The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-11
ON THE STOCK RANGE
The Year 1895 in Many Respects Was
a Remarkable One.
LARGEST CATTLE SHIPMENTS
Annual Report of the State Board
of Stock Commissioners-Strays
Recovered and Sold-Ef-
fective Bounty Law.

Special Correspondence OF the Standard.
Helena, Jan. 10.-In many respects
1895 was a remarkable one in the his
tory of stock industry of Montana IT
was the most important year the
cattlemen of the state ever had. More
catl-s were shipped from the state
than in any previous season and more
money was received from their sale
than ever before. 1t is estimated that
more than s11. 100000 was paid last year
for Montana cattle. During the early
part of the season the cry went up all
over the land that there was an I'M
mense shortage of beef cattle, and tina
mense shortage of beef cattle, and that
the demand would far exceed the sup
ply, the result being that the markets
were higher than for some years, but
as the season advanced and the West
poured it's cattle into the great mar
kets, there was a total collapse, and
whereas the season opened with ex-
tremely high prices, the end was mark
ed with as low a market as has been
known in many years. Stockmen who
made early shipments were extremely
fortunate in securing unusually good
prices, but the later shipments Jared
worse than in years, as a rule. The
early spring promises a very discour-
aging season on account of short feed
and scarcity of water, but the late
spring rains were effectual in providing
both feed and water, and as the cattle
took ON flesh very rapidly, they aver
aged up in better condition than usual,
a large number of Montana cattle
being considered good enough for the
export trade.
The annual report of the state board
of stock commissioners made to the
governor last week is of unusual in
terest giving as IL does, the condition
of ho SIT business and the amount
of work done through the board during
1895.
The commissioners in their report
say that the workings of the new boun-
ty law have been very satisfactory and
that it has afforded more protection to
the stock interests than any other law.
They say that wolves are becoming
very scarce and IL the law continues
an effect these destructive pests will,
in a few years, become almost extinct
on Montana ranges.
Regarding the system of inspection
now in use the commissioners say:
THE workings of the inspection SyS-
TEN, both at the markets and within
the borders of the state have been un-
usually satisfactory during the past
season. Stockmen in general who are
acquainted with the methods employed
On this work and the gratifying results
obtained are unanimous in their appro-
val of the thorough and effective sys-
tenn in vogue. The force of inspectors
consists of reliable and conscientious
men, some of whom have been parti-
cularly efficient in the capture and con-
viction of law breakers-the total num-
Der of arrests during the year aggre-
eating 20 persons, quite a number of
whom are now paying the penalty of
their crimes in the penitentiary. The
force of inspectors was considerably
larger than in previous years and as
almost every one of them had been on
the force before, the results accom-
phshed were greater than heretofore.
THE board still experiences some
difficulty in inducing all of the counties
TO make the tax levy for the stock in
spector and detective fund, and as a
result we are hampered by a lack of
funds with which to properly carry
on the work. I'm spite of the fact that
stockmen in their counties are con-
stantly appealing to the board for help
and protection from the rustling ele-
ment. There appears to be no valid
reason why this tax should not be lev
ted because 1t falls solely upon the
stockmen, all of whom are benefited
alike at the markets, and If we could
have a complete levy throughout the
state we could easily maintain a great
er number of inspectors for range
work as well as to render greater as
sistance in the prosecution of offend
ers against the stock laws. Owing to
this lack of funds we are compelled
every year to curtail the force after a
few months work, and the stock in
terests in some localities are left with
out the protection they should and
would have IL every one cooperated for
the furtherance of this work. However
the levy the past autumn was more
general than for many years and with
but two exceptions all the stock coun-
ties of the state are working under
this law, and we hope to accomplish
much more during the coming year
than we have in the past
Wherever the workings of the board
are understood. there Is no dissatisfac-
ton, and any complaints that are made
invariably come through ignorance of
the methods employed by the board in
conducting this work of protection.
Every section of the state is repre-
sented on the board and the funds
collected are disbursed with the view
of doing the greatest good in the most
effectual manner. The members of the
board themselves receive no compen-
senation. pecuniarily. for their serv-
ives. a fact not generally understood"
In the report the following table.
with comparative statistics, is given:
Year. 1nsp. Value. Recov'd. Strays.
Cattle Est Strays Rec for