Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-03-18

most entirely stopping the stealing OF
cattle aud in very much edJciug the
number Of horses which had annually
heretofore been stolen from the state.
1t IL now almost impossible fer any
one 10 ship cattle on, Of the state with.
out their being inspected tnd receipts
taken for all brands found among
them not belonging to the shipper.
The report devotes considerable space
to the statement of The rigid system
used concerning strays aud the ship
ment If cattle. Tables are also given
showing the revenue at the dispo-al
of the board, the number of arrests
made by each inspector, the inspec-
tion Of cattle and horses, the strsys
recovered. the amount of money re-
ceived by the board for strays together
with a summary Of the operations of
the hoard each yesr since its crestion.
During the year 1889. 127,7il head Of
cattle and horses were inspected, 3,453
strays were found in shipm. nts. l2s
upon the range, and twenty arrests
were made. In the stock inspector
and detective fund there was a bal
ance Of 81, 1862 On hand. OF the in
spections 2.l29 We're mad. at Big
Sandy and l,7tl ut Billings and SAN
head were inspected at Big Sandy,
Great Fslls. Fort Belknap AMI Miles
City. The report says that 1--WE can
give positive aud conscien tious assur-
snce to the people that the benefits
accruing 10 them from the system
which with such great labor and care
has been elaborated ard put into exc
cution, are worth many times their
cost. The board will recommend that
some sction be taken to sscertain the
number of dead or unused brands now
upon their records with view Of de.
visine some means by which they can
be cancelled.
There are now about 5000 brand. on
record In Montana, and the board IL
Of the opinion that fully one-fourth of
these brands have either never been
used or the Use Of them has heen dis
continued. The large number Of
brands now on record renders it very
difficult for anyone to get brand re-
corded without coming In conflict
with brand already upon the records.
II tho.e not now in use could he
stricken from .he records. the din.
Guilty Of securing q brand that does
not infringe would be very rouch les-
sened and the community be benefit
thereby. The board also gave much
time to the consideration of the num-
her Of stray horses that are running
on the public ranges in the endeavor
to find the best mears Of getting rid Of
them. With this end In view the
board addressed circulars TO the own
ers OF fifty or more horses througout
the state. suggesting that the present
stock Jaws should give the board au-
thority to authorize and order the
shipping out TO eastern markets for
sale. all the unknown stray horses
upon the different ranges, the net
proceeds, with record Of the brand
and the price for which each animal
il sold to be returned to the secretary
Of the board and q record kept Of every
animal 20 sold and the net amount
realized therefor. This would enable
the owner II any could be found, tn 60
before the board and make proper
proof Of ownership Of any Of the horses
that might be so shipped and sold upon
which be would at once be paid the
net amount realized from the sale Of
said h,rsee. The object in shipping
the horses out OF the state to be sold Ia
this: II cold within the state constant
trouble would he experienced from an
occasional owner subsequently finding
one of bis bor.as was sold and making
claim to the same as stolen property.
About nine-tenths received were favor
able to the plan advocated. The beard
will try and carry out the plan during
the spring and summer Of 1890. About
$50. 900 cattle were driven into the
state during the last year. The calf
crop amounted to over 100000. These