The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-20
CATTLETHlNI IN NORTHWEST
A. e. DeRicqIes of Denver Gives Re-
suits of Observations in Mon.
lana and Dakota.

information as regards this years out
put of range stock and who are sup.
posed to know whereof they speak.
is A. e. DeRicqles of Denver, we'll
known as a stockman. Last week he
was at Chicago and in an interview
granted the Livestock Journal deliver
ed himself concerning the outlook for
the approaching season. Whether his
deductions are correst, perhaps, the
rangemen can say. At all events 1t
may interest them to know what he
said.
Expects No Early Beet.
Asked as to whether range cattle
would he marketed early this year,
he said:
There will be no early beef this
season from the northwest unless it
comes form northern Wyoming. That
section is the only place where the
season promises anything like August
rangers. The most of the Montana
and Dakota cattle r very thin and
it will take a full seasons big grass
to make beef of what should go.
with the run of rangers in sight
that will come this season for the fall
market the feeder of the corn. states
will do we'll to plan to be out of the
road with his dry lot or pasture cat
tie, as surely conditions do not prom
Use much for the medium cattle from
the corn states next fall. 1t is perfect
ly plain what will happen and next
fall, as in the past, the packers will
favor the we'll shrunken, handy-weight
rangers and look with Indifference on
local cattle, unless we'll finished and
the right weight.
Conditions in Montana.
"Winter conditions over a large part
of Montana were very u%nfavorable.
The country from the Burlington rail
way to the Yellowstone river got
through all right even on the short
grass that came late, but north OF
the river in the eastern half of the
state all the way to the Great North
ern railway and eastward to the line
and beyond into North Dakota, the
weather vas very severe. Up to the
first of February the weather was fine
but for eight weeks after that it was
a continuation of storms and low
temperatures that destroyed livestock
of all kinds in great numbers.
There is no use trying to give fig
ures or make estimates of such things,
but it is simply %guesswork and what
might he correct in nee s. would
be great error in another, for the coun
try was spotted. For example, the
Bear Paw pool, in the northern part
Of the state, had a fine winter, with
possibly not al average loss. 1t Is
enough to say that the severe storms
of last winter will cause a. great short
age in the steers to go from Montana
in 1905, and also in the sheep ship
ments; also that it will have an ef
feet to decrease the range holdings
and stimulate the producing Of more
feed for winter use. I believe THAT !
:, will cause many of the southern mel
: who had planned Ito move cattle tt
: the northward' to hesitate about doini
), so, as they must realize that they ar
: counting disaster if they owe to
: fenced up country now carrying grea
Heavy Sheep Losses.
Concerning sheep in this state h
is quoted as follows:
81 believe the winter loss on sheel
in Montana this year has been not les
than 100000 head; mostly the herds Q
: the nomad or wandering herder VIII
starts out in the fall with his wagol
and dogs without destination Or base
to drift with the winds and make
win if he can. That may sound .lik
\ a strange performance, but there ar
hundreds of such outfits in the north
west that alone on the deserts try t
fight it out against storms and wolves
sometimes winning out and sometime
coming in to the railroad in the sprin
with nothing but a big load of pelt
to show for the winters struggle.
eft is these homeless, wanderin
sheep herds that make the locate
and established cattle or sheep grow
er unhappy, as in many cases they ar
pirates on any property they can flint
will not recognize any rights or agre
ments of a neighborhood. Last sun
mer I had the chance ito watch sue
a man amuse himself by having h
dogs run all the cattle in a circle of
mile or so away from a water hol
The cattle belonged to people WI
lived in the vicinity and owned farm
and ranches; the water belonged
one of these ranchmen, who had left
open SO that all could get equal right
and in came Mr.. Sheepman, no oW
ing a dollars worth of property
the county, who camped right the1
and not satisfied with the use OF Il
grass and water, must chase the Gait
that belonged there out of the countl
= cit is such things as these out