Omaha daily bee., 1885-03-31
thu snow from crusting, which lnsures
plenY Of feed at al times.

TIN snow from crusting, which Insure
plenY Of feed at all times.
WINTER GRASS.
Cattle are wlntered simply by beint
turned loose upon the free ranges, and
cowboys watch th EN- from time TO time,
keeping them moving when q cold snap
prevails. They attempt to ''bunch'
when It Is very cold, turning their hesor
Inward, and in this way
those in the center are crowded and
crashed by others forming in a circle
on the outside. The cowboys follow the
herds, and are on the lookout to break up
| punching. Grass In Montana cures on
| the ground without rottlng, and during
| the winter time Is equal to the best hay.
| There is plenty of 1t at all seasons of the
year, and cattle get oil the feed they
want. There would be great danger to
these northern ranges IL the snow should
either crust or pile up so that the animals
could not reach the grass beneath; but
the atmosphere being so dry, the snow
is like dust, has no moisture, and Is blown
hither and thither by every wind, thus
keeping the grass always exposed. For
the same reason 1t does not crust
1t must be different down along the
Union Pacific railroad, where the snow.
fall Is certa My heavier and the stmoI-
phere moiAt.r. 1t can be readily seen
that the cold of the northwest is q bene-
fit, rather than a disadvantage, to cattle
growing.
The ranges being free and 80 vast in
extent cattle owners can't tell, as a
usual thing, how many cattle they have
until the grand round ups each spring.
The spring roundup Is principally for
the branding of calves, while the fall
round up is held for the cutting out of
marketable beeves. If there are any
beeves fit for market. at the spring round.
up, which Is certainly the case this year
they are turned upon choice ranges until
ready for shipment.
THE QUESTION.
One drawback in the minds of many
| TO the successful raising of cattle in Mon
tana is the absence of water. This oh
lection In time will be obvisted by the
sinking of srtesian wells wherever prac'
| ticable. There are many localities from
Dakota to the Rocky Mountains where
wells could be sunk at light expense,
thus converting dry places into green
pastures. Mr.. W. d. PegEam expert
mented on the waterless plains near Bill
lings not long since and by digging and
boring obtained pure water at a small
depth. He then put up three wind mills
aud made large troughs to hold the water.
The plan was a success, and now Mr..
Pegram has several thousand head of
cattle ranging On good gaass.
The absences of salt from this section
has been deplored, too, as another disad-
vantage to stock growing. 1t has been
discovered that in drinking from the va
rlous streams watering the different
ranges, cattle take in more or less alkali,
which answer the purpose fully as well as
salt. Thus, one by one all of the objec'
lions advanced have been answered.
This year will see a big boom In the
cattle business of Montana. The drive
in may not be as large as last season, ow'
ing to the failure ofthe cattle trail scheme
and the various quarantine laws. But
there promises to be a heavy influx from
both east and west, from Iowa and Ore
gon, all of which will be handled by the
Northern Pacific railroad. This great
corporation, unlike others of its kind,
should bs called the cattlemen's friend
They are fostering the stock business Of
Montana In every imaginable way, and tc
this end are out In a new schedule of live
stock rates, which gladdens the cattle
mems hearts. Cattle can now be ex
ported or imported at better figures thar
ever before.
SpApSEIy or(TTpIFD pANGPS
The ranges of Montana are reasonably
full, though not by any means crowded
Between the Yellowstone and Missour
rivers ara many good locations not ye1
taken up, while north of the Missouri tx
the British line ara few if any cattle
grazing. Milk river has numerous trib.
utarles with ranges provided with plenty
of grass and abundance of water, anc
not a tenant. A good many cattle are
grazing on the Crow reservation, while
the immense Plegsn.B Blood reservation
In the north is supporting a number o.
herds belonging to white men, who pay
no rent for the ground.
The cattle business In Montana Is al
right. Last winter was the severest eve
known. ALI kinds of stock, pilgrims anc
ma ives, have pulled through with a LOST
of less than five per cent. and are a
present in fine form. By the end o.
1885, Montana will have the best show
ing, regarding cattle, of any other state
or territory il the union. JIM, L.