Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-12-05
WOLVES AND COYOTES.
A Goodly Sum Paid Out for Their 0estruo.
ton During the Past Year.
[Ilelrna Indrpendent.l

Helena Independent
Not by any means the least item oi
expense incurred in running the state
is that occasioned by wolves. The
bountles that have been paid out for
the slaughter OF these animals during
the past year amount up to sum of
considerable dimensions, and the pay
ment Of back baunties raises the en-
pense OF the wolf pest to the state to
something formidable. For the year
ending June 80, 1900, the wolves kill
ed in the state cost the people $751;
296. Besides this amount the state
will also have paid OF $4,000 in old
bounties. which were incurred before
the present method of raising the
fund was In vogue.
A special chapter will bedeyoted to
wolves In the report OfCUmmissioner
OF Labor Culdcrhcad, together with
n table showing the distribution oi
the bounties in the different counties
OF the state. Previous Co the time
that the legislature authorized the
levy Of a special tax on the stock val
uation OF the state Tor the purpose OF
getting rid Of the wolves, there were
more claims for bounty than there
was money to pay them. Since the
passage of the above act the officers
have been paying off the old bounties
us fast MS there was any surplus in
the fund, and it now seems that be-
fore the present officers retire from
office all the old bounties, amounting
to $4,000, will have been paid oil,
and the state will start out after
January ], 1901. with a clean slate as
far as wolves are concerned.
During the past year claims
amounting to $4,000 have been taken
up by warrants in thestate auditor u
Office. but they have been sent back
by the postmasters. who could not
find the persons TO whom they were
addressed. This Is likely due to the
fact that the wolves were killed by
persons who were not permanently
settled in the state and who gave up
the hope of ever getting their money
and moved away. The next legisla-
ture will likely pass law cancelling
these claims.
The old claims and the bOunties
that will be paid out Of the collection
OF taxes from stoekmen during the
next two months for this purpose,
will swell the amount OF money paid
cut by the state In the last twelve
months for wolves to $4,000 This
money Is raised by tax OF five mills
on all the stockmen Ia the state. The
tax Is willingly paid. az it gives in
centive for many men to make liv-
ing .lal ling wolves. and therefore pre-
vents their killing calves and other
wise iliuring the stock.
During the past year the wolf and
coyote population OF the state was
q Iferially decreased. Coyotes to the
M Iber G 22,jl3 went hence, while
y wolves took the same trip.
q II whelps that had not reached
y age of doing damage, to the mum.
n of G42, were destroyed.
Y he following IL the amount re-.
q ed by each county during the last
x rfor wolf boUnties: BravCrhead
b tG2; BrOadwater, S3j7; Carbon,
a "; Cascade, S2dl4; Choteau, Sl4,-
g Custer. SlG,ji0: Dawson, $I,l7G:
Y Jr Lodge, $799; Fergus, S5,SO3; Flat
3 Id, S7Oi; Gallatln. Sl,749; Granite,
Z ~; Jefferson, 40. Lewis and Clarke,
: 2Ol; Madison, Sl,4OI; Meagher,
= 1908; Missoula, $685. Park, S99s;
z WALL, 1857; Silver Bow, 1926; Sweet
4 pss, S2,4lI; Teton, SG,09J; Valley,
s tGJ9; Yellowstone. sj,j37; total sS2,.
sl