabulous stat