The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-10-06
SHEEP AND CATTLE.
The InbusII es '-Like Methods Used
in Conducting These Great
Montana Industries.
How Greater Profits Can Be Realized
ard Much Benefit Derived
All Round.

To The EDITOR OF THE TRIBUNE:
An on-looker who reads the eastern
quotations of our Montana cattle, sheep
and wool prices can but be impressed
with the apparent fact that our cattle
men and flockmasters ara losing more
than one-half of the possible profits of
their industries by the present unbusi.
nesslike methods OF getting their prod
ucts to market.
Cattle for beef are shipped alive more
than 1900 miles only to be slaughtered
and much of the beef shipped back again
not here, but west Of the point where
slaughtered-for consumption. The de-
probation Of cattle. both in weight and
condition, resulting from so long a tran
sit, probably equals the freight, and both
together, | believe, equals the price re-
ceived. We will not argue the humani-
tartan side Of the question, which is,
after all, an important consideration, but
simply take the dollars aud cents part
of it.
When the cattle arrive at their des-
tination, hungry, thirsty, sore. and
bruised they are in the worst possible
condition to offer for sale, as against the
nearby raised stock, but because of the
enormous charges on holding for better
prices must be sold for what they will
~bring-always for the bottom prices.
Now for the remedy. The cattlemen
of northern Montana are abundantly
able to organize into "a company and put
up a slaughter and packing house of a
capacity to handle the stock that is
ready for market, always selecting the
best conditioned, and send only the mar
ketable product forward where it is
wanted either in quarters or barrels.
In these times the tallow, hides, bones,
ETC., are all OF consequence as money
producers and would go far to swell the
profits of the %stockmen. We nave the
power and every facility for reducing our
stock to the finished product here at
home, and only want the confidence and
will to do it. A tannery to take the
hides While fresh and untainted-weak
ened in tiber-would produce a superior
leather that, if not manufactured into
shoes here, would bring the highest mar
ket price. A bone mill and a g~elatine
and glue factory would take care of that
line Of product, while the hair would
also come in as a factor worthy Of con-
sideration.
Now take sheep: the condition is even
worse.
Wool in Boston Sept. ~ was quoted;
Territorial (oursI, selling at II a lac in
the dirt: secured, 33 q Soc for medium
and - II 3Sc for fine, showing a margin
of Il to 2ic per pound for dirt and labor
of securing and sorting, to say nothing
of the dead loss to ~fiockmasters in pay
ing freight on all that dirt.
Had they organized into a company
and put i'll a sorting and securing estab-
lishment they would have had quite a
different story to tell regarding the profit
or loss of their sheep industry.
What ] have said of the advantage OF
Strengthening fat stock here while it is at
its best applies with equal force to sheep;
and the advantage of SO doing to the
owner of stock is obvious.
When we recall the perfect facilities
the railroads have prOylLed for trans
porting dressed meats long distances in
perfect condition, and how much is
gained in freights to shippers, we can
readily comprehend the great advantage
Of Strengthening first and as the markets
demand instead of shipping our stock to
a giutted market, as now often happens.
and lind ourselves at the mercy Of the
indifferent buyers-inditfercnt because
our stock is not in good condition, ana
also because the market is Overfull Of
stock seeking Il market. BESIDES by
slaugbtering we need not dispose Of all
our stock al once, but only the best, and
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