Fergus County argus., 1902-01-08
LIVE STOCK
INDUSTRY
Cattle RustIers Have Been Active and
Many Of Them Have Been
Captured.
INSPECTORS ARE KEPT BUSY
The Horse Market Has Been Good
During the Past Year and
Continues Firm.


The annual report of the state live
stock commission, a summary OF
which was given in the Tribune, shows
that the owners of cattle and horses
In the state have enjoyed most pros
porous year.
After telling of the recent changes in
the membership of the commission
and recalling the election Of John T.
Murphy as president and w. G. Preu-
lit as secretary, the report recites
that Theodore Nichols was appointed
as regular inspector for Fergus coun-
ty with headquarters at Lewistown.
and ]. G. Ware was given temper.
ary appointment in Flathead county,
and c. w. Harding in the Musselshell
country.
Work of inspectors.
As the shipments of cattle began
C. L. Heren was transferred to Chi
cago as assistant inspector and j. c.
Anderson was sent to Sioux City to
look after such shipments as might
come to that market. Jacob Sieben
was also sent to Chicago as assistant
inspector during the shipping season.
AS the work of these men was com.
pleted or the funds from their respect
i've counties became exhausted, they
were released from service, Mr.. Moore
for Broadwater county being released
Aug. 21, Mr.. Sieben at Chicago Nov.
1, Mr.. RAIDER Nov. Is, Mr.. McShane
Dec. Is, Mr.. Twible Dec. 1, Mr.. Ander.
son Dec. 81 and Mr.. Couttois Dec. 81,
while Messrs. Ware and Harding will
terminate their services early in jan
uary. Mr.. Lund resigned his position
Dec. / and no one has as yet been Sc
lected as his successor.
The board aims to make the wisest
expenditures possible of the funds at
its command. whereby the greatest
possible service and benefit may be
rendered the live stock interests, and
in pursuance of this plan an effort has
been made to maintain more local in
spection and detective work by EN-.
ploying men to work in almost all Of
the individual counties Of the state.
The excellent financial condition Of
the board enabled 1t to do this to a
greater extent than 1t has been able to
do for some years past. Stockmen
generally throughout the state have
very freely expressed their approval
of the past seasons work, and the sta
tistics of summary for the year makes
a very creditable exhibit.
RustIers Captured.
The inspection reports for the year
1901 show q total of 81 arrests for the
violation of the stock laws, the results
of which were 81 convictions, with 20
cases still pending. and eight others
jumped their bonds and one was kill
ed while seeking to escape from the
officers. Among the arrests were
some very important ones, which were
very effective in breaking up some no
torious gangs of rustlers which had
been operating for years past. sue
cessfully eluding the officers. Posi-
bly, the more noted cases were those
in Dawson, Teton and Sweet Grass
counties, in the last named Of which
were had the two first convictions for
cattle stealing ever known in that
county and as may well be Imagined,
its influence was most beneficial.
In Dawson county there has exist
ed one of the most desperate gangs
OF outlaws known in the west, but the
past years work has resulted in the
breaking up and scattering of this out
fit. In Teton county an organized
gang successfully made way with a
large number of horses in the early
part of last winter. but upon attempt
ing a second steal were captured and
sent to the penitentiary. one having
fed the country to escape arrest and
punishment.
There were few cases In which
shippers of horses attempted to evadt
the inspection law, but were detected
and fined as provided by law. A few
butchers, also. were found who were
not keeping their records In accord
ance with the statute and they, too
were subjected to the statutory fine
or the 20 cases still pending some arr
most important ones in which stock
men are greatly interested.
Many Horse Thieves.
The past year seems to have beeI
an unusually aggravating one in thil
respect, as the table of arrests show
a greater number than other yea
since the board was organized. Doubt
less the increased value Of horses ma.
account for this. at least partially, bu
It would seem as though every rustic
in the state had exerted himself u
ply his vocation as actively as possI
BILE during the year just passed. an
perhaps, too. the increased number 0