Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-08-13
MARY
Stock Raising in North Dakota,

Is the stock-raising industry in North
Dakota a success? This is a question
that comes to many an anxious man in
the east and many a farmer and ranch
er in the west. For an answer we
must look to the results of the infant
industry. Not more than twenty-one
years ago the wild prairie of the ozone
state supported the graDdest herd of
buffalo, deer, elk and other western
beasts of any state in the union. To-
day we see in their places thousands of
cattle, sheep and horses. Less than
five years ago, we were confronted with
the great problem of whether our grass
and water, our climate and shipping
facilities would sustain the hopes of a
few who placed confidence in the new
commonwealth. What has been the
result? Last spring thousands of sheep
we're imported from the west and are
now feedingon ourplains. Thousands
of young calves were shipped in from
the east to fatten OH our grass and
thousands of blooded horses are breed
ing on our ranches. Go in what direc-
ton you will you can see fine, healthy
stock grazing on the luxurious grasses
OF drinking from the springs and
streams. Is it not reward for the
true Dakotan? But to go further, to
look deeper into this industry, we must
try and ascertain if there is profit in
the business. From O'Clock p. m.
Sunday until Monday at noon twenty
five trains of stock passed through this
city alone. Look to the depot at al
most any hour, and you could see two
large, powerful engines working hard
to start their long train of Dakota
steers. But this is not all. It is not
sudden tluctuation of western markets
that causes this large shipment Of
stock. From six to eight and some
times more, trains daily have been
running for the past two weeks. Go
out to any of the stations west of Me-
dora, or we may say Mandan, and you
will see bulletin. On that bulletin
you will see the names of stockmen
who will ship; the date on which they
will ship and the number Of cars
wanted. 1t is no sudden movement.
1t is a steady shipment of thousands
Of Dakota steers fattened on our plains.
What do they sell for when on the
market? The very highest prices quo
ted. Look for yourself in the market
quotations, and know what our stock
is worth compared with any other stock
that is placed on the market. Today
our steers are worth from $3.50 to $500
per cwt. From $50 to $50 piece. Go
into these stock counties and find out
the financial condition of the ranchers,
compare them with the business firms
and farmers of the east. Bnt it is not
cattle alone. Ride through the country
and look at the hill sides. There you
will see white objects which as you
approach develop into thousands of
sheep, healthy and fat. Herds of
blooded horses are common as wheat
fields. Is it then a wonder eastern
capital is looking to our young state?
Is it wonder the farmer smiles as you
speak of his prosperity? But this is
not the only portion Of the state that
ships stock. The following paragraph
is taken from Grand Forks paper of
last Saturday:
| Six cattle trains passed through the
city on Friday over the Great N orthern
ell route to the east.'
You can see similar paragraphs in
all the Dakota papers. North Dakota
does not depend alone on her stock
resources as is proved by the harvest
about to be reaped, but within her
borders there is being built one of the
grandest industries in the union. Bis
marck Tribune.
Col. Morton in Fargo Republican,
have given good deal Of considera-
tion to the very remarkable article pub
lish in the New York Sunday Sun, of
last week. Had it appeared as COM
munication I should have naturally
looked upon it with suspicion as being
the highly colored production of some
bull on wheat, but coming to us as it
does, as leading editorial of one of
the most influential papers of the coun-
try, journal, no matter how you may
look upon itpolitically. having repu-
tation of integrity in it's news columns