The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-16
STOCK IN THE JUDITH.

A Local Paper Tells of the Effect of the
Cold Weather.
The past two weeks have been the coolest
known to the Oldest settlers in the basin,
says the Montana Democrat. published at
Lewistown, the thermometer ranging from
twenty five to ifty-four degrees below zero
almost continually, and the effect on the
cattle industry can only be estimated.
owing to the fact that but few reports from
outlying districts have been received. The
backbone Of the cold weather ia broken,
but, alas. too late; the damage is already
done, and the most friendly chinook, or
even green grass would not save the thou
sands of cattle that have stood hungry and
cold for two weeks, refusing feed when
thrown before them. Numerous reports
state that where cattle were not fed
from the beginning of the cold weather
and kept in good condition they would
not leave the brush to eat, and
when driven to bay would turn and retreat
to the shelter OF the brush without at
tempting to eat. Stockmen generally have
and all has proven of little effect One
ranohman just south Of town reports hav-
ing fed about eighty head from the very
start of the cold wave. vnd that they are
dying like flies with the first frost. .af,t
Small stookmen who have a reasonable
w II 10y WA1 pKODdDly
suffer lightly. while the large owners, who
depend upon a mild winter. such as will
enable cattle to rustic for themselves, will
undoubtedly lose heavily. Eleven fiozsn
cattle were hauled out Of town Tuesday. A
gentleman came in town from Fort
seen fully 500 dead in ono coulee,
while William Watson went near the
Snowies to round up four head ranging
in that vicinity and found three dead
and one able to be brought in. He then
went south of town to look up three more
and foundt two of them dead. There are
sections of the basin whore the conditions
ars more favorable than in this immediate
vicinity. S. s. Hobson. who came in from
Mcdonald creek Monday, says the ranges
are open and cattle are doing fairly we'll in
that section.
From a number of opinions gathered
from parties familiar with the condition
formed an estimate that will in all proba-
bility provo about correct, which is that
fully so per cent of all the range cattle in
Fergus county will die before the month Of
June. Many that have survived The cold
weather are so poor that 1t is but a matter
OF time until they will suooumb todeath,
and while many more may live to see green
grass they will never live to be marketed,
The greatest loss will be among cows and
calves, the majority of three and four-year-
dip steers being able to pull through all
right. II 10 estimated that there are fully
$4,000 cattle on the ranges In this county.
and a loss of 50 per cent means fully half a
million dollars lost to cattlemen. 45s
Sheep have suffered greatly, but owing
to the fact that almost every sheep owner
has good sheds and an abundance of hay
the losses will be light as compared with
the cattle. Reliable reports from sheep
growers generally place the loss at less than
10 per cent. principally among lambs. All
agree that lambs were weak and in poor
condition TO enter the winter. but comfort
able quarters and constant care have saved
thousands Of them.
may DO lost. in tho main horsernen will suf-
fer but little damage.