St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-20
Opening at Miles City Of the Great Cat
tlemen's Convention Under Fav-
orable Auspices.
Large and Enthusiastic Meeting, Which
Favors st. Paul as the Coming
Cattle Market.
Addresses Made by the ST. Paul Dele
CATION Create a Marked Impress
sion on the Convention.
a Committee TO Visit st. Paul TO In
spect Her AdvantaGes--R Routine
Business Transacted.
Special from a staf Correspondent.

Sol. Bryan, president OF the Montana
StockgrowerS' association, arose from his
chair this morning to open the great stock
mems convention, he saw in front of him
500 as stalwart repre- sentative and intel
ligent men as one could wish 20 see. Cattle
men not only from all parts of Montana,
Wyoming and Dakota were present, but
stockmen also from other sections of the
country, even as far south as the Indian
territory and Texas. Over 500 of the
visitors present are Montana stockgrowers,
who represent over 8. ZOO, 900 head of cattle.
| This is all the mole astonishing when il is
taken into consideration that ten years ago,
where the cattle now roam the ranges, the
buhsio in countless droyes held un-
disputed sway. Their supremacy was
short, however, for the building of the
Northern Pacific railroad into the country
brought the hunters who came for slaughter
instead of sport. At the same time the
cattle began TO pour in, and the nutritious
bunch grass began TO be cropped by differ
ent race OF animals
UPON THOUSAND HILLS.
In 1881 there were $50. 600 head of cattle
in the territory, while now the number has
grown TO nearly 100000 in Montana
alone. The capital represented by the gen.
| tlemen present to-day will reach the enor-
nous sum Of S125. 900, 600, and is con-
Stantly increasing with the natural increase
of the cattle. In addition TO the cattle
there was $50, 600 head of horses and over
2G0, 600 head of sheep upon Montana ranges.
| The largest ranches, that Is to say those
holding the greatest number of cattle,
are in Custer county, which con-
tains about 160, 900 head, Meagher county
| 100, 900 headl and Choteau county go, OO0l.
tana, particularly in the great triangular
range country north and west of the Yel-
| lowstOne, has been very marked, Dawson
county, which five years ago did not have
hoof, now contains over 80, 600 head of the
| horned CRITTERS" This sudden growth of
the cattle business, as Col. Bryan has said,
is due TO variety of causes. In the first
place the southern ranges became crowded
and it was necessary TO find new pastures.
Montana offered herself and Immediately
| was taken possession Of. Then, attracted
| by the stories of
MARVELLOUS PROFITS
Eastern capital which was earning and
per cent. was hastily put into a business
which held for golden promise of per-
centage ten times as large. Mon
tana, too, was easy Of ac-
cess by trail from the south
almost endless stream of stock poured in,
and the territory in consequence began TO
accrue its present great wealth both in
cattle and in public-spirited men. These
latter are the gentlemen now in convention
at Miles City.
The present association, which takes in
every cattlenIan of note in the territory, is
an amalgamation of an association of seven
cattlemen formed in Miles City in 1882 and
| one formed in Helena in 1884. Col. BRYAN
has made a very acceptable president. The
secretary and treasurer is Russell 3. Harri-
son, son of Senator Harrison of Indiana,
and the vice presidents eX-GOv. Potts and
Capt. Harmon. Besides these there is an
executive committee, upon which every
large outfit is represented. These stated
meetings are considered TO be of great i'm
portance by the stockmen and
MATTERS OF VITAL INTEREST
to the industry are discussed and decided,
including the arrangements for the spring
and fall roundup" at which time all Of
the cattle running at will during the winter
are collected, their ownership determined
and the calves branded. If the time is the
| fall roundup" then the fat beeves are
''cut out" and sent to market.
The usual number of ''tenderfeet' from
the east were present to-day, and looked at
| the picturesquely attired $40 a month cow
| hoy in open-mouthed awe and astOnish-
ment, while the Quietly-dressed stockman,
whose check is good for 500. 600. they do
not honor with even a passing glance. But
certainly the cowboy, arrayed in all his
paraphernalia, does look more formidable
and awe-inspiring than his employer.
AT 10 o'clock this morning the 500 visit
ors formed i'm line, half of them on their
bronchos, and marched to the roller rink,
where the convention is being held. 1t was
J called to order by President Bryan, and
Andrew 4. Burleigh, formerly United
States attorney. delivered hearty address
/ of welcome OH behalf of the citizens of
Miles City. During the forenoon but little
| business was transacted beyond organizing
and reading the secretary and treasurer's
report. After such routine business Presi-
dent Stlckney of the Minnesota 81 North
western railroad. who arrived last night
with the St Paul delegation, and Prof.
Phelps, secretary of the chamber of COM
merce, addressed the convention upon
ST. PAUL's ADVANTAGES
as cattle market. They We're listened TO
very attentively by the members of the as
socation. who fully realize the benefit to
| be derived from shortening their haul To a
market by 400 miles. 1t was shown that
4
/ 100, 600 cattle pass through ST. Paul 10 mar
ket Yet the quarter of a million people in
and around st. Paul and Minneapolis buy
annually for their consumption from 90. 600
to $4,000 beeves. This in itself.
even without the establishment
of packing establishments would 20 far to-
wards marketing the output of Northwest
ern ranges Reason would seem TO dictate
that therefore a market be established i'm
st. Paul. This point the eattlemen appre-
ciated and endorsed with scarcely a dis
senting voice. The interest with which
they followed every word OF the gentlemen
who spoke upon the subject, and particu-
larly the speech of President Stickney, who
| is lOnGed upon as the promoter of the
scheme, was an indication that they were
quite ready to lend ready acquiescence to a
proposition which appealed so directly TO
their material interests. In conversation
with the GLOBE representative fully a score
of the heaviest owners declared that ST.
Paul should be
THE NATURAL MARKET
for the Northwest just as Kansas CITY is
for the Southwest, and that their every eff
| fort would be directed towards that end.
The scheme is the topic of conversation in
| the city. and the consensus of opinion
seems to be that the question is as good as
settled in favor of st. Paul, and that there
! can be no question of the success of the
project. While cattle fattened on the
range can only be made ready for the
butcher during the grass season, they could
be shipped to st. Paul at any season be-
cause of the excellent feeding. fattening
and yard facilities which could easily be
provided here at the minimum of cost.
Several other gentlemen then spoke in the
same vein. and after long list of names of
h..