The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1884-12-13
presence of the best examples of all
classes of live stock to be found on
this continent.
Cattle Branding Must be Stopped.
fChicaro Shoe and Leather Reyiewl

IC01Ca8O SnOS 6nO Acatncr NeVlcW.
It is a matter Of congratulation
that the recent St. Louis conven-
ton of cattle raisers, tanners and
hide dealers took 80 pronounced a
position on the subject of branding
hides. This evil-for it should be
characterized by no milder term
has grown to such gigantic proper
tions that the indignant and manly
protest entered by tanners, hide
and leather dealers, made deep
and we believe lasting impression
upon the cattle growers. 1t is a
case where the argument is exclus-
lively affirmative. There is no neg
ative side to the question. The
tanners and leather men said to the
cattlemen: "You are, by adherlng
to your practice of branding, throw
ing away millions of dollars every
year. These millions, instead Of
going into your pockets, are liter
ally burned and exterminated by
your branding irons"
To this indictment the cattle
growers could make no defense.
J. S. Medary. of the firm of Davis,
Medary & Platz, tanners, Of La
Crosse, Wisconsin,, makes an inter-
esting and significant statement in
this connection. Briefly, it is this:
At the convention u committee Of
the hide men was appointed to
meet a committee of the leather
men. During the conference which
ensued, A. Rumsey & Co., of Buffa-
10, exhibited three sides of sole
leather. One bore no brand; a Sec
ond was marked by small brand;
the third, to use Mr.. Medary's
words, twas branded all over the
side" When the cattle men looked
upon these sides and were made to
understand the loss entailed by the
branding, they promptly acknow-
lodged that the practice was one
which involved useless waste Of
money. Many of them admitted
that it was the first time they had
seen evidence that branding as,
now practiced, was needless sacri-
flee of money.
The three sides alluded to were
then prominently displayed in the
auditorium of the Exposition
building. Over the side which
bore no brand-the TX" or prime,
was the inscription:
"The value of the hide from
which this side of leather is made
was II cents per pound, making the
value of this leather 80 cents per
pound"
The No. / or butt-branded hide
was valued at 10 cents per pound,
and the leather at 26 cents. Sur
mounting the side which was
"branded all over" was this legend:
"The value of the hide from
which this side of leather is made
was 8 cents per pound, making the
value of this leather 20 cents per
pound"
These figures showed the relative
difference caused by the brands in
the value of the hides. The differ
ence between the butt brand and
the heavy side brand is at least two
cents per pound. Texas sole leath-
er hides average about 68 pounds,
making difference of s1.36 in the
value of he hide.
Of the humane phase of the sub
ject of branding, we have nothing
to offer in this article. With the
cattle-growers it is "a matter of coin,
not sentiment" They have been
convinced that the existing system
wipes out at least two millions of
dollars yearly, which would other
wise go into their pockets. Some
means must be devised to stop this
waste, and in the interim let tan
ners and leather men continue the
agitation of the question. They
should lose no opportunity to pro-
test against side branding, and to
regulate prices accordingly. When
cattle-growers fully realize the i'm
portance of the material intirests
involved, they will work out the
problem of ownership in some other
;ynv