St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-13
Report of r. B. Wilson, Live
Stock Agent of the North
ern Pacific Road,
Showing that Cattle In Montana are
in Better Condition than
Ever Before.
Low Rates for transportation OF Seed Grains
Railroad Failures-Local and
Telegraphic Notes.
The Conditions of the Cattle.


When the false reports were circulated as
to the condition of the. cattle In Montana,
Mr.. Hannaford, Of the Northern Pacific road,
sent Mr.. R. B. Wilson, the live stock agent
of that road, into that territory to look the
matter up, and he makes the following re-
port, under date of Billings, NJ. T., January
10, 1885:
j. NJ. Han naford, Esq, General Freight
Agent, st. Paul, MINI. Dear Sir: Referring
to the article published in the Pioneer Press
on January 2, in regard to the condition of
of cattle ranges tributary to Miles City, can
say upon the authority Of leading stock men
whom | have met, and who were on their
ranges through the late cold weather, that
this article Is false In every particular. The
cattle that the writer of this article saw along
the Yellowstone and Tongue river, in starry
ing condition, must have been the produce
ton of Il badly disordcred brain, as am re-
liably informed by citizens of Miles City that
not more than 300 head of cattle were near
the city during the cold weather, and these
were promptly driven back to their ranges.
The report that great many cattle had fallen
through the ice on Yellowstone is without
the slightest foundation. 1t was thought that
eight or ten head had been drowned near
Terry
Mr.. J. NJ. Holt came in from his ranch on
the Mizpah, the day before / visited Miles City
and stated that he and his men rode their
range through all the cold weather, and that
they did not find any dead cattle and but very
few that would not pull through the winter
in good shape. Mr.. Holt does not think
that the loss on range cattle will exceed
per cent. unless the spring should be late
and cold. w. H. Cotant, who has been in
this country since 1880, says that he has
never seen cattle in as good condition at this
time of the year. Mr.. Henry Tusler, whose
cattle range is on the north side of the yell
lOwstOne, tells me that his men have had but
little trouble with their cattle this winter aud
have not been troubled as much by wolves
this winter as last. All the stockmen have
met are in the best of spirits and laugh at
the article to which have referred. While
they admit that they have had fifteen days of
severely cold weather and quite deep snow.
there has been no time that cattle could not
get plenty of feed. l saw some cattle along
the track west of Billings: these cattle looked
well, considering they were estate Dogies."
Just west of Reeds point there was large
bunch of cattle quite close to the track so that
| had good opportunity to judge of their
All Tie Cdlllt L nave secu along
the south side of the Yellowstone are in very
fine condition for this time of the year and |
do not think that they have suffered for want
of feed at any time this winter.
Stockmen whom have met in Bozeman
speak encouraglngly of the outlook for stock.
Cattle on Clarks Fork have suffered from
cold, but there has been no time this winter
that they could not get plenty Of feed. Cattle
on Smith river, Fort Logan and White
Sulphur springs have come through the cold
weather in good shape, and the last few days
has taken of almost all the snow, so there is
no danger of any loss. Cattle on Shields river
are reported in fine condition, although they
have had very cold weather. have not been
able 10 get any report from the Big Horn and
Sinking Water Basins.
From what have seen, aud from the in
formation that have been able TO gather
from stockmen who have been in the bust
ness for years in this country, l can safely
say that cattle are in as good condition as
they ever have been at this time of the year.
believe the majority Of cattle in this country
to-day are In much better condition to
stand severe cold weather than they were at
this time last season. There is but little
snow left on the ground along the Yellow
stone, aud the thermometer has registered
fifty degrees above zero every day this week
In the Yellowstone valley. Respectfully
yours, X b. WILSON,
Live Stock Agent.