Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-04-05
RANGE CATTLE.
The Interest Of Nen Engaged ia the
Busi"rss Tisowg LtG,sIty Considered.


4 Colorado stockman offers the fol
lowing suggestions for the consilera-
tion Of the international convention
which was held in Denver last week:
The solution of the future welfare
OF the range cattlemen rests with
themselves. They must make up their
minds that they have no friends but
must work out their own salvation
rs best they can.
Frequent range conventions have
been held, and the results have accom-
piishel but little for the cattlemen.
Why is this? The answer is an easy
one. They lack concert of action.
After all such conventions adjourn
each man goes out to act for himself.
independent OF all Others. whether it
results for his own good or not, or for
the general welfare and prosperity of
the range industry. An oil adage
says. ''in numbers there is strength"
No one industry in this country has
so much money invested as the cattle
interest. How to make it pay is he
absorbing and paramount question.
The man or woman who eats beef
to-day find its cost as great rs when
cattle sold for cents on foot, while
to-day choice corn-fcd cattle bring but
> cents and choice range cattle bui 3
cents. What is the answer to this
Great combinations have been formed
among dresscd-beef buyers ut Chicago,
and five men meet each morning at
the Chicago yards and decide what the
price shall he for beef for that day all
=, III
composition and leaves the cattle
| shipper at the mercy Of five Chicago
| sharpers. withstanling thi, state
Of affairs has existed for the past six
years, the cattlemen robbed of mill
ions of dollars annually. while the
| consumer gets not the least benefit,
the range men still persist in crowding
| the Chicago market almost daily in
excess of all legitimate demands, and
continue to fill the pockets of the
sharks that stand ready to plumber
them. The remedy is only in Joint
action. They must consolidate their
| interests the same as those who for
years past have been plurderine hem
| Their industry must have a head to
control and govern. They should
resolve ut Denver TO construct, or aid
| in constructing, dressed-beef houses
1T the most convenient points TO
range cattle. Texas can easily sup
port with profit two such houses
New Mexico. Colorado, Wyoming
Montana and Dakota one each. The
effect of such houses scattered over
| he country creates more markets,
iecreases the Chicago supply, increa .es
| he demand and the result is higher
prices. Cattlemen cannot look for
higher prices while there is practically
| but one market. and it rests i'm their
hands to foster and build up other
| points and thereby largely incrense
| he demand. the proper thing for the
range convention to do is to select
at least three men OF known integrity
20 formulate II plan and put it in prac-
tical operation. Let these three sub
divide the different branches of the
business. and after careful and syste-
matte thought and study and close
| Examination. report illcmost
ensible plan to the general committee
for their action.
| 1t is es, limited that the RANGE corn-
| try has twenty million c;tttle of all
| ages. ii each head was taxed this
4 year 81 to establish such dress beef
plants aS named above, il would pay
:he largest interest OF any Investment
ever made. This woul make n build
ing fund of S2o.oOo.DO. This once
established, the Chicago men would
ONE alarmed. and the one million
of range cattle which will 30 to mar
ilet this year will realize $40 per head
more than last year. or in round
figures for one year on actual ship
meats of Slo,OOO.WO.
in two years the full amount will
come back To the range men. while in
the meantime the various dre-setl-beei
houses are being built and some doing
!, prosperOus business before the end
of two years.
Cattlemen must also resolve to
mature better beef of the ranges.
They must admit in the past fev years
he quality has been Indifferent. most ~
caused by inatt,ntion to the stock
during the cold winter months. Hay
aud other proven,ler whi'h can bo
successfully raised in all ia. ranae
country must he cultivated a. largely
as possible. Then, instead 81 cIltl.
going on green grass in the spi'in- poor
and weak. they will bc in good iir-h.
! INA lne fnoff fill'-c grass VIII MAKE
splendid beef by June or July of each
year. II is an established fact thnr
range cattle put on the market enfly
in the season, ii in good condition.
always command n higher prize tnan
when marketed late in the iall or
winter. While the grass cattle in.cf-
e~t> have suffered immensely ~ III,
past tour years. he wreck OF fort
seat tered from Ore on to Texas. tn .ro
are now visible signs al improvement
AMI by active and positive concert OF
action on the part of rance men and
he proper care and attention gwen 20
growing stock the year throu ii, the
industry viii rapidly improve and
Inc fort unes made will he ltuuar than
ever before known.
Eoi; ~ n