The Dickinson press., 1898-12-31
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Billings County Moi*es.
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Billings County Wol*es.
EDITOR Press: As your paper il. read
by many Billings county ranchers, it
may not be amiss to say through its col
umns, word in regard to a matter that
concerns every person interested in stock
within the precincts of said county, viz:
the loss of cattle by wolves. -
At the present time when stock cattle
cost but shade less than the. matured
animal brings when placed on the beef
market, leaving the stockman so small
margin that he cannot afford ten or
even five per cent loss, it behooves him
to seek some means by which he may es-
cape from the depredations Of that arch
fiend, the grey wolf and his sly consort
in mischief, the coyote.
Previous to July, %. this county paid
bounty of 50 to any individual who pre-
sented :the proper officials with wolf
skin, the ears of which had not previous
ly been perforated. providing the skin
had been taken from no other than Bill
ings county wolf. This together with the
state bounty of a like amount THAT is if
ever paid-I do not say the state is bank.
rupt, but apparently poor pay on wolf
certi6cates) made it an object for many
to engage in the destroying of those
dastardly marauders; consequently
wolves became fewer and the loss of cat.
tie, from that source, diminished proper.
tionately.
This condition of affairs worked har-
moniously until our efficient and ever
vigilant county commissioners discovered
that it took money to pay for dead wolves,
even if they were but Billings county
wolves, though it was rumored that
wolves from other counties were brought
in and put opon the market here. But
cannot doubt the ability of Billings
county official to detect foreign from
the home production.
However the bounty was Withdrawn,
the funds becoming exhausted as the re-
suit of our over production of wolf pelts,
or as have been told, the consequence
of litigation of a date, prior to my time,
but in accordance to the teachings of the
good book, that the sins Of the fathers
shall be visited upon the children, unto
the third and fourth generations, have
the privilege of paying an excessive tax
to the end that defunct treasury may
be replenished. AS result of dis
continuing the paying of bounty, the
| wolf killing industry subsidized, and the
wolf being prolific quadruped they are
rapidly becoming numerous, their inva-
sions frequent. and the loss Of stock en-
tailed thereby upon the ranchmen is as
suning serious proportions.
The question now before the ranchmen
of this county is what shall be done as
protection from this pest, and reduce
the loss therefrom? Whether bounty
shall be paid on wolves or not? This I
understood was to have been submitted
to the voters at the last election; but
through the neglect of some one, It was
not on the ticket, and so far no move has
been taken in the matter. Whether it is
best to continue the paying of a bounty,
offer no suggestion, preferring to wait
the expression Of others as vitality inter-
ested in this matter as I; but it appears
| to me that if some active measure 10 not
adopted to prevent the rapid increase of
wolves in our county the money already
expended. for that purpose shall have
been paid out for less than enduring re.
suits; but however this may be am IA
vorably convinced of the fact, that at
present, in this county, the taxes are ex-
ceedingly heavy, and the protection af-
forded the tax payer, from loss by wolves
magni6cently light.
do not wish it understood that favor
paying bounty on wolves produced
without the county, but am inclined to
be favorable to any measure that will
tend to reduce the loss resulting from
the increase of that animal within our
borders, even to the paying Of a small
bounty, (if no other means can be devils
ed to exterminate the pest) for if can
pay aytax to educate my neighbor's chill
dren who are. removed from me by the
space Of ten miles ofthill and dale, can,
tleast, make an honest effort to con-
tribute to afunds for the protection of my
neighbor's cattle as we'll as my own.
And now. patient sir, in closing permit
me to say that l. would like to hear the
thoughts Of other interested parties on
this matter, and other subjects of interest
to stock growers, expressed through the
columns of your ever welcome paper.
which 7 believe is interested in the pro-
gress of all cattlemen within the confines
of Stark and Billings counties.
Let some of our old and experienced
stock growers air themselves during these
long winter evenings that the young
ranchmen may be benefited thereby,
and not keep their light under bushel.
The Savior condemned this policy.
Craving forgiveness for taking up so
much Of your valuable space, .
remain,
GEO. H. PARKER.
Govt Creek Ranch, Dec "a, '96.