The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-22
HOW ABOUT MONTANA
Wyoming Cattle Quarantine Which
viii Work Hardships on
. This State.
1t Looks Now as II the Rail-
roads Had Made q
Mistake.
The Condition Forced on Wyoming by tho
Action Of tho Railroad COM
panlcs.
Wyoming has adoptsda cattle quarantine

Wyoming has adopted cattle quarantine
regulation in regard to which the North
western Live Stock journal says feeling
that self preservation ia the first law of ma
turs. tho authorities concluded to protect
their own people in preference to Dakota
and Montana stockgrowers. The last clause
of section four of the Wyoming regulation,
refusing cattle in transit the privilege of
unloading and driving from a Wyoming
railroad station to a range beyond the state
line will work q hardship upon our neigh
bors over the border, but the condition was
forced upon US by the action Of the rail-
roads. Rates from southern points to Orrin
junction remain the same as last year. but
and advancement Of $40 a car in charged on
all shipments east Of that point over the
Elkhorn above the rates Of 1891. This
would cause the unloading of all Montana
and many Dakota cattle at Orrin Junction
and thu consequent destruction OF avast
range area to the north already heavily
stocked. II would mean starvation to our
local herds.
As q result cattle bound for the Dakotas
and Montana will have to DO shipped to a
point beyond the Wyoming state line If
they come any part of the way by rail.
Whether buyers will stand this advance or
send their herds by trail ia q matter of some
uncertainty. It looks now al if tho rail-
roads had made q mistake. Recent in
v%estigation shows that, under favorable
conditions and rates, the movement this
year would be over 200, 900 head of cattle.
How much this estimate will be reduced by
reason Of the present and unlocked for
complication Of affairs can not at this time
be determined, Undoubtedly some pro-
posed shippers will be discouraged and
drop out. m@@
There is still another trouble. Section two
of the regulations issued by the secretary
of agriculture, referring to tho movement
of cattle from east and sonth of tho govern
ment limo and north and West of the line
established by conference Of tho the ann-
itaIy authorities of Colorado, Wyoming
and Montana and accepted by the govern
ment as the line for these states. provides:
THAT such cattle shall not be allowed in
rens Or on trails or ranges that are to be
occupied or crossed by cattle going to the
eastern markets before Dec. l, 1892, and
that these two classen of cattle shall not be
allowed to come into contact" The Wyom-
ing regulations provide for the full compli-
ance with tho above. This effectnally bars
all shipped cattle from below the govern
ment line under existing conditions. SEQ
rotary Rusk has notified the Colorado au-
thorlties that he will not insist upon the
enforcement of thiSr rule rs applied to that
state, and BY inference the same is true Of
Wyoming and Montana, but that the con
sequences of violations of the order will
rest upon the violators. and not the depart
ment. Whether Colorado and Montana
will ignore this rule remains to be seen. No
6afn1ta nNfinn h No ca f0r hoanN fnFar Al.
together the outlook is not fiattering.
There is, however. one hope left. Secre-
tary Rusk has agreed to change the fever
line 80 as to take in all of the counties now
within the Wyoming. line, except one tier
on the east. save at one point whe;e il ex-
that the several states having q%uarantined
against parts of the south will agree to the
change. We understand that all of the
states specially interested nave agreed to
this change except Nebraska.
Should Nebraska accept this proposed
line some of the complications referred to
will disappear and the way out will be
made easy to Owe fifty additional counties
In the great Lone Star state. The journal
ana Wyoming sends greeting in advance,
believing that this concession ia just. and
1t not now given will in time be conceded.
The result Of the Wyoming quarantine
regulations is likely to be an advanced
rate + ON the south to Orrin junction and
g reduction TO South Dakota points. This
will make the cost to Wyoming shippers per-
haps75 cents q head more than the rates now
scheduled. At least there is promise of re-
in this way so as to hold the in
%terstate business. Another effect of the
adoption Of the rules as at present out
lined is likely t. be the trailing Of neaf ~ a
hundred thousand head of cattle across tho
entire state. While the rules are proper, as
above, there is some question as to
the advisability Of thcir adoption. Re
suits mnst be waited for before deciding
this question.