The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-26
RANGES ARE DEPLETED
Montana Men Will Not Pay Last
Years Prices.
ARE ANXIOUS TO RESTOCK
Proceedings Of the National Live Stock
Convention-The Wolf Question.
Jansen Talks About
Sheep Feeding.

SuSoP Z ScOlQSs
Denver, Colo, Jan. 25.-The range cat
tie show at the stock yards is receiving
marked attention from the cattlemen in
attendance at the National Live Stock
convention. The yards were filled all
day. Trades were confined almost ex-
clusively to the cattle in the yards, but
there was a whole lot of talking Ie-
tween the range men Of the north and
the breeders Of the southwest. The Sit
uation is nearly dead lock. The Texas
men are holding out for last years
prices and northern men are standing
pat. The prices last year We're SIS for
calves, $40 for yearlings and $25 for
twos. The big Texas breeders insist
that they must have that figure this
year or they will hold their cattle and
the northern men insist that they can
nat afford to pay the money. Five years
ago Montana took nearly $4,000 head
of Texas cattle. Last year she took
less than 1000 head. The northern rang
es are depleted and the stockmen up
there are anxious to restock, but thus
far there have been no contracts made.
"A resolution recommending uniform
bounty law for determination of pre-
datory animals in western states and
territories formed the subject for dis
cussion at the opening of the conven-
tion Of the National Live Stock associa-
tion to-day. The discussion was open
ed by A. J. Boutwell, of Wyoming.
The Wolf Question.
Mr.. Boutwell, said in part:
THE wolf question is assuming Sc
rious aspect to the Western ranchnan.
How to exterminate this foe of the cat
tle-grower is a matter for deliberate
consideration and concerted action"
After devoting some space to de-
scription of the different varieties Of
wolves, Mr.. Boutwell, said:
My own experience with these pests
covers "a comparatively limited period
of time, my ranch being located in
central Wyoming, a section of country
practically free from wolves until with
in the last few years. They seem to
have been heard of first in the more
northern section of the range country
within the last decade, and their adj
vance southwark has been gradual, but
certain, until now the ranges in central
Wyoming have nearly as many wolves
as cattle occupying them. That this
proportion of wolves to cattle has sud
denly become SO enormous, is owing to
the fact that within the past two years
the greater part of the cattle belong
ing to the larger range companies have
been shipped from the state, the wolves
remaining to prey upon the smaller
herds. They now pretty. we'll cover
eastern Montana, the Dakotas, all of
eastern Wyoming as far south as the
Colorado line, while they are beginning
to appear on the ranges of northwest
Colorado. have not heard of there be-
ing any in Utah, nor have any appear
ed as yet on the ranges in the state CT
Nevada.
I'm central Wyoming my experience
has been that these wolves kill from 20
to 20 per cent. of the annual increase of
the herds. The class of stock preyed
upon by them is generally calves, colts
and yearlings, though occasionally
band attacks and devours older ami
mails, and sometimes even kills full
grown cattle. They are generally most
destructive in spring, summer and fall
months, during which period, too, they
are more easily trapped. poisoned, shot
or captured with the lariat."
Poisoning and trapping, he said, were
not very successful. because the wolf
would not eat cold meat, preferring to
do his own killing. He told of the I'M
successful efforts during centuries past
to exterminate wolves in Europe. In
France $40 is paid for each wolf killed.
Russia pays $3.50 per head, and yet the
annual damage to stock in Russia from
wolves is from $780, 900 to s7,250.heO.
Mr. Boutwell, recommended that the as
ISOLATION make an effort to secure uni
form bounty laws In all range states.
Said he, in closing:
Important features of the proposed
legislation should be: First, perma-
nency of the wolf bounty law; second,
the bounty on wolves killed should be
large enough to warrant men in follow
ing the business of wolf killing; third,
all appropriations for the purpose Of
paying state rewards should be large
enough to carry the law into effect
from one legislature to another. thus
making the warfare against wolves a
persistent and effective movement in
the West, until the race is finally and
completely exterminated."
Resolutions were adopted approving
the work of the bureau of animal in
dustry in efforts to prevent the spread
OF contagious diseases, asking for accu-
rate animal statistics from the federal
government, providing for a committee
to look after wolf legislation. The
question of leasing arid lands was then
taken up, provoking a heated discus
sion. Adjourned until 1880 p. m.
When the convention met in the aft
ernoon, DR.. Victor Nogaard. chief of the
pathological department of the bureau
of animal industry, spoke on the work
of the bureau in the way of preventing
the spread of contagious diseases. RE
said the method of treatment for hog