The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-22
MONTANA CATTLE EAST.
Shipments This Year Will in all
Probability Equal Those
Of Last Season.
Stock In Splendid Condition and
Prices Gradually Rising
at Chicago.
Corn.fed stook About Out OF tho Way
A Montana stssr-Salea or
Stock sheep.

From present Appearances the shipments
Of Montana cattle to Chicago this year will
almost, II not quite equal those Of last
year. when the aggregate was 100000 head.
Before tho shipping season began 1t was
estimated BY some that the exports Of Mon
tana cattle would not exceed 10O. 1000. while
the most sanguins put them at about 400 0O
head. For q while after shipments it looked
~ though the first figures would be nearer
the mark. Range cattle were In poor on
diti0n and the Chicago market WAS we'll
supplied with corn fed stock, and tho result
was that Montana cattle sold as low ~
S3.1O hundred. Several outfits rather
than send cattle forward with such pros
poets unloaded their stock after II
had been put on the oars. The
poor condition of cattle was due to
the work of dies and mosquitoes in
the spring, which were more numerous and
also more thar they had ever
BEEN before in the state. Cnttls growers
believe the wet weather that lasted into the
summer was mainly the cause Of the in
crease of the pests. But the moisture re-
suited, also, in = good hay crop, and in all
ing all the streams, 20 range stock have had
plenty Of feed and water and will have this
winter.
About three weeks ago the Chicago mar
ket began TO stiffen up, Montana cattle
commenced to take ON flesh. and the result
IL that q number of sales have been made ct
$4.25 . hundred. Ono shipment made by
w. G. Prsuitt the FIRST Of this week Melted
$50 q head. The outlook for the rest Of the
shipping season, which will continue till
December, IL very good. Ihs corn fed
stock Ia about out Of tho way, and
every day Montana range cattle are
getting into better condition. In fact
about a week ago q lot of Montana steers
were purchased in Chicago to export alive.
Ihe largest steer ship! cd from this state
this season weighed 900 pounds. 1t was
curly in the season when cattle were low
and nettsd $68. g. Now it would bring $50.
Il was an estray that went with q lot Of
Kohrs a Bislenberg cattle. n the psculi-
arity about it 10 that the owner is unknown,
the brand being unrecorded.
One OF the best indicators of the state of
the cattle business in the state ia tho BUSH
ness done by Secretary Preuitt. of the
board Of life stock commissioners During
August the receipts of his Office for sstrays
up to Yesterday, the receipts have aRgrs-
gated $4,000. and the prospects are that
they will keep MP the average the rest Of the
month. October is always the biggest
month for shipment and there 10 little quss-
ton but before the season closes the re-
ceipts of Secretary Prspitt's office will al
most equal those Of last year-$2O0,o 900,
and that the shipments of cattle will be al
great. At the present. time the board has
eleven inspectors employed at various ship
ping points in the adjoining states and at
Omaha. st. Paul, Chicago and Sioux City,
but owing to the lack of funds the services
Of some Of them will havestb DO dispensed
with very soon. The board has only about
$4,000 a year at its disposal. and "a it is
necessary to keep four inspectors employed
all the time, az we'll as pay all expenses,
twill be seen there il little left with which
to employ extra aid in the busy seaaon.
Not only is the cattle business good this
year.. but tho same can be said Of the sheep
industry. There have been a great many
eales OF stock sheep and all at good prices.
The horse business will average up with
last year and perhaps has been a little bet
ter, but Tho sslss have not been very nu-
merous NOR have the prices realized been
very high.