The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-25
SALE OF THE EsTRAYS.
Nearly All of the Horses Taken Up
Have Been Disposed of by
Secretary Preuitt.
As the Working of the Law Be.
come Better Understood
It Is Appreciated.
Why tho Horses Arc shipped Ont OF h
StAte-Huntlcy 3 Clark to Have A
Auction Sale In Denver.

Secretary Preuitt, Of the board of liv,
stock commissioners. has returned from al
extended trip to various parts of the state
He attended the sale of estray horses in
the various counties where they have taker
place up to date, and rays tho results have
been fairly satisfactory. There are two
sales yet to take place, one at Deer Lodge or
the Goth. and that of Custer county on the
o6th. Up to date go horses have bsen dis
posed of. averaging $40 each. The pur.
ohasers have been Dakota people, and the
cstrays have all been shipped out of the
state.
II found some dissatisfaction with the
law" he said yesterday, in talking Of his
trip. '.but after it was explained, there was
quite a different feeling. This dissatisfac-
tion came in a large number of Cases from
the fact that sub-agents, who had an idea
they would get So for every horse they de-
livered to the agent, collected horses on the
range they had no right to touch. Ot
course. as the law was new, there was sure
to be some misunderstanding, but by Q
year it will be in good working order. l
do not believe there will be n
friction whatever. Certainly there will be
now complaint from the honest grower.
There seemed to be some Misunderstanding
as to why tho estrays are shipped out of the
state. There are several reasons for this.
One is that for years horses belonging to no
one knows who have been wandering over
the ranges, eating them off, and thus cut
ting down the feed to that extent of those
animals where owners are known.
Another reason for shipping out Of the
state is that they wander from n section
OF the state to another. and in doing SO
invariably take with them animals which
in nine cases out of ten are lost to their
owners. Some Of the horses we sold look to
be twenty or twenty five years old, and they
have been 'tramring' over Montana for
wears. We will say that you are the owner
of q mare worth 800 or $40. She is out on
the range; one of these strays comes along, |
and the two wander away. After a while
YOU receive a letter from a man two or tire
brand is in his vicinity. To go and get
he, will cost $25 or $50, and even if you do
get her the chances are she will go back
again.
"a number of the complaints against the
Law same from persons who have taken up
people know if the law is enforced they will
have to give up these animals. There is a
law which makes the taking up of estray
horses by unauthorized persons a peniten-
tiary offense, and just SO soon rs the stock
inspectors get through with the cattle bust
ness, they will devote their attention to
these cases. A few examples. the stock
commissioners believe. will cure this evil.
Another class of DIRECTORS to the estray
law is composed of professional horse
hunters-men who ride the ranges looking
for lost horses. and who work for rewards
running from $40 to $50. OF course when
the estray law gets into smooth operation
gather the estrays at an expense of
about Sc a head. Another good effect Of
the law will be that it will
make the business of horse stealing more
risky than heretofore. Before this law was
passed a couple of men would gather
drive them into a band of some
body's horses, and then get away with the
whole band. A person unacqualnted with
the stock country can have no idea of the
of horses stolen each year in Mon
tana and driven out of the state. If this
law had been formed fifteen years ago, it
would hays saved Montana hundreds of
of dollars.
II noticed the other dav." continued Mr..
San item in the Chotesu Montan-
ian to the effect that the money received
from the sale of estray horses went to the
o~tockgrowers ASSOCIATION. The S~tockgrOW-
es association has nothing more to do with
this estray business than you have. 1t is
board of stock commissioners, COM
Of a representative from each county
the state, that sees the estray law en-
forced, and is responsible for all it's details.
The only horses taken up and sold are those
which have unknown brands or no
brand whatever. When sold, q list
is handed the bidder, giving a description
each animal. The intending purchaser
opposite the description the price he
will pay for the animal, then adding the
he makes q lump offer. These lists
are filed with the board of stock commits
and should the owner of any one
these estrays within two years come
and prove property. be would re-
ceive the sum obtained from the sale of
animal, less the expenses. After two
years, all the unclaimed money is turned
into the state treasury"
Mr.. Preuitt says he never saw the ranch
men and stockmen feeling more encour-
aged over the outlook than this year. The
former have bounteous crops and the cattle
men have received good prices for stock
sold. besides having an abundance of feed
for the winter.