Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-03-31
INTER-OCEAN
MOUSE RIVER SToCKMEN
Interesting Items from the Great
Cattle Ranges.

MOUSE RIVER STOCKMEN
Interesting Items from the Great
Cattle Ranges.
Special Correspondence of the I~HrsR.OcEAH.l
It Is now just n year since your cor
respondent had the pleasure of writing
to you about the cattle interests OF
Mouse River, and it 10 indeed a pleasure
I nole tho various improvements, both
in the grade Of cattle and the sheltering
and taking care of them. on which de-
ponds SO much in tho making Of cattle
raising a success in this country. Al
though there are still q number. and I
believe a majority, of cattle owner in
this section whose only shelter for
the cattle is the timber. I believe it to be
an acknowledged fact, that they do
better to have sheds US we'll. To make
cattle raising a success, you must have
an increase. To have an increase, you
must take unceasing care of your lows.
and see that before calving, they are not
in the same enclosure, with big steers,
which are continually horning and
bossing them around. For a man to
come and start stock raising here and
think that money is going to come
rolling in, without taking proper care OF
his cattle, that man Is going to be badly
fooled, us some found out to their cost
last year. I AN happy to report there
has been little or no loss Of cattle this
winter, and taking the cattle all through
1have seldom II ever seen cattle In finer
condition. Sheep raising is, I firmly
believe, gong to take u prominent place
in the industries Of the country (f the
tariff Oh wool 10 let %alOne,) and Messrs.
Prouty & Richardson of Grand Forks
E. L. Conklin and Messrs. Rogers d. Val.
Amtlne have all started in the sheep
business this last year, and have so far
overy reason to be pleased with their
success. We have had quite u number
of wolves and lynx this winter, which
have shown q considerable liking for
mutton; but it is talked Of getting up Il
good pack Of hounds, next fall, and we
hope 10 be able to give u good account OF
some of the wolves.
In looking oyer the different herds,
the am question il always repeating
itself, to my mind, Why was not Mouse
RIVER represented at the North Dakota
Fair at Grand Forks? We have one ol
the finest thoroughbred Polled Angus
herds in the northwest, and beef cattle
that I am willing to wager cannot be
boat anywhere. In visiting Mr.. Andrew
Pendroy's herd OF grade Iieretords, l
could pick out Il bunch tit to be showna as
beef cattle in any state fair in the United
States, although fed Oh nothing more
than hay, and they never so much as
nee a pan of feed all their lives. 1t is to
he hoped that Mr.. Coutts Marjoribanks
may DO induced to exhibit his fine i'm
ported herd of Pollctl Angus at the
next Territorial Fair, and then. gentle
nsn from Grand Forks and othor places,
look out for your ribbons!
Among the stockmon who have this
!ast year purchased thoroughbred bulls
are Messrs. Ely, Powers, Marjoribanks
and Thursby, and there seems to bs y
steadily growing determination to breed
10 the best only, and I think il quite
likely that the.e will 80 u llg demand
for thoroughbred bulls this spring. To
ehow ~ all example that. cattle raising
can be made q SUCCESS here, Mr.. Fred
Powers had, up to y woek ago, managed
to save some 20 head Of calves, which
came in tho coolest part of the winter,
which speaks very creditably for the
care aud good management OF that
gentleman.
Messrs. Proutv s. Richardson, finding
their herd had increased to such proper
lions that it was beginning to be y diff
celt task to find hay for them, reduced
their numbers to soms 400 head, which
they have successfully wintered over.
These gentlemen had the misfortune TO
lose soins 1900 tons of hay BY prairie fire
last fall, but nothln. daunted sci 10
work and purchase | enough hay to
make up the deficiency, which sneaks
we'll for their pluc!; and perseverance.
Col. John Ely h.s wintsred oyer some
600 head OF cattle at his fine ranch, al
ilae some nice specimens of white faces
there. This gentleman has now in his
herd III 5 or G pure bred Hereford
bulls, which will undoubtedly grade
his herd up to Il high point OF excellence.
Mr.. Francis Coulin and MIR. John
Davis have both a nice herd OF ponies,
and those wishing to purchase ponies
this soriu. would do well to give those
xentlemen a call. Home industries
should always be %patronizeu and encour-
aged. So your readers will learn that
this year it will not be necessary to wait
for ponies from the west, AZ they can DO
purchased right here in their own
country.
Mr.. A. J. Richards who had the mis-
fortune TO lose 80 many cattle last year,
has wintersd his herd through in tine
shape, without any loss, and will in the
spring bear c~ulnDarison with any herd
on the river.
Mr.. Geo. Souls, vino moved down the
river last summer, to his new ranch,
has so,ne 200 head ofcattle there, and has
some very fine steers that should bring
in good price this spring. His cattle
have been we'll cared for this winter,
and will come out in tho spring as faL as
they went III last fall.
Another acquisition to the country are
Messrs. Garner Bros, who purchased
some 200 hoad Of young cattle last year,
and although I have no. had the chance
Of seeing their cattle personally, I heal
they have every reason TO be satisfied
with their investment.
Mr.. Ta!madge has a new graded herd