Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1896-01-16

up Ill DeCter cODultlOn tIldn usudi. d
large number of Montana cattle be-
ing considered good enough for the
export trade.
"The total number OF cattle on
what exceeded that of last year, and
the results of the inspectors work
was proportionately greater. The
shipments of cattle during the year
1895 aggregated 246.46 head-the
slaughter for home consumption
being about $4,000 head, making the
to'al output BOG, ,46O head.
I'VE find after a careful computa-
ton that the average price for the
year was n trifle over S.6 per head.
Thus it will he seen that the cattle
industry alone has brought more
than $11 .OOO. 900 into Montana dur
ing 1898.
''The report of the state verter-
iT,6rian shows there was brought
into Montana in 1899 10000 head of
cattle"
During the year the inspectors re-
covered "A 4,345 strays, representing a
value of almost 81 1,00O,000. Nearly
$1,000 OF the number were remitted
to the owners through the stock
growers association, the proceeds
aggregating S119,12l. This money
has gone to- persons residing in
various parts OF the state. The
aSfruyG NOT ncsnnpfal for yyer,. uuiI
direct to the owners i'm accordance
with special arrangements made by
many stockmen. whereby their funds
were deposited with some banking
house for their credit.
A summary OF the work done by
! the board in the way of inspection
since it's organization shows most
astonishing results. For the year
ls95: a an example, 3O6, 400 head OF
cattle We're inspected, valued at
81 ,032, $50: strays received, 81, 24o
amount received for same, SlT9,721:
number of arrest, 20: number of in.
spectors. l6.
During the year the Montana board
! di W tht A'to'h
growers associations of North and
South Dakota to inspect cattle from
those states. For this the first
named paid 500 and the last $500 tt
the Montana boad. Both of thu
Dokota associations were well salts
fled with the work done by the Mon
tana inspectors.
The report shows that while th
stockmen whose cattle range on tn
Crow reservation and on ranges
adjacent to the state lines do no
pay any taxes to the state. and ar
not entitled to the benefits of stat
stock inspection, they are liberia
contributors to the inspection fund
that given other stockmen.
The report also shows that o3
head of cattle were killed by tn
J railroads in Montana during 1S9;
2 Under the codes unless the railway
make q settlement within a given tim
l the owners may collect from theI
I an amount in excess of the value {
: the cattle killed. Secretary Preuit
reports that as rule the railway
I have settled promptly.
Referring to the law regarding tn
D slaughter OF cattle for beef, the n
port says stOckmen have been con
e missioned as special inspectors t
p look particularly after the enforc'
u ment of this law, and the regular IL
u spectors will also devote cOnside
q able attention to the Illegal butcher
Referring to the new bounty Law
7 the report says ii is the most benet
/ cial law for the protection of I'll
I stock interests ever enacted i'm MOI
z tana. and that il has saved stool
= men many thousands of dollar
y Wolves are fast disappearing, an
d on some slopes are becoming scare
N The report says it is question
n but a few years when the wolv'
: will be almost wiped out.
J. During the year there were recorde
n in the office of the secretary =
,e brands.
N While feed is reported short q
G almost all of the ranges. cattle al
N in good condition, and stockmen d
v not anticipate severe losses unle'
Is the next two months should be ver
d bad. I'D to this time the winter Ia
K been an ideal one for range cattl