The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-10-23

DeIOfe tne Snf1ek OF the locomotive echoed with |
shliller notes in Montana's mountains the hoarse
cry Of the 'bullWhacker' and the sharp crack Of
his quirk afrightened the timid game feeding |
peacefully on the mountain slopes. In those days
the value Of good mule or OK train was estimat !
ed at about $1,000 In gold, and many fortune
has been made, and often lost again. carrying |
provisions and implements of toll to the hardy
pioneers of the Territory. Soon it was discovered
that mules and oxen grew fat on the native grass
es, thus suggesting possibilities In another dirsc
tlon, viz, that of stock-raising. At first 1t was
feared the extreme cold of winter could not be
WthstoOd by cattle or horses ON the open ranges.
1t was considered out of the question to feed hay,
for that was worth $50 ton, sometimes more.
However, wintering cattle on the open ranges was
tried, but with dscOuraging results. few Of the
originally imported stock still survived and, in a
measure, had become acclimated. These passed
through milder winter than usual, and spring
found them in fair condition. They bore fine,
healthy calves, and thus fresh hope was infused
into the minds Of experimenters.
From that time OH the stock business has stead
lily increased until now 1t has reached magnificent
proportions; and as one travels over the Territory
NORTH south, east or west, he is pointed out with
pride, by the inhabitants, the costly residences
and large herds Of cattle owned by the cattle
kings as rhe successful men have been dubbed.
When Captains Lewis and Clark, the explorers,
over eighty years ago saw thousands of buffaoes.
elks and deer feeding on the open plains border
| ing the Missouri river, near the falls now roam
thousands of horses and cattle which obtain s,,s-
tenance the year round by eating the native grass
es Upon the same plains hundred years ago
the Indians horses also grazed.
MINING AND sTOCK-RAISIEG.
| The two leading industries are mining and
stoek-raising. Quartz mining is now the chief
branch of the former; but In early times placer
mining, because Of the remOtenesS Of the coun-
try and difficulty Of access, w4s the only branch
sought and pursued. The manner Of raising
stock is very simple. Horses and cattle are per-
mitted to roam over their owpees' ranges at will,
and are rounded up" only for the purpose Of
branding, castrating, counting. and selling, all Of
which work Ia usually performed at stated times
of the year. But sheep, although kept In large
focks or "bands", are cared for by shepherd OF
"herder," partly because they scatter far and
wide in small groups if left to themselves and
partly because they need protection from wolves
and coyotes, The average7sized band of sheeI
will probably contain $500 head, but many flock.
number over 5000 head; but these are too man!
for one man to properly care for, and the weak
the old and the lame animals have q hard tint
of 1t.
While horses. cattle and sheep all bring foTtl
their young on the open plains, sheep are the on
; ly stock receiving any attention at this period
Extra men are employed during the "lambin
season." and the flock is generally divided up Int
three-those to lamb, those lambing (or within
day or two Of it,, and those that have LANDED
this is done for obvious reasons. ,:.,.
Cattle are raised for bsef, no practical attention
yet being paid to dairying; horses are raised 10
speed and endurance, very few draft animals be
ing bred while sheep are hardly ever raised 10
/ any purpose but wool-growing, But the time
, close at hand when every industry connected VIII
. these animals Will receive its merited attention
After viewing the peculierities of eli
mate, soil and productions of the south
ern and western portions of Montana, h
treats considerably at length of the mark
ed characteristics of northern and easter
Montana, which, as he has not failed
: observe, is a wholly different country
t both in appearance, vegetation and cl
l mate. Here, he says, we have the thre
8 grand resources combined-mlnini
3 stock-raising and farming, on a nearl
!. equal basis; but instead of mining, stoci
raising takes the lead. Here, also, WOO
growing is an important item. But I
u the report:
Looking at a map Of these parts we see cou
try abundantly watered and possessing only a It
r | Dtofrl
creeks or brooks and larger streams all find the
way to one Of the three great rivers. The cehtr
river the mighty Missouri then receives two OF
ers-the Milk river from the north and the "
,owstone from the south Ascending to the SUI
r nit of any convenient mountain III noftherh MO
e tana and looking as far as the eye can reacn WI
" the aid of field glass or telescope one sees
. grand series of beautiful rolling pialhs' thlch
"a covered with grass. Here and there the "illuil
y valleys mark the courses Of the streams. In u
distance are mountains, purple and blue alid gra
To the south and west one Sees though SO tar' u
main range of the Rockies, Its snow ciad PEAKS
hold relief. That range can be distinguished al
VII glance from all others.
q Here we have country pfeemlheity h''
c for pastoral and agricultural pursuits Inc
= tent of range for stock would be simply yllieAhau
;" ible we're not the soil so rich that agriculture
b. rapidly taking possession In fact 1t is my OPP
ion that in very few years agriculture VIII iia
snch a pre-eminence that herd laws will DO ena
ad at least for the protection Of farmers In IL
region. Agriculture is making gigantic stride
he n has been satisfactorily proven that the jus
IN celebrated wheat lands Of Minnesota and Dako
It. can not surpass the bench lands OF eastern a.
), northern Montana. Hundreds OF progress
- farmers and others are planting timber anu ~ ~
trees, everywhere meeting success SO 1t Is Ga
"a forasae that in a few years the country will
20 settled BY farmers and growers OF fne Diooo
of stoclk who will keep their animals In pastures
~ other other Enclosures, that range stock will be crowd
- tn the foothills and mountains, or else tns
owners will have to take them to those reglo
v rhere there will never be a struggle between
tiler Of the soil and the tiock-mastef ior p0SS'
he sion of the field. ,,o ror,