The Dickinson press., 1908-11-21
IMPR0V :
IN NETT {: h0DS

in Methods
Rancher Criticises Present Con-
ditions Required In Dipping
Guaranteed Cattle. Defects
In The Method of Procedure
The following article on the methods
of procedure by the state officials in the
matter of compelling the dipping of cat
tie under quarantine, is published at
the request of the writer. H. C. Miethe
of Medora. If his statements are true,
as they undoubtedly are, here is GER
tainly matter of much importance
which should be Investigated.
Every venture, individual or govern
ment undertakes must have a begin
ming. and more or less faults and flaws
are encountered before everything works
with any degree of perfection, but there
are some things that are so obviously
plain that one is surprised at the total
lack of any judicious reasoning in the
matter. Twill cite my own case in
connection With three other ranchers
who were compelled to dip their cattle,
while thousands of other cattle, which
intermingle with them constantly, were
exempted from this treatment. Why
this should be, is mystery to me.
There were two brands of cattle, the
Swans and the ClaIk's that were re-
ported to be effected with scabses. These
an inspector viewed and thus diagnosed.
Whether or not these cattle were so
affected will not persume to say, but
they looked just the same as thousands
of other cattle around here that had
rubbed some of their hair off on account
of lousiness. This inspector not being
wholly satisfied that he had rendered
good services to his government must
needs quarantine two hundred head of
my cattle and hundred head belonging
to another rancher, as having come in
contact with the Swan andClark punches.
Of this quarantine did not learn un-
til some four weeks after the rest had
been Qlarantined and then only from
one of the county commissioners. Hardly
believing this true, in the face of the
fact that other cattle running on the
same range as mine were exempt, l
wrote to Dr. Crewe, state veterinarian
of the Live Stock Sanitary board, inquir-
ing if this was the case. From him I
received notice that my cattle were
under quarantine and for me, under
penalty of fine and <sundry other punish
ments, to hold my cattle upon a dry
section of land, or land without water,
until dipped. asked for reinspection
as felt that my cattle were free from
scabies and on the grounds that had not
received due notice.
Dr. Crewe referred me to DR.. Tracy,
inspector in charge of the Bureau of
Animal Industry as being the gentleman
in power to grant a reinspection. d..
Tracy in curt letter replied that sDr:
Crewe was the only gentleman to raise
a quarantine or grant reinspection
About this time prominent cattle
man here, knowing we'll that if my
cattle had been exposed. his cattle and
others were also wrote Dr.. Tracy that
he felt in the event of having to dip,
he would rather dip his cattle at home
than either in St Paul or Chicago. His
surprise was great when by return mail
he received notice from DR.. Tracy that
his cattle were clean and would be
billed as clean cattle for interstate
shipment.
After further parley with this pair OF
eminent Doctors realized, as the
saying goes, that l was between the
devil and the deep sea as far as being
granted reinspection or having the
quarantine raised, so set about dipping
my cattle, the unfortunate parties and
myself joining forces to build a tank
and chutes and needless to say. causing
a great deal of inconvenience and ex-
pense.
The inspector sent us to supervise the
dipping. having ridden through a large
cattle country in getting here. where
cattle roam at will, asked me how it
was that only four brands of cattle were
under quarantine and not the rest =? He
then asked us not to cut out any estrays
from among our cattle. We, in return.
wanted to know if we were compelled to
dip other peoples stock? He said no.
but he wanted the brands to show to
those higher in authority the condition
of things here. Thinking the whole
matter farce from beginning to end,
complied with his request and not
knowing which particular two hundred
head of my cattle had been exposed
rounded up the first two hundred I came
to together with what estrays were with
them and dipped them. In conclusion