The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-03-05
STOCK RAISING.
An Interesting Letter From
Charles Anceny.

He Tells Some Plain Truth
About the Cattle
| Interest.
Being an advocate of the advancement
Of stock growing as well as other indus
tries, may be justified in saying ths
the shove circular comedies exactly will
whst have many times repeated, viz
That of all the industries of the West
cattle alone have been excepted in thu
point of justice, and have not as yet re
ceived encouragement to their improve
ment or any protection whatever from
the authorities. But as the demand fol
protection Of cattle is only made by
those most directly abused, the effect il
absorbed by . misconstruction of the
common order ofthings. While if those
were the expressions Of more eminent
personages they might have a different
bearing on the minds Of the people
Therefore We should give encouragement
to this circular intended for the general
good. As it il stated in the circular. our
government and the people have but q
very limited idea of the urgent need Of
protection to the live stock interest.
Cattle-Rrowen in particular have to q
crest extent stood in their own light.
Growing grievances among themselves
instead of contributing towards their
mutual interest. A certain class, more
especially shepherds, have profited by
this neglect, and turned those mistakes
to their own advantage. Protection to
cattle cannot prove detrimental to other
industries.
Although we agree that all live stock
are necessary to US, no one will contra
dict that cattle are the most precious, as
we get from them not only our beef,
which ia staple article as well as -four,
but other indispensable produce that
cannot be gotten from any other live
stock. Besides what We have gathered
from the experience Of others we have
had experience of our own, for which
schooling We paid dearly.
Beginning from the time when there
were but few fences in this country and
grass in abundance up to our doors the
change was 10 gradual as to escape notice
up to four years ago, the winter of the
great mortality of cattle and sheep. Had
1t not been for the mighty chinook
cunning to our aid, in two weeks more at
least rs per cent. of the cattle and sheep
OF this territory would have perished.
We infer from this that Providence
more than nature managed our affairs
this time. Some Of us took the hint and
concluded 1t would be better to do some
thing ourselves to save our stock. While
Others thought in order not to be caught
again in like pinch they had better
make preparations to sell their cattle.
The next winter was more favorable,
and the losses comparatively lighter, ex-
cepting in this valley, there being more
snow than in most places. But the
greatest exception was in this district of
Hamilton. We had, as l have said,
taken the hint and devoted considerable
time and care to herd the cattle from the
winter range, by such means having sue
ceeded to save an abundance of feed for
our stock through the winter. But this
move we thought so creditable turned
out to be . calamity for us. Some
wrongly advised parties at the head of
5000 head of wild Oregon cattle finding
our range IN excellent condition thought
they had . soft thing to dropln there for
winter, and no council contrary to this
could change their determination. We
I'll had TO chance the consequences.
Naturally enough at the first heavy storm
nj the cattle came down from the deep
snow and over-crowded the winter
range. The grass was soon exhausted.
The Oregon cattle commenced early to
die Of starvation. Ours being in better
Ok and stronger stood little longer, but
lfter = while commenced diving too and
Kept dying until over in the month of
May, our losses being fully ~ heavy rs
he winter before. The loss sustained on
he east and north side of East Gallatln,
fom the same cause was equally a.
Ireat. This completed the panic started
he winter bsfore. The majority of cat
lie spared from death were for sale.
Those who have read our debate
through the newspapers, may remember
ny language to my neighbors. Do not
Iell your cattle. Stand firm in your To-
:ation and up to your rights. Once your
,attle are gone your l6o acres will not be
y valuable - it is by them made valu-
.ble. The Oregon parties having more
Money than experience learned severe
esson, and in due time expressed . wish
o drive their cattle to = more extensi, e
,ountry, which they did q soon ss
he season would permit. But nothing
,ould arrest their determination to sell
'ut, consequently 5000 head of cattle
to actual settlers were sold and
lriven away from this valley that spring.
1ow our ranges are again filed up, not
o much with cattle, but more 20 with
heep and horses, owned more particu-
arly by new comers and foreign capital.
'or two years after we sold our cattle,
lines were good and we did well enough,
,ut all at once we find ourselves still at |
he head of our real estate more or less
involved in debt, without much Of any
hing around us to turn into money. The
attle are gone and the money we re-
eived for them also. Horses are not |
ommanding very ready cash at present
nd 1t takes 90 many sheep to bring a
title money, that they are only per-
onal profit to their owners to the detri- |
vent of every one else We have to go |
Aack to cattle. the only property We have
tAat commands cash price at good fig |
ufsa. and we dnd that the few remaining |