The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-30
STOCK
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from stockmen and others.l
THE o
Not Affected by Over Production
and Financial Depression.
The Growth OF Ranching-The Foreign
Investment-The Benefit of Grading
Up-Montana Cattle IN the
Markets.

spreading, until TO Gay stock ranches
of immense proportions are to be found
in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and all the
Rocky mountain region.
Along the whole line the business has
been taken hold Of with an.evident de-
termination to carry it forward to the
best advantage, and both cattle and
sheep are being graded up by the inn
proved breeds.
The country we have named makes,
indeed, a vast field for the development
of a single branch of industry like the
production of live stock, but the great
tide of immigration is rapidly filling it
up, and the efforts to establish stock
ranches are earnest beyond anything
of the kind that the world can show.
HOME CAPITALISTS
are investing their millions in this bust
ness, and a vast amount of foreign CAPT
tai is being enlisted in the same direc-
ton. While we deprecate anything
like Chinese exclusiveness in matters of
trade, we cannot regard the purchase of
vast tracts of land and immense herds
Of cattle by foreigners as an unmixed
evil. The ownership of American soil,
and the profits arising from the products
thereof rightfully belong to the citizens
of this country, and should not go to
further enrich the purse-proud aristo-
Gratis of the old world, who by the mon
opoly of land and money there have
ground their own people into the dust.
While congress is tinkering the
LAND LAWS
that vitality affect the population of
small means, Or no means save their
strong arms, it is to be hoped they will
give this matter some attention.
The country in all its business and
financial aspects has not been AS sound
the past year as could be wished, but it
is now settled that this ugly feature in
general affairs has no detrimental effect
on the live stock trade. On the con-
trary, the insecurity Of investments in
commercial lines, and the small diyi-
dends realized from first-class securities,
have directed the attention of investors
to the great plains Of the west as the
best source from whence they can draw
unfailing large returns. The opinion OF
such a careful authority as the Scientific
American that Notwithstanding the
great increase in beef production,
THE SUPPLY OF BEEF
ey en- in the most favorable seasons will
not be commensurate with the demand,
because the ratio of increase in cattle is
less than that in population, has done
not little to direct capital into this fav-
ored pursuit.
Within the past five years there has
been a widespread feeling in favor Of
grading up live stock by the introduc-
ton of the best breeds known in the
world, and there have been+many i'm
portations from abroad, which have
been largely distributed amongst ram
cheers. Among the improved cattle
marketed the shorthorn grades fave
been first in numbers, next to which
came the Herefords, about the same in
quality. The polled cattle are not yet
widely enough distributed to be a fea-
ture in the beef markets.
Illustrative of the importance Of
GRADING UP,
we learn Of one man who marketed
thirty high grade shorthorn three year
olds that averaged 1874 lbs, at $3.50 per
100 lbs, or S132.42 per head. On the
same day good native steers averaging
1850 lbs. sold at 81. SO or $56. 25 per head.
The receipts Of cattle for the past year
at the Chicago stock yards We're the
largest ever known. The top prices for
the year started at $3.50, advanced to
$500 in February, to S 7.3O in April, de-
cliiaed to $6.75 i'll May and to $3.50 in
June. In July and August there was q
gain, and in September an advance to
$7.85. October and November were sta
tionary, and December was the highest
1926. These were the prices for the
choicest cattle, but all others moved in
sympathetic relation.
OF all cattle direct from the ranges,
THOSE FROM MONTANA
commanded the highest prices. During
September and October, the time of the
year when the greatest rush o grass fed
cattle is made upon the markets, and
usually a slow, weak feeling in trade is
brought about, we note that Texas cattle
ruled at $500 to $500; Wyoming cattle
at 800 to $500; and Montana cattle at
~ i,0 To $40