Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-30
NINE THOUSAND
HORSES SOLD.

Two car loads Of Washington horses
passed through Helena Sunday on their
way to an eastern market. They formed,
a small part of the number that will
eventually go over the Northern Pacific
to st. Paul., and from that city to mar
kets further east says the Independent.
A few lays ago a deal was closed be-
tween the Northern Pacific company
and st. Paul and Minneapolis capital
lists for the transportation Of 5000 head
of horses from the Pacific slope to the
twin cities. Still further arrangements
have been closed to transport these
horses, or at least such part OF them
as may be desired, to points in the ter
ritory that lies along the lakes all the
way from Milwaukee,, Wis, to Buffalo,
N. Y. This is a big stretch Of country.
and the 5000 horses may be distributed
over it without showing really where
they were dropped off. To bring these
1000 horses from the coast to the Twin
cities will require $50 stock cars OF the
improved pattern and Is horses will be
placed in each one on the average. This
will account for all but some $50 head and
these will be massed in larger numbers
in some Of the cars, for the bands were
bought, big and little, just as they ran on
the ranges.
| It is the intention of the men who have
bought these horses to try to sell them
at wholesale and retail anywhere n
everywhere that any one will buy one or
more Of them, and there Is not much like
lihood that they will ave any trouble in
! disposing of them, If the horses are ny
thing like a good lot. 1t seems that these
men sent a representative to the Pacific
coast ranges many months g when
horses were on a canning basis as regards
price and that representatives bought III
several thousand head for delivery. with
the increase, in 1900. That time having
arrived, the horses must be taken away.
| though the vendors would nj doubt
greatly prefer hat they should be left
on their hands. 1t is farther said that
the buyers have completed arrangements
to get a good place where the most of the
horses can be wintered over and got fat
before being offered for sale in the spring.
This means that the feeding yards on
the Northern Pacific system will be used
to keep these horses in until such time
as they shall have gained flesh enough to
be put on the market to advantage.
1t is understood that the 5000 horses.
old and young, were bought for a price
that did not exceed 81 to $3.50 per head,
and when all the bills are paid it will take
a selling price of something more than SIS
to bring back the purchase and expense
money. This ought to be easily obtained
and it looks as though there was good
money to be mad on the deal. Besides
there is NO doubt hat the importation of
! some horses fit to work will be a genuine
boon to man communities where cheap
animals have been difficult to obtain.
The fact that Washington horses are
being disposed of in large lots should en-
courage owners of range horses in Mon
tana to put a higher valuation upon their
own stock. Montana range horses are
much better han the Washington pro-
duct. They are only larger, but are
healthier and capable of doing more work
than the range horse raised on the coast.
More Montana horses were sold last veal
than in years past, and it would seem
that the native cayuses are growing in
demand. The state board of stock COM
m~issioners in their eport for 1899 stated
that $4,000 Montana horses had been in.
spected during the year. No great NUM-
Der of Montana horses could be purchas.
. ed, a horseman in Helena said yesterday
for 81 or $3.50 a head, but at double these
figures, 1t is believed there would be
money in them to the purchaser than il
the Washington product. Range horse:
!. in Montana will be assessed this year a
|, $40 a head, the county assessors havins
= determined upon that valuation at theil
meeting in Helena Saturday.