The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-06
ITS VALUE RUNS WELL INTO
THE MILLIONS.
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS
Interesting Data Submitted b,
Boards Secretary to Governor
TooIe-Increase Is Shown.

According to the report of w. G..
Preuitt, secretary of the state board
of livestock commissioners, submitted
to the governor January 1, during the
year 1902 The total value Il the beet
output of Montana exceeded 10000.
900, while during Ike same period
over 100000 head Of cattle were ship
ped out of the state. The number of
horses shipped III tie. came time is
given as approxlmat'ag $4,000.
Appended to the report is a state
ment showing a summary of the in
spection work done by the board
since it's organization, in 1885. For
that 1884 estrays were recovered,
while the cattle output was 1905 {.
The number of inspectors employed
was % and SO arrests were made.
F%orty-nine estray horses were recov-
cred for their owners, while the num-
Der inspected reached $1,000.
No changes have been made in the
personnel of the board since the last
report. George Tong, the Silver Bow
member, died, but no has
ben appointed. Vacancies still exist
in Missoula and Ravalli counties,
they having no representatives or
the board.
Fifteen inspectors r at work in
different parts of the state who re-
ceive no compensation, they having
rendered their services in order to
give extra protection to stock in their
immediate vicinities.
Inspector Reports.
1.-THE inspection reports for the
year." say Mr.. Preuitt, "show a total
of 160,53S head of cattle shipped out
of Montana during 1902; of this num-
Der 1850 were shipped westward to
Pacific coast markets, 1923 into Can
ada and 1878 to the feeding districts,
while the remainder were sem to the
regular markets.
= THE number used to supply the
home markets was somewhat in ex-
cess of previous years and will doubt
less aggregate 10000 head, making
the total beef output for 1902, includ-
ing home consumption and the beef
used at the Indian agencies, 230, 538
head, an increase of about 504 over
the previous year.
Recovered by inspectors.
"Of this number the inspectors re-
covered 1854 head of strays for the
respective owners, proceeds for H.
us, of which were RENTED direct
to owners, while the proceeds of the
remaining 2,123 were paid to the re.
spectiye owners through the Montana
Stockgrowers association. The in.
spectors likewise found and restored
IL head Of cattle to the wne with
in the state. Our stockmen also re
ceived returns for quite a number OF
| strays marketed over in Canada,
which were recovered under an in
| spection system in operation over
there similar to the one in vogue here
"The output of horses, while no
equal to that of 1901, still amounts tC
a large number, there having been a
total of $1,000 head o. horses shipped
out of Montana during the year. Ow
ing to the rigid inspection at the lead
ing points few strays were shipped
and the market inspectors recovered
only four head during the years, pro
ceeds of which went to the owners
The local inspectors likewise recover
ed and restored to the owners As hea(
Of stray horses. The horse market
has kept up we'll for the better class
of stock and there has been consider
: able speculation in horses among
dealers. The inspection law needs
amending somewhat and WI shall en-
deavor to have it done at the coming
session. of the legislature.
Prices More Reasonable.
"The price of stock cattle n yount
steers has been maintained through
out the year until the past few week;
when there has been a slight sluml
and cattle of this class can now b.
had at a more reasonable figure. Thi:
is only in keeping with the genera
drop in the beef market all over tn
country. The number of cattl'
brought into the state in 1902 ha
been largely in excess of any prev
GUS year since the SOS, the total mum
Der %aggregating 10000 head, most o
which were Texas or other southern
stock and a. number of large TeXa