St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-01
ON THE MONTANA RANCHES.
Shipments from the Pacific Coast a
New Feature.
Quarantine Regulations Unsattsfac.
tory to Small Ow ners.

Quarantine Regulations Unsattsfac.
tory to Small Ow ners.
Correspondence of the Globe.
HELENA, May 29.-If general business
in Montana is sympathizing to an unavoid-
able extent with dull times throughout the
country; if copper mining is feeling the in
fuence of reduced prices; if silver mining
is somewhat affected by the war that is
brewing against unlimited silver coinage,
nothing of the kind can be said Of the great
industry of stockgrOwing. Never has it
assumed the dimensions that it presents this
spring, and never did it have more pros
porous outlook. The warm weather which
started the grass early in March has only
been broken by occasional snow or rail-
falls. There is already much
heavier grass crop than at any time
last year and its growth will continue for
some weeks to come yet, unless in the i'm
probable event that the dry season should
Immediately succeed. This insrlres early
beef and good pasturage on the ranges
throughout the year.
THE ROUND-UPs.
are now in progress all over the country.
So far as they have advanced the losses re-
ported will demand no increase of estimates
made last winter-2 per cent. or less for
acclimated stock and double that figure for
pilgrim cattle. The calf crop is believed to
be unusually large. This is in part due to
the fine, warm weather of the early spring
which caused no loss among the infant
beeves and in part to the fact that
StOckmen began to realize last year
that they did not keep enough bulls on the
range and that those which they did keep
were often too old to be effectively service
able. Up to a year or two ago stock grow
ing in Montana was conducted in hap
hazard -yOu-please style; in fact it was
hardly conducted at all. In 1881 and 1882
Y Yellowstone valley scores of Montanans
awoke to find themselves wealthy.
Cattle buyers came from Chicago
and paid them large prices for beef of all
ages and their bank accounts were enor-
mously sweIled by sudden accession of
cash that came they hardly know how.
Years before they had acquired, perhaps
incidentally, bunch of
MONTANA BRED CATTLE,
hardy as the buffalo. These roamed over
the limitleSs unOccupied ranges and multi
piled with the care of only enough men to
brand them and to watch their motions.
To reach market a long drive to the Union
Pacific was necessary and was rarely under
taken. But the construction of the North
ern Pacific brought a market to their doors.
Then, and not till then, did stock growers
in the territory realize the value of the Boz
nanza in their grasp, and then only did
CTR i,, To
the outlines of great industry. But it
has taken shape and grown with marvellous
rapidity.
A plan of the business, merely inaugur-
ated last year, was that Of shipping from
the Pacific coast to Eastern Montana
ranges; this year it is
AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT
in the traffic For weeks past one or two
trainloads daily have been brought into the
country from the West and it is said the
Eastern shipments of neat cattle from that
direction will reach 30, 600, at least, during
the season. The majority of these come
from Central Washington, the Eastern
slope of the Cascade mountains, though
many have been brought from the more
Eastern portion Of the territory. So far as
your correspondent has seen the greater
part of these Pacific cattle are cows and
young heifers, though there is
a sprinkling of steers that will go
on to Chicago next autumn, when they
have converted some Montana bunch grass
into juicy beef. These Washington cattle
are good stock. They are uniformly in
good condition and show evidences of better
breeding than do the shipments that are
picked up Unfortunately in the Missis-
sippi valley. They are range cattle, too,
and although accustomed toa
LESS RIGOROUS CLIMATE
than they find in Montana, are thoroughly
used to picking their own living twelve
months out of the year. Therein they
have the advantage Of Eastern pilgrims
about as human rrlstler from California or
Oregon would hold over the tenderfoot from
New York, or even Illinois.
I, No small number of horses have come
from the west side of the mountains this
spring. Several large drives, principally
cayuse grades from Western Montana
ranges, have been sold in the Yellowstone
valley for cowboy mounts, and one such
band went to the Black Hills country. One
train load went to Fargo, and was said to
be destined for the Canadian government
at Winnipeg. A train load of mutton sheep
from Washington territory went over the
road a few days ago, which was certainly
destined for that consignee.
The season for sheep drives has not
opened yet. They are trailed from Cali
fornia, Oregon and Washington and are
sometimes months on the road. They are
apt to arrive here scabby and in poor con-
dition and to
SUFFER SEVERELY
tho fret xviDtaISrn very C9rnfullV tended
Low prices have depressed wool growing,
though it is still sufficiently profitable to
pay big and quick returns on the invest
ment.
The tendency among stockgrOwers is to
improve the breeds. Among beginners in
the business who have some capital the in
variable policy is to buy high grade stock.
Several holders OF common range herds
have lately sold and invested a portion of
the proceeds in finer stock. The breeds
chiefly, almost solely affected are
Durhams, HOlsteins and Polled-Angus
or Galloway cattle in the order
named. Crosses of Durhams with the other
breeds are also favorites. Much is claimed
for the adaptability of the Polled Angus
cattle to our Montana ranges, though they
are yet an experiment.. It is urged that
their native Scotch highland pastures as
nearly as may be conform to our Montana
ranges; that they are early and diligent
rustlers; that they are very hardy and put
on beef quickly and in large quantities.
From the fact that they are hornless they
are certainly very convenient to handle in
shipping.
A MARKED IMPROVEMENT
is noticeable in our horses. Uutil very
lately the horses in general use in this terri
tory have been broncho bybids from Oregon
or cayuse grades from our own ranges.
Both breeds are tough and spirited but by
no means beautiful in form or disposition