The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-21
What the Cattle Industry Did for
Montana In the Year
1893.
An Immense Business Covering
the Whole State and How
It Is Looked After.
Cattle shipped aud sold Last Year and
since isDf-Ths Outiook Bright
for Next season.

But few people In Montana outsids OF The
oattlemsn themselves know wha, great
figure the cattle industry cot in this state
last year. A few weeks ago The IsDE-
rKsDrSr published the fact that the cattle
shipped out Of the state last year netted
81. 600 600. And these siH millions had more
TO do with aiding the suspended banks TO
resums than any other factor. la fact -
is not e1aRgeration 10 sny that 10 Is the
money received from cattle that enabled
them TO resume. The sheep men lad n
poor season. and they had but little money
wish which to poy of their indebtedness.
The miners we're not able 10 DO very mucn.
and a. a result the cattle industry bore the
bulk Of the burdens.
While few people nrs aware Of the i'm
mensity Of the cattls business In Montana,
or the high placs Il occupies In the indus
tries Of the state, fewer still have any idea
Of the systematic way In which u is looked
after. There are two bodies that look after
the cattlemsn'G intsrsst-one ID the board
of stock commissioner. made up OF fifteen
members, appointed By the governor. The
president of the association is John Il.
Murphy. OF Helena, and the secretary is W.
q. PrsuitL also OF Hslena. The other
body is the Montana stookgroWers Gasocia-
tion, Jos Scott. Of Miles City. is the pfesi-
dent of the association, and w. q. Preuitt
is also its secretary. The Office of both
bodies is in the Power block. in this city.
They were each organized In 1885, Mr..
Preuitt assuming the office Of secretary
three years ago. 70 closely 10 the work OF
the two bodies identified that the books
Of each are constantly consulted In regard
TO the same Transaction. The board OF stock
sommissioners appoints the inspectors and
exercises a general supervision over the in
dustry, both during tbs shipping season
and a, all other times. The stoekRroWoiS
association arranRss for ths round-ups In
the spring and fall, and attends 10 the
details OF the business which do not come
under the Jurisdiction of the state board.
The two bodies work together, and theT
have found that the same secretary for
both was the most economical az we'll as the
most satisfactory arrangement.
some idea Of the work done in the secre-
tarv's Office NAV be had when 10 10 said that
in 1892 1000 letters were sent out and In
1898 something over 1000 lt 10
doubtful II any other public Office
had such an extensive correspondence.
10 this office all the inspectors make their
rspo Il aud u is through u that all stray
cattle. sold in Chicago. are accounted for.
In short, 10 10 the clearing houee for the
cattle industry In the state. In 10 are kept
all the records Of she business and 10 It's
Judgment vsy many important questions
are taken for settlement. IL has gradually
grown In hmnortancs and usefulness
through the careful ana conscientious work
OF the officers until its value to the
stock business can scarcely be realiz ID.
The following hgui es, taken from the sec
retsry's records show just What she cattle
business in the state was last year The
nrst shipments were made July l3 and the
last on Dec. &: