The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-09-20
WILL BENEFIT STOCKMEN,

1ntim atoms given out by Secretary
Wilson during his recent trip to South
Dakota, where he delivered an address
at the opening of the state fair, that
he had practically decided to establish
O livestock bureau at some centrally
located point in the western cattle
country where stockmen and shippers
may make their complaints of condi.
tons that are damaging to their in.
dustry and secure more immediate re-
lief, will be welcome news to the
cattlemen of the west.
It is hoped that this plan, which has
not been definitely announced by the
secretary Of agriculture as yet, may
pass rapidly from the point of a mere
intimation to that of an assured and
accomplished fact, says the Drovers'
Journal. The need of a well-eQuipped
branch of the department of agricul.
ture, with special jurisdiction regard.
ing the movement and inspection regu.
lations affecting livestock in the west,
has been recognized for years.
1t has long been we'll understood by
the cattle and sheep ranchers of the
west and some officials Of the depart
ment of agriculture that their agents,
who spend most of their lives in the
east, have a very meager conception
OF the actual conditions that cattle
and sheep ranchers of the great west
have to contend with.
When conditions have arisen that
rendered necessary an appeal to the
department for relief it has meant a
trip to Washington by a delegation
OF stockgrowers sufficiently we'll
known to gain an audience with the
Officials Of the department to make
their claims aud await the deliberate
action OF the department, or to re.
quest the presence of some official
from Washington at a specified place
In the e at which these complaints
might be heard in hope of adjustment.
In either case relief has been forthcom.
ing. If at all, only after long delay
and the untangling of much red tape.
In the latter case it has frequently
occurred that the agent of the depart.
ment sent into the west has had such
limited knowledge Of the cattle bust.
ness and the conditions under discus.
sion that the vital Importance OF the
requests made by the cattlemen were
not fully realized. Relief has often
been slow.footed on that recount and
ridiculous orders regarding dipping
and double or triple inspection OF
livestock shipments have been imposed
upon the stockgrowers because OF this
ignorance of conditions that render it
absolutely impossible or very damag.
ing for sto%ckgrowers to fully comply
with such regulations.
Ignorance Of government nspectors
and agents in the west has long been
u source of distress to the residents OF
the west whose interests are mainly In
livestock production.
Secretary Wilson's view that i,
would be Il great saving of time and
trouble to the livestock interests is AT
excellent one, but it is no more vita,
to the interests OF the stockgrowers o
the west than that some individual
with u thorough understanding of tn,
livestock industry in all its branchc.
be placed at the head of this bureau
that he may be able to hear complaint.
and administer relief speedily and pu
a check upon ridiculous work Of in
competent inspectors or agents Of tn,
department who should be directly uu,
der his control.
Such an understanding Of livestock
aft airs can come only to Il man who
has had wide actual experience in tn,
production and marketing of livestock