Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-12-24
MILLIONS FROM STOCK.
Cattle Exports From Montana During 1891
Exceed All the Estimates Hereto
fore Made.
Fifteen Million Dollars Received From Beef,
Wool, Sheep and Horsss-Bright
Outlook for 1892.

From a recent issue of the Helena
Independent we take the following in
relation to our live stock interests.
Omitting Introductory remarks, that
paper says:
During the past week there was
meeting in Helena of the board of live
stock commissioners. at which the
seasons business was canvassed.
President Alfred Meyers, of the asso-
citation, talking yesterday about the
matter, said: 1.-The sales of Montana
cattle this year will reach 100000
head. There has been a good market
for them almost all through the sea-
son, and the average price received
has been $40 head. You may safely
say that the receipts from cattle this
year in Montana have been $40, ,OOO,-
900. 1t was the best year the cattle
raisers have had for the past five or
six, and the most money received in
any one year, the largest sum hereto
fore not exceeding $5,O00,O00 or
SO, 100000. From cattle, horses,
sheep and wool the Montana growers
this year will receive Sl4, 200, 900 or
SIS, 100000. While the wool men
have not received as good prices as
they expected, yet they have done
pretty well, while a great number OF
stock sheep have been sold in the Da-
kotas. These have averaged So a
head. There have been a great many
more horses shipped and sold outside
of the state than one would suppose.
The demand has been for farm horses,
and while the prices have been low,
there has been a market. 1t might be
a good thing for the horse raisers to
bear in mind the fact that the wheat
growers OF the Dakotas have had a
good season, and next year will have
money with which to purchase addi-
tional teams. do not think horse
raisers should look for high prices
next season, but they will at least
have q market.
"What helped the Montana cattle
growers this year." continued Mr..
Myers, "was the demand for our cattle
for export; corn was high in Nebraska
and Iowa, and the result was it did
not pay to use it to fatten beef. There
has been for q number of years q good
business in exporting Montana dressed
beef, but this year our range cattle
were sent on the hoof to England, be-
ing shipped direct from the ranges to
Chicago, and then to the Atlantic sea-
board. As to the outlook for next
year, it is the brightest. The ranges
are in the best condition, there is an
abundance OF feed, the grass is high, |
and it will take a pretty deep snow
to cover it. So far the weather has
been all that one could ask. Cattle
and stock generally go into the winter
in the best possible condition. The
prospect is also good next year for an
equal demand, with the same prices
as this year. Corn will be high in the
corn growing section, and the export
demand will call. as it did this year,
on the ranges for it's supply. OF course
the expectation of Montana cattle
on the hoof cannot always be looked
forward to, but the business OF ex-
porting the dressed product is on the
increase all the while. Last year there |
were driven into Montana a great |
many cattle. This will be the case
this year also, something like 10000
head going to the eastern portion OF
the state. But the number will not |
be so large as last season. There are
no reports of diseases either among
horses, cattle or sheep, and take the
situation in all it's details the outlook
was never brighter for stock growers
generally in Montana than now"
Nothing better illustrates the large
business done by the cattle men this
wear than the estray record kept by
Secretary Preuitt. Last year there
passed through his Office S2a, ,629.27
as the receipts from the sale OF estrays.
This year it has exceeded $780, 600.
Whenever the owners are known the
money is remitted to them, and this
has entailed an immense amount OF
work. So perfect is the system under
which trace is kept OF estrays that
there are few losses from This source.
The inspectors at the various shipping
points note all estrays which come
under their observation, and the AMI
NAL until the commission house that
buys him sends q remittance. The
brand is sent with each remittance,
and those who have theirs recorded
are soon in possession of their money.
The great benefits which will accrue
to the state from the S14, 200, 900 or
SIS, 100000 received from the live
stock interests cannot be overes-
timated. 1t means that the cattle
growers have the money to pay OH
old Indebtedness, and that they are
in as good condition, and generally IN
better, than before the great losses
in 1861. There is money for in
vestment in other home enterprises,
for improvements on the ranch and
city residence. No difference how the
money markets of the east may go
this winter, Montana has enough on
hand today to make her Independent
OF the eastern money lender. And If
the latter wants field for investment
where safety is the first consideration
and good returns the second, he can
find nowhere section which more
fully answers both requirements than
Montana.