The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-06-04
STOCK
Contributions for this page respectfully solicited
from stockmen and Others
The Future Of Stock RAISING.

The question has been put to these
cattlemen again and again the past two
weeks: What is the future Of your
business ?" and the uniform answer is
Diminished but still handsome profits
Their faith is shown by their works
They sell land in quantities and cattle
in numbers which would seem to indi-
cate they are closing out all their stock
interests. 1t would be a mistake to &C.
cept any such impression. Tempted by
the offers which those who want to in
vest are making, the cowmen are selling
a range here and a herd there, but no
sessions in land and stock into cash.
He passes over enough to start a bank,
build a forty thousand-dollar residence,
as one has just done in Henrietta, or to
enable him to set up an establishment
In the city, but he at the same time
holds on to other land and other cattle.
His ranch and not his bank account is
the coWman's financial anchor.
A thousand head of cattle five years
ago represented eight thousand dollars.
Now the investment stands for three
times that amount, and profits must be
estimated on the changed basis. Then
the herds roamed at will there were no
leases, 10 wire fences; the cowman
owned only his home place, and
times not even that. Now the ranges
must be purchased OF leased. In the
former case the ranges representa- cost
pasturage of a thousand at the lowest
estimate is six thousand acres. Or ifthe
land be leased, there is a yearly rental
to pay of 8 cents anacre or more. Then
comes the fencing, for with the ircreas-
ed capital required the cowman feels the
necessity OF reducing the business to as
much system as possible. Fencing-for
large tracts cost z cents an acre-ourtails
the number Of cowboys, and also reduces
the percentage of loses from drifting to
almost nothing.
With the fencing more watch
fitness over the herd, the feeding of the
weaker in winter, earlier and closer
branding of the calves. Every large
ranch now has a bookkeeper. A super
intendent, who looks after the purchases,
and a foreman are considered necessary.
In many ways the coWman Of to-day
improves on the methods of five years
ago. He must do SO, for the same ranch
means five or six times as much money
to earn dividends on as it did then, and
the beef cattle, which furnish the reve-
nue., command only about double the
prices they did then. The profits of SO,
go and 20 per CEN can no longer be
earned the smaller stockmen have to be
satisfied with from II to Is per cent, but
the companies by reducing expenses
and carrying their herds into the hun
dreds of thousands, hope to realize from
20 to 30 per cent, and vii probably do so.
AS to the safety Of live stock invest
ment, that goes without saying in this
country. The stockman laughs at any
suggestion of lower prices than now
prevail. Beef cattle will fuctuate from
season to season; last year they were
higher than the year before, and this
year the scales so far show firm figures
maintained. The limit of the grazing
is now known, and there seems to be nc
possibility of stock raising getting be-
You'd the demand of meat eaters
Nebraska Cor. Globe smocrat.