Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1889-08-03
CATTLE AND SHEEP.
THE CONDITION AND PROSPECTS OF
MONTANA's GREAT INDUSTRY.
Report ON the North Montana Ranges by
Our Special Commissioners
The Bright Side of
Things.

Inc CdItle season VIII SoOu UeBln. Ire
partitions are already in progress. Some
change will be made in the location Of
the Sand Coulee stock yards fortle better
accommodation Of shippers. At the Great
Falls stock yards the fullest facilities will
be provided for the shipments which are
expected from the large cattle country
tributary to this city. Cattlemen in gen
eral, expect that the shipments will be
large this season. owing to the compare
tive scarcity Of grass on the ranges. 1t is
held that it would be better to sell off
steers than to undertake to feed them with,
hay during the winter. 1t is calculated
til It hay may be brought here for SIS per
ton from Iowa and Minnesota, that is al
lowing $5 for the hay and $40 for the
freight but even that price would not
warrant cattlemen in feeding hay to their
stock as it is estimated that each steer
would consume about two tons which
would make the cost of feed alone $50
per steer, not counting the incidental ex-
penses, such as the haulage of hay from
the depot to the ranch.
As a rule the cattlemen are hopeful that
their herds will passthrough the winter IN
harmed. They look for hard winter
and will not complain if it comes. They
are not trusting to chance whatever may
be the coming season. Many ranches are
we'll stocked with last years hay which
was so abundant as to leave large sur
plus. In other instances, some
ranchmen have leased temporarily
grass lands that have been fenced in and
/ THUS protected from predatory cattle. In
4 the Sun river country, cattle are being
Emoved toward the mountains where
Ethere IS better range and more water
EThe reported quarrels with the sheepmen
4 on account Of this migration turn out to
@be unfounded.
The opening Of the great reservation is
Eproving q boon to cattle and sheepmen.
EMany thousand head Of cattle, horses and
sheep will find fodder on the broad plains
Epf the Milk river country which were
|closed until Maginnis and Toole con
Hinced congress that they should be
Thrown open. AS the Manitoba railroad
fraverses that country from east to west
fhe stockmen feel that they have found
good range, which the encroaching i'm
migrant will not disturb for some time at
east although he has appeared in force
y Glasgow, Chinook and other places.
he abundance Of grass in part of the
dilk river country renders this new
pund-lan all the more acceptable. Hay
now offered there for about SIS per ton
Inch speaks volumes to the stockman
no knows we'll that if hay were scarce
Ne price would be higher.
reight rates are likely to be the same
sor the season as last years. Prices for
Montana steers are nominal IN the Chic
go market at present, and 10 trustworthy
Quotations can be expected until actual
Fading begins on large scale in Mon
ana steers from north Montana ranges.
These cattle are now in prime condition
iHI Suoulu ltlCu u RODll price,. III Is
&oped that the large expectation Of Amer
can cattle to Great Britain will prevent
blutat Chicago and enable the north
Montana ranchmen to sell their cattle at
fair price. Some Montana half-breed
kattle, presumably from the eastern
tanges sold this week in Chicago for
1880 and $40 per hundred pounds
fail adyices from there state that on
Monday the supply Of sheep was quite
liberal but the demand proved SO strong
ind the movement so active that sellers
Effected an early clearance at from steady
b strong prices. Most OF the native sheep
ind lambs on sale we're not choice in
uality and few sales Of the former were
nade over $3.50, while the bulk of the
lambs changed hands between $3.50
$3.50. The Texans of which the supply
vas principally made up, proved very at
ractive in quality and large number Of
8 to 85lb. averages sold from $3.SO@4,25.
he westerns offered found an outlet at
recent quotations.