The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-07
VALUE OF MONTANA'S
OUTPUT OF
BEEF
Many Millions of Dollars In
vested in the Enterprise =
Report of State Board
Shows Home Consumption
and Shipments Aggregate
100000 Head.

HELENA, Mont, Jan. 6.-Secretary
w. G. Preuitt, of the state board of
stock commissioners, has submitted to
Gov. Toole the annual report of the
board covering the year ended Dec.
81, 1902. The report states that the
value of the beef output in Montana
during the past year was in excess of
$10,000,000 and that during the same
time more than 10000 head of cattle
were shipped out of the state. The
number of horses shipped out of the
state during 1902 is given by the re-
port as nearly $4,000.
Mr.. Preuitt states that almost every
county has a local stock inspector and
that the excellent financial condition
of the board during the past year has
enabled it to make the work more far
reaching and effectual than ever be-
fore. There was on hand Jan. 1, 1902,
$37,955.96. The receipts during the
expenditures were $26,250, leaving a
balance on hand at the present time
of $41,532.70.
The report states that fifteen COM
missions as livestock inspectors are
held in various parts of the state by
men who serve without pay to give ex-
ira protection in their immediate vicin-
tty.
The report of +, Mr.. Preuitt says in
part:
The inspection reports for the year
show a total of 160,538 head of cattle
shipped out of Montana during 1902; of
this number 1850 were shipped west
Canada and 1873 to the feeding dis
tricts, while the remainder We're sent
to the regular markets.
The number used to supply the
home markets was somewhat in excess
of previous years and will doubtless
aggregate 10000 head, making the to-
tai beef output for 1902, including home
consumption and the beef used at the
Indian agencies, 230,538 head, an in
crease of about 504 over the previous
year.
Recovered by Inspectors.
"Of this number the inspectors re-
covered 1884 head of strays for the
respective owners, proceeds for HIS
OF which were RENTED direct to own
ers, while the proceeds of the remain
ing 2,123 were paid to the respective
owners through the Montana Stock
growers association. The inspectors
nkeWlse round and restored fourteen
mead OF cattle to the owners within the
state. Our stockmen also received re-
turns for quite a number of stravs
marketed over in Canada, which We're
recovered under an inspection system
IN operation over there similar to the
OAAO III vogue mere.
The output of horses while not
equal to that of 1901, still amounts to
large number, there having been a.
tota1 OF 55,S6O head of horses shipped
out OF Montana during the wear. Ow-
ing TO the rigid inspection at the lead
ing points few strays We're shipped,
and the market inspectors recovered
only four head during the year, pro-
ceedS of which went to the owners.
local if1Gnnnfnrc
and restored to the owners forty-five
head of stray horses. The horse market
mas Kept up well for the better class of
STOCK, and there has been considerable
speculation in horses among dealers.
The inspection law needs amending.
somewhat and we shall endeavor to
have it done at the coming session-of
the legislature.
Reported Bounty Frauds.
Some legislation is needed in behalf
OF the stock interests, suggestions for
Which will doubtless be presented to
the next legislative assembly There
have been some complaints of fraud in
connection with the payment of wolf
bounues, owing to the suspicion that
pelts are brought into the state from
adjoining states and territories because
OF the larger bounties paid in Mon
tana. Official information on file in
bounty of S. on wolves and coyotes, in
Canada there is no bounty whatsoever
on coyotes, likewise in North Dakota,
while in Wyoming and South Dakota
it is only 81 and all suspicion of fraud
attaches to the coyote bounty, which
constitutes probably rs per cent of all
bounties paid in this state
THE law requires some amendment
to provide further safeguard against
fraud. There should also be some law
placed to prevent the logging of cat
tie, of which there is considerable COM
plant, much injury being done to cat
tie by this pernicious practice Some
legislation is likewise needed with re-
gard to the taking up, using or dispos-
ing of stray horses, and an effort will
be made to frame bill covering the
requirements of the case.''
These figures are included in the re-
port:
Cattle Strays Re
Year Output. covered.
1888 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 79,089 /, 035
1885 ..................119,6 go 1,73C