The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-01-05
CATTLE men
FARED BADL Y
PAST YEARS MARKET 1.-THE
WORST EVER KNOWN.
OUTPUT AND PRICES SMALL
Secretary Preuitt Of the State Live
stock Commissioners Submits An
nual Report to Governor.

v AS far as the cattlemen of Montana
are concerned, 1903 was not year to-
be recalled with emotions akin to en-
thusiasm, taking for the exact truth
the statements contained in the an-a
nual report of Secretary w. G. Preuitt5
of the board of livestock commissions
ers, which was filed with the governor
last Thursday. AS shown by the re-
port the output OF cattle in Montana
during 1903 was less by about 90
900 head than during the year 1902.
The prices received were, also, not
of the sort that fill the minds of cow
men with joy as they recall them.
The Years Shipments.
In that part of his report devoted
to the matter of shipments Mr.. Preu-
lit says as follows:
Owing to the slump in prices and
conditions, the number of cattle ship
ped out of the state during the year
was considerably less than in former
years-especially to the eastern mar
kets, which were glutted with cattle
from the corn states to such an extent
that the market for range cattle was
the worst ever known. The Pacific
coast market is becoming somewhat
of factor with Montana stOckmen-
more than three times as many cattle
going westward in 1903 than in any
previous year-and the western buy
ers are beginning to look to Montana
for a considerable portion of their
beef. Eastern markets received less
than 60 per cent of the total output
for the year from Montana.
"The total shipments out OF the
state for 1903 aggregated 140,573 head
while the estimate for home con-
sumption is placed at 10000, making
the total output for all purposes 210,-
573 head. OF this number the inspec-
tors recovered 11,279 strays, while 131
more animals were found and restored
by the local inspectors to the respec-
tive owners. Out of the total number
of strays recovered the proceeds OF
1,077 cattle and six horses were paid
through the Montana Stock Growers
association, while the balance were
paid direct to owners from the market
points. Thirty-two head of strays be-
longed to members of the Montana
Stock Growers association, while the
balance was found over in Canada and
were sold for the credit of the owners
and report made through the associa-
ton"
Railroads Kill Fewer. ny
The statute relative to the payment
for cattle killed on railroads has been
enforced in the usual manner during
1908, says the report, but owing to the !
fact that the railroads are fencing
much of their right-of-way, especiallys
the more exposed portions where
stock were accustomed to congregate
in the cuts and were thus Slaughter
ed-the number killed during 1903
was the smallest in many years-there
being only 29S hides inspected alto
gether, notice of which was sent to-
the respective owners in order that
they might collect the value of their
stock from the railway companies.
There have been very few complaints
of delay in the adjustment All such
claims.
Eorsemen Did Well.
OF the horse output Mr. Preuitta
says:
"The output OF horses from Montana
was almost the same as during the#
previous year-the total number in
spected being 57,a66 The horse mar
ket has been strong and as horses be-
come more scarce the market seems
to be strengthening and the demand
for good stock is active. The horse
inspection law is enforced strictly and
the railroads will not receive any
stock for shipment without it has
first been inspected by the proper
Official
Imports Increased.
s'The price of stock cattle was main