Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-01-07

the board has made the work more ef-
fectual and ~far.reaching than ever
before, as for many years we were
hampered in this work because OF
lack of funds with which to carry it
on.
An examination of the inspection
reports for the year will demonstrate
the efficiency of the inspection force
and be an indication Of the benefits
accruing to the stock interests from
this work.
Arrests During the Year.
These reports for the year show a
total of SO arrests for violations oil
the stock laws. resulting in 81 con-
victions and 25 cases still pending in
the courts. In addition one party
had a bunch of horses conflscated by
the Canadian government, while an
other furnished a cash bond of $1,000
and then forfeited it to the county
rather than stand trial. Among the
arrests were several of universal i'm
portance to the stock interests, two
or three in particular being among
the most notorious rustlers ever
known in Montana, and this branch
of the work has been exceptionally
satisfactory during the year. The
inspectors have likewise done some
creditable work In preventing bounty
frauds. and a number OF claims are
held up and still remain unpaid
through the work of inspectors In
finding evidence of fraud. The board
has exercised the powers conferred
by law with regard to assisting In the
prosecution of persons arrested for
violation of the stock laws. and such
funds as were necessary have been
expended in procuring evidence and
employing local assistance to secure
the enforcement Of the stock laws.
In compliance with the statute rel
alive to the killing Of live stock on
the railroads, our inspectors have ex-
amined the hides of cattle so killed
and report a total of o34 hides in
spected. A record has bene kept Of
the brands on these hides, the re-
spective owners notified, to afford
them opportunity to collect the value
of their stock so killed from the rail
road company, and with very few ex-
ceptions the railroad companies have
promptly pai' all such claims.
Heavy Year for Inspectors.
The entire workings OF the inspec-
ton system. both locally and at the
marketing points, has been very sat
isfactory during 1902. The total num-
Der of cattle inspected at these points
has been almost double that OF the
proceeding year, probably due both
TO the exceptionally good condition
of all classes of range stock as well
as to the unusually high prices pre-
Ealing for beef during a part of the
season. Shipments commenced some
what earlier than usual, the first
range cattle from Montana raching
market about the middle of July, al
though there had been a few from the
Dakotas prior to this time. The sea,
son covered a period OF about five
months. closing the middle OF Decem.
Der. The inspection reports for the
year show a total OF l60,53S head OF
cattle shipped out Of the state OF
Montana during 1902; of this number
1850 were shipped westward to Pa.
cifc coast markets, 1923 into Canada
and 1873 to the feeding districts,
while the remainder were sent to the
regular markets.
Output Of the Year.
The number used to supply the
home markets was somewhat In ex'
cess of the previous years and will
doubtless aggregate 10000 head, max.
ing the total beef output for 1902, In
GLIDING home consumption and beef
used at the Indian agencies, 23O,53S
head, an Increase Of about so per cent
over the previous year. OF this mum
Der the inspectors recovered 1854
head OF strays for the respective own
ers, proceeds Of 11,71S of which were
RENTED direct TO owners. while the
proceeds Of the remaining 2,l2S were
paid TO the respective owners through
the Montana stockgrowers' associa'
ton. The inspectors likewise found
ana restored IA mead OF cattle to the
owners within the state. Our stock