The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-04
IT IS THE BANNER YEAR,
The Present tho Best Season the
Cattlemen Have Ever Had in
Montana.
Heavy Shipments, High Prices and
Plenty to Eat Through tho
Winter.
Large Surplus Crops OF Hay and Drain
sale of the Estrays Taken Up Under
the State Law.

Early in the summer 1t was predicted
| that the cattle men of Montana would rear
n rich harvest this year, and the outcome
has fully verified the truth of the predic.
ton. According to the Drovers Journal, OF
Chicago, the cattle shipments to Chicago
from Montana and Dakota up to August
81, amounted to 49, 0 head, and the aver
age net price was $40 per head. Shipments
from these sections last year up to the same
time, were only "a 1000 head, and the average
price Melted per head was only $50. But a
very slight portion of these 50. 400 cattle
went from Dakota; probably not over 5000.
This gives Montana so far this year from its
cattle industry S3,5 $50, 900. But the shipping
Season has only about fairly begun, and the
number which went to market before Sep
tember l, is not one-half of those which will
be shipped from now till the close of the
season.
Secretary Preuitt. of the board of live
stock commissioners. whose attention was
called to the matter yesterday said: II guess
those figures are about correct. ] know
shipments are being made as rapidly as the
railroads can handle them. The Great
Northern commenced early in the season to
carry cattle from the Milk river country,
the business along the line of the Northern
Pacific beginning later. The latter road
now has orders for 600 cars for stock to be
shipped between September ] and IL. The
association has ten inspectors at work at
the various shipping and receiving points,
and they have all they can attend to.
Gentlemen never had such a year as this
in Montana," he continued. "WhatI mean
10 thuf tha hact cpr,Hifiopo ,,rovoi1 MI o1,ar Tho
state. There have been seasons when the
feed was good in some sections, but poor in
others. This year cattle growers from
every section of Montana report the same
conditions-an abundance of feed and
This latter item is an important
one-more so than those not acquainted
the business think. During the
drought of past years cattle, even where
there was feed, we're poor. because in
miles for water. As a result they could not
take on flesh. This year there is water in
all the streams, in consequence stock ia
fat, in splendid condition not only
the market, but also to go through the
To illustrate how we'll Montana
check the other day to a gentlemen for two Z
steers belonging to him which our inspeo- :
tors had discovered in a shipment which ar
at Chicago. Each of the animals S
netted the owner $62.50. l tell you when
cattle sell that way it does take long to make a t
neap of money. Take it all around. this ID 1
5he bonanza year for Montana cattlemen. :
But it is not the cattlemen alone who j
will make money this year. Crops of all
kinds will be abundant, and instead of '
farmers and horsemen, sending {
for hay and grain, as they did last
rear ana the year previous, our growers '
will export both the staples. The railroad c
tell me that already the ranchmen
re applying to them for rates to the east
N hay and grain, as the surplus in these y
will allow of heavy shipments east. Bust i
will be good with the ranchmen and
attlegrowers this fall, and by next year Il
hey will have more than recovered from $
he three dry years." 8