Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-08-15
CATTLE RAISING IL MONTANA.
IL. E. McNair, of Utica, NJ T., in the Northwest
UTICA, Meagher Co, Mont, July Is,

in regard to the stock business on the
plains. with a view to coming here to III
vest, and who are inquiring: Where sAall
we 90? What kind Of stock shall we
raise? What practical experience is need
cd; and how much capital ought we to
have to make a start? One Of these par
ties writes from Ohio, saying that he was
interested in an article on wintering stock
in Montana, which appeared in the May
number of the Northwest Magazine, and,
having obtained the address of the writer,
he wishes to ask him a few questions. tie
asks: Where would you advise me to so
to engage in the sheep business? Where,
to engage in cattle? and what can | 0
with a capital of $4,000? While | can
not speak Of those parts Of the northwest
which [ have not seen, ! know that IN
Montana, east of the Main Divide Of the
Rocky Mountains, the natural advantages
for stock raising can scarcely be surpass-
ed. Other things being equal, it is gener-
ally better to locate upon a new range IN
order to have choice Of locations and get
a good start before the range becomes
crowded.
The Judith Basin, situated almost inthe
centre of the Territory, has long, and very
Justly, too, been called the garden spot of
Montana. The native grasses here make
a ranker growth than i'll most parts Of the
Territory; and in the mountains and foot
hills which form the rim Of the basin,
there are numerous springs, the sources
Of many streams Of pure, crystal water.
| These streams all converge towards the
| centre of the basin, and there unite to
form the Judith, which then breaks
| through the northern rim and pours its
waters into the muddy Missouri. The
luxury of plenty Of good water is not APP
preeiated by most people in the east, but
a few days travel across some Of our
parched plains in midsummer would
make them feel that all material blessings
are summed up in that one thing-pure
water. AS | said, the streams are quite
numerous in the Judith Basin, and along
these a few good ranches still remain to
be located. The best have already been
taken, but some Of these, well improved,
could be purchased at a reasonable figure.
| know of no section Of country, already
opened up for settlement, which IS more
desirable for the stock business than the
foothills skirting the Belt, Highwood, Ju.
dith, Moccasin and Snowy mountains.
The reports of the Chicago live stock
market show that Montana steers average
m]orepounds of beef per head than any
other plains cattle, andthat they are much
sought after by buyers. 1t would also
seem that this climate is favorable to 8
heavy growth of wool, and | think it is
not excelled by Ohio, western New York
or Vermont. But in reply to the ques
sta2srsS Se4l Uc gwen. q
good start and success depend not so much
upon the amount of capital invested as
upon the man. What one would consid
er a good start another would think nc
start at all. If q man understands how
and is able to do all kinds of work requir
ed on an eastern farm, he has a pretty
good start to learn the stock business. ]
have in mind a man who this spring
started into the cattle business with a cap.
ital of about $4,000 and, from what have
seen OF him in the past two years, venture
to predict that he will succeed. He pur.
chased a team of horses, harness and
wagon for about three hundred and fifty
dollars and located a ranch surrounded
by a good range. While riding across the
country the other day | came upon him
at noon and was Hospitality invited to take
dinner with him. He had built his fire
III the bottom of a shallow trench dug in
the ground, over which he hung his pots
and kettles, while near by was a Temporal
ry shelter which protected his bedding
and provisions. He is now 'rustIing" to
get logs out of the mountains to build a
house, and posts and poles to build sheds,
c%orrals, etc, in order to be prepared to
winter stock. When he needs assistance
he will try to manage 50 as to exchange
work with some Of his neighbors. BY this
fall, or next spring, at least, he will have
such Improvements as are necessary to
keep stock, and with only a comparative
ly small outlay of money.
Most of us, when we first come from
the east, would expend every cent of that
$4,000 in getting our Improvements put
up; and then, too, for lack of experience,
not have them as well adapted to the bust
money. | do not wish to convey the idea
that everyone must commence by rough
ing it in the same manner as the party re-
ferred to; but in doing so he manifested
a certain self reliance and power of adapt
ing himself to circumstances, which, lido
believe, are essential qualities for success.
There is, however, another and, in the
opinion of many, a better way; that is for
the embryo stock ma to come here and
thoroughly learn his business before in
vesting any money in it. By hiring out
Il year to a cattle or sheep man he ought,
if he is observing, to become familiar
with the best methods of handling and
treating stock. Besides knowing more
about stock, he would be better qualified
to judge whether his capital was suffici-
ent to give him a good start. It is true