Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-12-07
SEASONPROVED
DISAPPOINTING
Range Cattle Men Have Found Man.
ket This Year Little Better Than
Low Level Of 1903.
ALL THE CONDITIONS AveRsE
Strike Seriously Affected Market and
Later Great Run Of Poor Cattle
Kept Prices Down.

D>'N.Dss
practically over and from now on but
few If any cattle will be shipped to
Chicago from Montana ranges. While
the average prices this fall were
about the same as year ago still
here were 10000 head more stock
shipped from the ranges than during
the same period twelve months ago.
The total receipts for the season we're
2i3,0O0 mead. while the average price
was S3.b5. The Chicago Drovers'
Journal, which has prepared a review
ol the Iange cattle trade for the. sea.
son. says:
Market Review.
I'm few days. perhaps a week, or
even later, the western brand inspec.
tors here will ride into the pens and
tally" the range cattle of the sea-
son OF 1904, but these few remaining
arrivals will have but little bearing
on the season and its general condI-
tions. The range cattle season is yir-
tually over. and sales of any note are
now matters of history. To say that
the season has been one of prosperity
Tor owners would be untrue, but as
compared with last year the gener-
al trade has ruled better, though con-
siderably less profitable than two
years ago.
"RanGemen's expectations OF high
prices this year have come to naught,
as regards the anticipated prosperity
OF the seasons operations. and in
stead OF prosperity following in the
wake of last seasons low prices. this
years results have proved but little
. more satisfactory than the former.
General conditions nave been aver
Sc 10 rangemen's interests practically
from the beginning TO the end of the
season. AT the start the strike at all
markets. the worst effects OF which
were felt at Chicago. from which city
the labor war was carried on, marred
chances of obtaining a very satisfac-
tory scale Of prices. and to the end
the whole trade has been a disappoint-
ment.
J THE excessive runs OF common
, and thin native cattle in the past few
months have competed very strongly
with range offerings, while the great
scarcity of old corn in nearly all Sec
lions Of the feeding belt reduced the
] demand for feeding cattle to very
considerable extent, and this source
OF outlet, which is usually relied upon
. Dy rangemen. has been narrow, and
a comparatively small eastern de-
mand has also hurt selling of the
gIassers.
Statistics on Market.
Marketing for the year thus far
has totaled 267.000 and a conserva.
i've estimate on receipts for the few
Iomaining days of the season is put at
l2,O0o head. making approximately
273,OO0 for the whole season, against
209,900 In 1903, 309, 300 in 1902. l40..
800 in 1901, l46.900 in 1900 and 1885,.
2 700 in 1899.
This years receipts. with the ex-
ception Of arrivals two years ago,
2 when the high prices then prevailing
I stimulated shipping of practically all
$ stock OF marketable age. was the larg-
+ est since the banner year in the his
= tory Of the trade-that OF 1895. when
J d total of 430,500 was received at Chi
$ Cago.
, Since that year receipts have been
: on the decline. the minimum being
: cached in 1901 when only 140,500 ar
. rived. Many big outfits have since
llquidated their holdings. and while
: the big men" were powers in the
range cattle industry In former years,
: the smaller ranchmen have in late
years been growing. while the erst-
2 while cattle kings" have been retir-
5 ing. The vast ranges OF former years
!. are fast being cut up into smaller
q tracts. occupied by owners OF lesser
= sized herds of better quality.
: THE following statistics on the
: trade for 1904 are interesting:
: Range Of prices, steers. s2.25 to So
!, 60; range OF prices, cows and heif-
. ers, Sl.75 to $780, range of prices.
! feeders, s2.25 to 1855; average price
for year, 1855; average price for
/ 1903, 1855; average price, record year.
1903, s4.95; largest months receipts,
: October. $4,000: smallest months re-
: Ceipts, August, $4,000
Range Being curtailed.
The eastern and com belt farmers
have moved in TO the range country,
! taken up the business of cattle grow
ing ON more systematic basis. and
where many hundreds of acres former
ly supported a few head, the same
= number now accommodates smaller
). herds. These new and up-to-date
rangemen have become haygrowers
as well as cattlemen. and many now
depend upon this crop of winter feed
TO keep cattle in shape during the
: cold months, and thus bring them
through in better condition, while hav-
7 ing herds which take on flesh more
readily in the summer months.
: The whole business is undergoing
a change, and the better conditions
now ruling in the range country would
: seem TO be merely the forerunners of
I, what is TO come in later years. I'M
: provement Is the order of the age. and
the range cattle industry is receiving
I full attention from the progressive
! men now populating the range coun-
try. They realize that in few more
years much of the lands formerly CIV
: en- over TO cattle grazing will become
= irrigated farms on which will be
grown various grains and other feeds,
1 (rnntinpod IN raao cino