The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-20
A COMING HOG RANCH.

UuoS ouo AOk' oaoAuS OAP0CIuDouV VI I'd
Neidringhaus people in northern Daw
9 9 con county may result in developing
new and important branch of the live
stock industry in Montana. The ex
pertinent 10 the subject of these re
marks:
For years past, al least ever sine
alfalfa came to bless the rancher au(
spread its mantle of emerald greer
over the arid plains, the query hal
been persistently passed around
"Why not try hogs?" Experiment,
at state farms. as we'll as the practical
experience OF plain farmers, demon
strated years ago that alfalfa was
about the best growing feed for hogs
that could be imagined; the ideal feed,
which with q ~judicious topping off OF
grain will produce the best pork pos
sible. It was this fact, dissemin ated
among the granger-ranchers of this
section, that started and has kept alive
the query, "Why not try hogs?" but
no one has done It, at least, to the ex-
tent that would demonstrate the merits
OF such a departure, and it really
looks as If our ranchmen feel as If it
would be q sacrilege to desert the
range for the pig-sty, or ever to SO
far diversity their interests as to let a
despised porker roam at will over a
pasture c~onsecrated to cattle or horses
or even to sheep. Surely it was
enough OF a degradation to take up
with sheep, and shall we still sink
lower and let in the hog?
1t is a good deal such a feeling as
was experienced by the old.time Texas
cowboys when alfalfa came ia and
they were set at work digging post.
holes. There seems to be a suspicion
of degrad alton associated with the
breeding, growing and marketing of
the hog that is not willingly assumed
by the men of the range, and while
they will admit that it is probably
easier money than horses or cattle, or
sheep either in ordinary years, they
pass it up because of the smirch it
would put upon them. Just to think
Of the doubtful notoriety of drumming
a hog ranch!!"
But all this squeamishness will de.
part with a rush If the Neidriughaus
investment at Blackmon, which is q
Missouri river point In Dawson coun.
ty and IN the neighborhood Of the old
Nm home ranch, is a success. It
was no doubt the ownership OF a large
tract of land-a residuary asset of the
old range cattle days-that prompted
the present Investment. It seems to
have occurred to the St. Louis wners
OF this large property, something over
5000 acres, that 1t could best be turned
to account by making it into q vast
"hoR ranch" No false modesty
about these St. Louis millionaires.
They lost money trying to run az arts.
tocratic 'cow ranch'' and O they
are going to win it back on q plebian
''hog ranch"
That's what! II you don't believe
1t let these few facts percolate through
your brain. OF the whole area of $500
acres, about 1900 acres will be plowed
and planted next spring to alfalfa and
grain crops. The land lays we'll for
irrigation. which will be accomplished
by q huge pumping plant and a reser.
voir system. The sum OF $50, 600 has
been appropriated for the irrigation
plant, and If not enough more will be
forthcoming. There are ten l4-inch
gang plows used in doing the break.
ing, operated by a IS h. p. steam tr &C.
ton engine, and more than one hum
dred employees are now as busy as
nailers getting ready for the grand
opening OF the big "hog ranch' next
spring. The livestock equipment will
be 1900 brood sows and 100 boars, all
OF high breeding and running to the
Poland China and Berkshire strains.
AS a result of this equipment the ranch
Is expected to send to market next year
10000 head of pork. And it will be
alfalfa and grain pork, the very best
that can be raised, and it will be born
and bred In the pure air of Montana
and therefore probably free from the
ills that aflict the pork raisers of "the
states.'
TO the Journal it looks as il the
Neidringhaus people were just prying
the lid off of the box where all the
money they put into the cattle business
years ago had secreted itself, aud that
they won't stop when they get this
back. for there will be plenty more to
scrape up. Perhaps in a few years,
after this experiment has ceased to be
such. some of our Custer county ranch.
ers will have been "wised up" sufi.
ciently to put a few "gruuters" on the
ranch, it for no other purpose than to
mako H. nnsoihla ~ horo tt.>o1 .,z.,-,,