Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1896-10-30
MONTANA
A"e Season Drawing Near to
the Close.

Ahe shipping Season Drawing Near to
The Close.
Ihe shipments of cattle from North
ern Montana are about ended for this
season and a number of the representa-
tiyes of eastern commission houses will
return to their home in a few days.
Wegner u Stickney will ship a train
load of cattle this week from Craig; to-
day and tomorrow G. j. McNamara will
snip a train load from Big Sandy, and
this will be his lust shipment Of the sea-
son. The last shipment, SO far as may
be ascertained, will be made from Fort
Benton Friday, November 6, by the
Shonkin roundup, and, as Bryan will
then have been elected, the owners will
have every reason to expect the highest
price of the season.
Prices this season, thus far, have not
been very encouraging, and yet they
were higher in many instances than had
beer anticipated. The highest price re.
ceived up to date was 81 per cwt., which
was for steers of medium weight, but of
extra quality. The next highest price
was $3.50 per Cwt., which was received
for several punches.
These prices are the lowest received in
several years. In 1890, the average
price for good to choice native Montana
steers was 81 2218; in 1891, s4.55I; in
1892, 81 -; in 1893, a Go; in 1894, 5l.34;
and last year, &tI3.
Last year the high average was the re
suit of the cry that went up early in tho
season from al parts of the United
states tia there was an Immense snort.
age OF beef cattle and that the demand
would far exceed the supply. The result
was that cattlemen of Montana, antici.
patlng high prices, cleared the ranges OF
everything that was possibly marketable
and poured the stock into the Chicago
~stockyards. They secured tip-top prices
and had nearly all their cattle sold be-
fore dealers realized tho extent of the
great reserve on the Montana ranges,
The bottom then fell out of the market.
but the Montana growers had nearly
completed their shipments and the re-.
suit YVES that shippers from other states
suffered, while Montana men escaped,
This season Montana shipments were
not rushed and the growers of this state
took their chances with all others. The
shipments from this state, too, we're far
less than they were last year. There
are no totals obtainable at present, but
the consensus Of the opinions If all
stockmen is that the total this year will
be at least 20 per cent less than that OF
last year, when the number shipped
from Montana to eastern markets WAS
24G,4G0 more than had been shipped in
any previous year. The number killed
for home markets and Indian agencies
this year viii! be about the same as here
tofore, 10000.
The loss of cattle by reason of wild
animals has been much less this year
than last year, when it was 4.9o per cent;
and the percentage Of those that per-
ished from cold and snow last winter
WAS less than in the previous winter,
when it was 555 per cent.
This year the ranges are in good con
dltion and native cattle are in excellent
shape. All in all, the present year has
been about as advantageous to the stock
growers rs last year; for, while prices
have not been as high, losses by death
have been less and the prospect for next
season is encouraging.
Tho eheepmen are degponlent ard
have every rea.on to be. Wool was hardly
worth shearing aud the mutton market
is as bad as the wool market. The only
cheer is that there has been a good de-
mand, albeit at low prices; the expenses
connected with the industry have not
been ae great as usual; and the average
number Of pounds TO the clip has been
IN excess of the average Of last year
Receipts at Chicago from all parts of
the country thus far this month have
10000 cattle and 10000 sheep,
against 2i1 900 cattle and $4,000 sheep
a year ago at the same time. Receipts
thus far this year have been 2,lj5,O00
cattle and 10000 00 sheep, against 2,lOo,.
GOO cattle and 2~,850,00O sheep to this
date IN 1895.