Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-25
RANGE IN BAD CONDITION
South Dakota stockmen Find Their Cattle
in Danger.
HEAVY SNOW FoRMS A HARD CRUST
Many Dispose of Lnrgc lunches
Rather Than Take the Chances
of Going Through
the winter.

PIERRE, S. d., Nov. tspecial)-The
Sioux Stock Journal, published at Fort
Pierre the official paper Of the Missouri
River Stockmen's association, in summing
up the cattle situation for the season. says:
The season OF 1896 promised favorable re-
turrs, but 1t has only resulted in bunch
OF unfulhlled expectations, so to speak.
The winter of 1895 was much in the cattle
mems favor and stock came through ht
for the market, had there been one. They
had grown and thrived during the
winter months and were fat rs seals in
the spring. Everybody expected with so
favorable a start and with three or four
months to harden and smooth them before
the shipping season commenced that they
would bring as satisfactory returns as in
1895 at least, but even in this they were
disappointed. few shipments were made
in tho middle of July and they brought
within 81 per 100 pounds what they ala
the same month the preceding year
few more consgnments were made ana
then the movement was retarded, with the
hope that the market would advance.
Finally it did, but was very unsettled and
weak. Then cattle poured In from ali quar-
ters and prices gradually fell back into the
old rut. For a time shipping ceased alto
gether and nothing was sent to market un-
til about a month ago, when prices began
ascending. At present they are at the hlgh-
est point of the season. and some who had
not intended to ship have changed their
minds. This was due largely to the severe
cold weather many fearing that the less
would be large and that 1t would be better
to sell at present figures than to stand
total less. Some are preparing to ship,
while others are gathering their cattle to-
gether with the intention of feeding.
PRICES COMPARED.
The highest range of prices for the past
ten years is given at the following figures,
the price being per 100 pounds: 1887, S425;
1888, S5.40; 1889, $40; 1890, $3.50; 1891,
So. .60 1892, $3.50; 1898 Si.75; 1894 S4.9O; 1895,
$50; 1896, s4.25. 1t will be noticed that in
the past ten years the best prices were re-
ceivcd during 1891. This years prices will
not, by any means, average S4.25, although
at the present time range men are receiving
those figures for choice beef. With the proba-
BILE exception Of 1889 this years prices have
been the lowest of the past decade
number of cattlemen from Sully county
decided not to take any chances on the
winter, and have sold all their cattle eX-
cept those which they have the necessary
feed to carry through the winter. Several
punches were brought in yesterday and dis
posed of at the stock yards. One of the
parties stated that he had sold down to
point where he had the hay to feed until
May, and that he would keep the cash he
had received and If the winter was anything
as 1t was expected to be he could in February
or March purchase cattle at his own price.
| and be ready for the next year with
larger bunch than he had just disposed Of.
The general impression Is growing that the
winter will be both long and severe. The
snow covers all the range on the prairie and
the few days of thaw which have occurred
since the fall have only put a thick crust on
the snow and made the situation worse than
it was with the deeper snow without the
crust.
RANGE IN BAD CONDITION.
MITCHELL, S. D., Nov. 24-(Special)-
Usually the cattle on the reservation at
this time of the year can find all the feed
necessary" said !. W. Seaman to The Bee
correspondent but at present it is nearly
impossible for them to secure feed" Con-
tlnuing, Mr.. Seaman said 1t has hardly been
the case within years that cattlemen have
been put to such straits to get feed for
their stock, as the prairles hereto
fore have been free from snow
and ice. This applies to ranges lying
| north OF Chamberlain, where immense
droves of cattle roam the prairies and feed
| on the luxurious grasses. When the first
snow fell out there 1t reached depth of
eighteen inches but this did not bother the
cattle from digging down to the grass
through the soft sncw. Shortly after the
snow melted and formed a hard crust on
the surface which prevented further at
tempts at grazing. All the rangers have
driven their cattle down near Chamberlain
where there is plenty of feed and water
The rangers up north have seen their mis-
take in not putting up hay for the winter
| and they all say that they will not be
caught again in like predcament. Many
OF the rangers have had to sell their cat
tie on account of the scarcity of feed and
do so at a loss.
Mr.. Seaman says that his cattle are safely
housed on his ranch in Bon Homme county
for the winter. He believes that cattle are
going to be worth good money next year and
he is buying all that come his way.
HURON, s. D.. Nov. 24-(Special.)- .)-The
Chicago &c Northwestern has entered upon
a new contract for transporting 4,400 head
of cattle from western ranges to eastern
markets. Nearly all the stock will pass
through this city.