The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-03-14
HOLD YOUR HERDS |!
FOR TIME WILL SHOW YOU THAT
"THERE'S MILLIONS IN IT.,
some Plain Words with Stock Men Re-
garding the Future Of Montana's
Cattle Interests.

The time of the stockmen's greatest
activity being near at hand-calves to
be branded, beef marketed and herds
transferred-it is seasonable to publish
such facts relating to this great industry
as can readily be compiled from CONVEX
sations with stockmen and articles con
tanned in stock papers.
Within the past decade no industry in
the United States has grown more rap
idly. The vast plains once called the
Great American Desert have been found
a very paradise for horned stock. Bv
common acceptance divided into three
belts, the northern, consisting of Mon
tana and Dakota, possesses advantages
that gives it supremacy over the others.
This because the grazing region of Mon
tana is the best in the Rocky mountain
district. The grass is principally of
the well known buffalo variety, the
most nutritious in the world, containing
when dried standing upon the ranges a
lfe-sustaining and fattening property
not possessed by the best summer cured
hay Of the States. The water facilities
of this territory are markedly superior
to that of other grazing regions, where
by stock is not subjected to waste of
flesh travelling long distances in search
Of that necessary food solvent. Although
the thermometer sometimes indicates
40 below zero that appalling absence Of
caloric is not detrimental to cattle run
ming at large. Some exceptionally Sc
we're seasons it no doubt reduces the per-
centage Of increase by destroying very
young winter calves, but the dry cold
of this rarified atmosphere possesses an
advantage in improving the quality of
the beef that offsets all such loss.
An experienced live stock reporter of
a New York paper, who has visited this
territory writes, Montana possesses
just the right combination Of food and
climate to make perfect beef. The phi
losophy of the attainment of perfection
III beef is not generally understood
What makes good beef is the transition
In temperature; that is, good, sweet,
juicy meat cannot be grown either in
hot climate or where there is a general
average temperature. The reason for
this need not be discussed for all exper-
iments have proven the correctness of
the theory.n
Foreign shippers have heretofore de-
manded the best corn-fed beef of the
states, but it is found that the firm,
sayory, nicely marbled meat coming
from the grazing region of the north
west is more agreeable to epicurean pal
ates. In that trade we need never fear
the rivalry of Texas cattle, which must
be greatly improved by grading before
they will be good for much else than
canning
The industry given PROPER encourage
ment, Montana will rival the beef pro-
ductiOn Of 'iexas in numbers The char
acter of our lands renders it the industry
best suited to the territory, and without
desiring anything unfair to other in
terests it should be especially fostered
III order to give it permanence some
change in the government land system |
is needed.
The exclusive possession of large
tracts may not be advisable but wise
regulations might be adopted to prevent
over crowding of ranges, and the indi-
vidual appropriation of isolated water
holes and minor streams especially fav-
ofabe to the use Of range cattle should |
not be permitted.
ASSOCIATIONS OF CATTLE GROWERS.
can best attend this end 1t is a matter |
" surprise that considering the profits
oi The business when rightly conducted,
"na the immense amount of money in
vowed there is not concerted action
among stockmen to bring about desira-
ple results. The associations now exist
'ls are loose-jointed; of no account as
"iiecting the prosperity of the business
'S securing proper legislation, or its per-
"i"l'ance in large way by guarding it
against undue encroachments. This
may be owing to the fact that the large /
majority of cattle owners are men who,
eoiiliAencing with next to nothing, and .
possessed OF no especial business train
,ig' have under the favorable conditions
,le'e'ofore existing grown rich almost
y accident. Now they are content
I'm what they have, or are slow to per-
1eiVe how to adapt their business to the i