The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-04-29
| LARGE OUTFITS BEING plsPLAc-
ED eY SMALLER ONES.
STILL PLENTY OF CATTLE
Open Ranging Giving Way to Produc.
ton in Other Direction
Seasons Outlook.

While the number Of cattle on the
ranges of eastern Montana has in
creased during the past few years and
is now greater than at any time since
the hard winners Of the latter eighties,
the day ct the big outfit seems to
have passed and "cattle kings" are no
longer jostling elbows and so COM
mon as to be almost as numerous as
the men whose possessions do not
give them claims to bovine royalty.
The same story comes from all Of
the counties to the east. The men
who count their cattle by the thou
sands are finding themselves driven
from their old ranges by the small
fellows, the ones who have a few
hundred head at the most and the
others whose herds can easily be
corraled within the modest enclosures
surrounding their own modest
"shacks." Pierre Wibaux, whose
herds covered almost all the available
grazing lands of Dawson county, has
been forced to move and is now on
the Big Dry, where he hopes to be
able to remain few years longer be-
fore finally forced out of business.
The Converse outfit, next to Wibaux1
the largest in that part of the state,
is preparing to follow suit and soon
its herds will be ranging in the north
ern section OF the state.
The range these two are leaving
will now be contested for by the
sheepmen and the settlers. Both are
coming in and the fight between them
promises to be sharp one, but its
end is plainly in sight. The rancher
will remain and the sheepman will
have to go. Although not the best Of
friends, the sheepmen and the cattle
men think they could arrange their
little disputes among themselves and
arrive at some understanding concern
ing division of the range, but in the
advent Of the settler and his dogs they
see a common enemy and both would
be glad II he could be kept out. ~
A recent article in Butte paper
contributed by correspondent,
quotes "Jack" Surveys, manager for
Wibaux, as saying that the sheepmen
and cattlemen should form a "com.
munity Of interests" and divide the
range, or what Is left of it between
themselves, each to control their por.
tion. He is particularly worried over
the presence Of the settler and claims
that because Of the large number
, of dogs the latter is bringing into
the country his outfit will not be able
to let it's cattle run loose as hereto
fore, as they will be chased and har-
rassed by dogs and consequently pre-
vented from taking on the fat that
gives them their value in the eastern
markets. He is credited with saying
that because of the dogs last sum-
mer the cattle marketed by his en-
ployer did not weigh within 100
pounds what they should have weigh
ed.
What Others Say.
The Chicago commission men who
attended the different meetings Of
stockmen held throughout the state
have returned home and some of them
have been interviewed by the news.
papers Of their city. They all agree
that the increase in cattle in Mon
tana and the other cattlegrowing
states visited by them namely the
two Dakotas. has been really remark
able. Conservatively estimated. they
think the INCREASE as to Montana is
/ from 20 to 25 per cent and that at
present there are more cattle in the
state than have been in many years
Last year Montana shipped to Chi
cago 2,79O carloads, South Dakota
4,O8S and North Dakota 1881. This
year. those parties think, the ship
ments from this state alone will be
1000. South Dakota more than 5000
and North Dakota in proportion.
They are also agreed that while
this years shipments will be mucf
greater than last year prices will alst
be higher. Judging from present ap
pearances they think the advance viii
amount to something like SO or Y
cents this summer. Because Of tn
dry season so far they say they d
not expect much Of movement Il
renge cattle before the latter part Q