The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-24
THE MEREST GUESS WORK
Possible Losses of Cattle on the
Big Ranges.
EXPECTED TO Be SMALL
But 1t Will Be Impossible to Arrive at
the Real state Of Affairs Until
Spring-The Conditions in
Northern Montana.


ALL" said a gentleman from the north
yesterday. He sat in the Butte hotel
lobby and a Standard reporter que,5-
toned him in regard to the possible
losses on the ranges during the past
two months He continued:
When left Choteau our people were
wondering how extensive might be the
losses to the herds and flocks. There is
a vast expanse of prairie up north No
man ever attempts to cover any great
part of it in weather like we have been
having, and if the stock that is miles
away from human habtatton is suf-
fering or dying, there is none to carry
the distressing news to the owners
thereof.
"One can judge or form conclusion;
from the baeis of former experiences
as to the loss incurred by the severe
weather, but positive knowledge of ,,he
conditions existing on the ranges is moi
obtainable to-day
Cattle in the fall will invariably
drift to those parts of the ranges most
protected--that is their instinct will
lead them to places where the wind
clears the benches of snow. In such
places are to be found coulees and the
like, where resemblance of shelter
from the blasts is obtainable. l can
tell you that in such places you will
find no human habita'tion. Therefore,
the results of winter are not obtainable
until late in the spring.
"Of course, there are herds that
browse in the vicinity of ranches and
settlements and these are usually the
year round under the eye of the owner
or herder. 1t is by the condition of
these herds that an estimate of the loss
on the entire range is made. There
may be surprises in store for owners
OF cattle-they may be sad or may be
they Will be agreeable. But when l
hear reports from ranges where no man
lives, / place no faith in them. This
has been a rather severe winter, but 7
recall many more just as severe and
worse.
Look back % or 80 winters and COM
pute the losses of each up to the pres
ent. You will find that in all of them
only two or three very disastrous ca
lamities have befallen the herds. I be-
lieve that the losses this winter will be
small in comparison with those in for
mer years.
L repeat. 1T is now only a guess as
to the extent of the range losses"
In the vicinity of Havre cattle have,
according to the Milk River Eagle, suf-
fered death. The paper recently re-
marked:
Cattle in this section are rapidly sue
cumbing to the ravages of the heavy
storms and terrible weather which is
now upon us. For'nearly 10 days they
have stood punched up in the coulees
and in the brush patches along the
creeks. Simon Pepin, who was ON the
range Thursday, reports that within
three miles of Havre SO head of dead
cows and steers were counted, and that
from the present outlook, if the wealth
er which is now inflicted upon us con-
tinues, the loss will be the heaviest in
years. Much hay is now being fed by
cattlemen, and they are putting forth
every effort to save their herds
Contradictory as the reports are re-
garding the range losses. the fact lis
pertinent, yea impudent that this WIN
ter is displaying a large and varied as
sortment of wonderful achievements. 1t
has caused good men to swear. 1t has
developed the fact that all thermome-
tiers do not look alike when the mer-
curry falls below the freezing point.
There is a marked difference in the reg
istration of those on any one street in
Butte. Yesterday the temperature on
Broadway, according to the ,thernom-
etSIS, Naf1eu eight ueSietS. L MS VIII
ter will live in the memory as the one
which produced the most wind. al
though, however, Butte got little of it.
It has also put the everlasting quetus
on the proverbial old-timer, who has
heretofore assumed to do all the pre-
dieting as well as paint in frosty scenes
the terrors of the retrospective. This
winter is a lulu
The Stock Growers Journal looks at
the matter in the same light through
which the Choteau gentleman sizes it
up. The Journal says: Some news
paper reports Of the damage to live
stock in the West by reason Of the ex-
treme cold and storm season just over,
mention Montana in the list of heavy
losers. That is pure guesswork, and it
is pleasure to say so far as is now
known, the losses in stock in Montana
this year are extremely light, and
speaking for Eastern Montana, live
stock of all kinds are in good condition.
The losses by reason of the recent cold
weather. running through more than
two consecutive weeks, are nominal