Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1916-04-14

doloome, Jno. d. Stevens. Dawson.
Craig and Ham. The latter held the
same cfttoe in the temporary organic.
alton twenty-five years ago. But ono
secretary treasurer has ever served
you.
During the life time of the organiz.
alton almost $40 100000 worth of cattle
have been recovered for our members
at the market points This work was
done at cost Of about sl00,O00.OO while
S5OOOO. 90 was expended in range de.
tective work and prosecutions. Your
interests have been represented and
safeguarded in the State Legislatures,
before the department. OF agriculture.
public lands com mmission, commission
or OF Indian affairs, Interstate com
merce commission and other branches
OF the federal government and has held
membership in the American National
Live Stock Association since it's in
oeption.
There are many conditions which are
responsible for the depreciation in
our membership, herd law, the settle
ment Of the range, several succeeding
years of drouth, the compulsory in
crease in the assessment on horses and
cattle in 1912 and last but by far the
most fatal Is the grstuituous protect
ion which our inspectors have with the
sanction of our officers been giving to
n,hopo In
feature will say, that it is very neces-
sary that our inspectors work in COM
plete harm ony with commission firms
and in acting in good faith with them
we have been furnishing tally of all
cattle in every shipment from the ter
ritory we represent Furthermore,
when a member failed to list his brands
or pay the dues and assessments we
have not removed his brands from our
records, in the belief that it was an
oversight and we would probably catch
an animal and thus secure the amount
properly due Us bnt this action or
rather lack of action has been taken
advantage Of to the extent of seriously
retarding the rejuvenation of the or
Ranization.. 1t has come to the knowl-
edge of members of our executive com.
mtttee that former members have
failed to continue under the impress.
sion that their brands are being pro-
tected and In the event that we re-
cover an astray it is perfectly agreeable
| k,Nk 70 khuk lnl. Mt.
assessments from the proceeds Of the
animal but il we do not secure an
estray they have had the protection
without any cost. The principal is
entirely wrong although in the early
years of the organization it worked
satisfactorily. Some plan must be de.
vised whereby we will only tally cattle
for paid up members.
Many stockmen fail to appreciate the
organic alton until they lose stock then
they hasten to become members and
Immediately demand assistance in the
recovery Of stolen stock or in the pros.
ecution OF some alleged rustler. We
had one request for financial assist
snce last fall in prosecution in which
the injured stookman had not been q
member for five years
The work Of the Inspectors for 1916
shows that their services are just az
necessary now as at any time in the
; past:
Chicago, cattle inspected ... 2O4, ,S5C
> South Omsha, cattle inspected. 438,Ol7
Sioux City, cattle inspected 80. SIS 1927
i, Total Observation-Disclosures. .G9s. 1874
, South Dakota cattle inspected
Chicago 500. ............... 45,e0(
South Dakota cattle inspected
South Omaha ............... 39, ,73e
}. South Dakota cattle inspected
; Sioux City. 1856
> Total. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. .l3l 90;
Estrays recovered, Chicago. ..... 1923
Estrays recovered, South Omaha 74(
n Estrays recovered, Sioux City. 4ls
Total. ............... ....... 2,39
Net Proceeds, Chicago. ...s 77,972.8 8
+ Net Proceeds, South Omaha. 42,9Ol.7
Net Proceeds, Sioux City. 27,3lO.7
J. Total sl481a5 2
70 Averages. Chicago, steers s74.3 80
" COWS S54 80.
d South Dakota shipped $4,000 NOR
n cattle in 1915 than in 1914.
"a With this statement of the numbe
n aud value Of stock recovered by our ir
r spectors and the further fact that ther
J. we're more reported cases of stoc
m rustling, proportionately than at an
NJ time during our existence, would it NJ
n. be unwise to permit this organizatio
20 to pass out OF existence? 1t is possibl
NJ that your officers have become dis
q couraged by the apathy and lack Of ir
ID terest displayed by those who hsv