The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-10-19
Thursday. October 10. 1893.
lint TO STOCK +

The suggestions of Pierre Wibaux
set forth in a communication from tina
gentleman, published in this issue. ar,
heartily commended to the consideration
OF the cattlemen of this section. 1t il
not necessary for this paper to affirm
the correctness of Mr.. Wibaux's prem
Uses when he sets forth the great los.
that the cattle interests sustain by the
twin plaques of prairie fires and wolves
and any rational suggestion looking tc
their cure must receive the considera
tion. and should ensure the hearty CO.
operation Of all concerned. As to the
fire drag. it seems to be. from the DIES.
cription, an appliance that will effect
ually and most economically replace the
hide of the slaughtered beef. while tine
plan of distribution of these drags over
the range is an excellent one. Should
it wonld seem to be "a proper thing for
the Custer and Dawson county cattle
men. to provide by "a common fund for
a thorough distribution of these on all
ranges in these counties. the expense to
be apportiol ned according to ownership
of cattle. At the spring meeting of the
stockmen.
, As to the wolf plague. this paper has
repeated felt the necessity of urging
combined action by all classes of stock
men. horsemen. cattlemen and sheep
men. for mutual protection and relief.
but the failure of the last legislature to
enact a suitable bounty law, left the
matter in such unsatisfactory shape.
that it was hard to make a suggestion
that could be accepted as practicable.
Mr.. Wibaux's idea of cattlemen purchas-
ing strychnine in wholesale quantities
and giving it without cost to responsible
persons is good. Experience has dem
onstrated that little or nothing can be
expected from .wolfers'' while the
bounty law remains as it is. Men will
undertake this business unless there
is a reasonable profit in it. and under
present conditions there is not, but il
the poison is furnished one element of
expense is eliminated which may per.
haps be sufficient to induce many 10 go
"wolfing" who would not otherwise do
We speak doubtfully of the project.
not because We SO regard it but because
We are not informed as to the probable
saving to the ..wolfer'' by having his
poison furnished free. While on this
subject it would perhaps be as well to
suggest to the stockmen. what We have
long had IN mind i'll regard to the bounty
and that Is that here as elsewhere
n this state. the stock interest should
and probably must make the payment
d bountles d county affair. and to be
out Of money raised by d special
bounty tax on the stock owners. The
tate Legislature will for some time be
,reponderated by the mining interest
which II not positively opposed to stock
egislation. is absolutely Indifferent and
which will only give its support to a nee
'ssary enactment like the bounty law
q return for the COW counties. supper
some piece of mining legislation that l
MI save the mine owners dollars where
bounty law would save the stock
nen. cents. Besides, the gopher law :
in three months drained the state
-easury dry, and which, as subsequent
vents proved, was purely local in it APP
LEGATION. and for the benefit of one class
people IN n county only. has made
he average legislator somewhat ..leary"
laws OF this nature. Altogether. the I
hances OF securing a competent bounty l
" from the Legislature Is not hattering |
1d 1t is our opinion that attention !
lould now be turned to the expedient
county liquidation Of this legitimate
.pense unless ii is deemed preferable
propagate the wolf. the coyote and the
ountain lion to the determination of
e herd. the COW and the sheep. @