Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-08-01
ItxAs CATTLE COMING.
One Hundred thousand Head TO Be Turned
Loose on Montana Ranges.

One Hundred thousand Head to Be Turned
Loose on Montana Ranges.
One hundred thousand southern
cattle put on the ranges of Montana
and South Dakota this season, by
Texas cattlemen 10 not a bright out
look for home cattlemen. That Ia
the number that will come to these
northern ranges according to the re-
ports printed In the Texas live stock
papers. 1t means In case OF a hard
winter and backward spring a large
percentage Of loss and lots OF work
for the SINNERS after the snow goes
off.
For several years the Texas cattle
men have had an idea that the range
cattlemen Of Montana and the Dako-
tas were growing rich at their ex-
pense, and they have come to the
conclusion that they will have some
OF what is called In vulgar parlance,
easy money" themselves.
But the probability Is that when
the roundups are made in Montana
and North Dakota next year the
Texans will come to the conclusion
that they are not so well acquainted
with the conditions Of range cattle
growing Is are the men who have
devoted their lives to the industry,
and who have lost as well as made
fortunes In the business.
Five or six years ago II was posi-
BILE for the range cattlenen to go
down into Texas and buy steers at n
figure that would justify them In
putting them on the range and TAX
ing the chances of a hard winter.
Some times they would make money
and at Others they would not. Tens
of thousands OF head were some sea-
sons driven from the south To the
northern ranges. and after a year or
two they would be shipped to the
market. Three or four years ago the
Texas breeders raised their prices
and the purchases by Montana cat
tlemen fell off to a great extent.
The rangeman could not see how he
could make any money at the figure
asked in Texas and he went west for
his cattle, buying in Washington,
Oregon and Utah. But the Texas
grower, by hook or crook, was able
to iatten his steers after u fashion,
and while he missed the sales to the
rangeman, he did not fare SO i'll that
he was inclined the next season to
meet the views Of the rangemen as to
prices.
For a year OF two, finding they
could not make the northern range
men pay the prices they asked, the
Texas people have been shipping in
to- Nebraska and Kansas. feeding
through the winter and selling in the
spring. After a couple of years they
have found there is not as much clear
money in the business as there was
in selling to the rangemen, so they
have concluded this year to ship to
Montana and North Dakota ranges,
take all the chances OF the winter,
and if there is any profit, make it, in
stead OF giving the home cattlemen u
chance to do 1t.
In carrying out this plan the Texas
men have established steer ianchesin
Montana and North Dakota, and
tens of thousands Of head Of cattle
will be shipped this season by them
to these northern ranges. The num-
Der Of stockmen who will this year
make their first shipment to Montana
and North Dakota from the south
will be far greater than 1t has ever
been, though the business has been
growing for two or three years. The
chief. and in fact the only reason that
has induced the Texas cattlemen to
ship their steers to this altitude Is
that he may get the profit which has
heretofore accrued to the buyer. The
movement of Texas and New Mexico
cattle to the northern ranges will be
larger this year than it has been in a
decade. A single road has orders al
ready for delivering $4,000 head Of
young cattle this season on the Mon
tana and North Dakota ranges. One
firm has an order for $4,000 head OF
young steers for the same destina-
ton, and another will put 1900 on
the n0rthera ranges.
Montana, North and South Dakota
will get the great bulk Of these cattle.
The sheep have virtually run the cat