Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-12-23

BADLY NEEDED
Sheepmen Want Defects in Present
Sheep Inspection and ouaran-
tine Laws Remedied.
WEATHER CONDITIONS GOOD
Members Of the State Board Of Com
missioners Say the Winter Has
Been Favorable.

Helena. Dec. lS.-The discussion
and arrangement Of ONE sort of leg
islation To remedy the defects in the
present sheep inspection and quar-
antine laws constitutes practically the
entire buSiress out of the ordinary
which was under discussion by the
state board of sheep commissioners
in Helena. President T. c. Power ar
rived from the east and presided at
the meeting. In all, eleven members
of the board were in attendance.
Various members Of the board adj
dressed the meeting upon the need
OF legislation and told of the opera
ton Of the present law. In most cases
it was unsatisfactory. Among the
most fragrant defects are those in re.
spect to the payment of the sheep in.
spectors, together with the methods
OF compelling an OWNER OF scabby
sheep to be quarantined and to re-
main 50 until released by the orders
OF the state veterinarian.
Former Senator VIM. Lindsay, OF
Dawson county, ID. 4. Folsom, OF
Meagher county, l.. II. Mills, Of Val
ley county. and others addressed the
meeting. Several proposed measures
were drawn up to be incorporated
into a law TO the defective
points. They were discussed and var
ious amendments offered.
State Veterinarian DR.. NJ. r.
Knowles addressed the meeting. He
stated that there was but little seal
in Montana. There were some cases
in Meagher county. but in every in
stance precautions were Immediately
taken and the sheep placed under
quarantine and kept from any Other
1ocks. Great care is also being TAX
en- wherever scab exists to keep sheer
that are not infected away, SO thaI
they will not pick up the scab on the
range.
During the past year many of thu
hockmasters in the state, even wher,
the sheep were not scabby, dippe,
their fiocks. Many dipped for ticks
and others. believing that the sheel
would winter much better If the.
were clean and had no ticks to bottle
them, dipped with lime and sulphur
They claim that the wool will be s,
much better next spring and tn
sheep much stronger.
Several other persons addresse,
the meeting On the plan of bringin
the stockmen of the state into clos
or relationship. II was stated tina
there should only be n state fun
for stockmen instead of several, a
at present-the sheep and cattle II
terests each having one. Ii was sal
that when scabby sheep were inspect
ed. or an expense was incurred, tn
sheep men alone had to bear 1t, where
as il was said that when the frui
trees or something of that kind ha
to be attended to, the money cam
from a fund contributed by the entir
state. The plan suggested was to a
ly the stock interests more closely
including those of sheep, cattle an
goats. 1t was also suggested that
measure be framed embracing thes
suggestions. to be passed by the mex
legislature.
Sheep conditions in general through
out the state were reported gooC
Practically no loss has yet occurre
in any of the counties represented q
the meeting. All the commissioner
reported excellent stock weather S
far this winter, with the exception Q
one cold snap. when little damag
was done. There is some snow in a
most every part OF the state, but tn
sheep commissioners state that 1t
a good thing. as il enables the shee
to get water when the water hole
are frozen over. With the exceptio
OF a few parts of the state the winte
range is reported good. In genera
II was stated that the sheepmen ar
well prepared to stand an ayerag
winter.
T. C. Power was again elected a
president of the board and Corneilu
Hedges secretary. A committee o
legislation. consisting of the follow
ing was appointed. William Lindsa!
OF Dawson county. p. b. Moss. of We
lowstone and w. X. Floweree. of II
ton.