The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-12-15
WILD WEST SHOW
CONTINUOUS HERE
BIG HOLE VALLEY, WHERE OLD
RANGE CONDITIONS OBTAIN,
COWBOYS PARADISE
Boots, High Crowned
Stetsons and Furry Chaps Are the
Conventional Garb of This Old
Time Cow Country, Where the
Pillow Has Not Yet Turned the Soil.

Rodeos may be well devised to
present pictures of the wild west that
is passing, but up in the big corner
of Beaverhead county adjoining Deer
Lodge county and extending its area
into the latter, is basin where the
sensational exploits of the arena are
everyday matters for the husky
specimens riding the range.
This is the famous Big Hole valley,
where the cattle industry is still car
ried on just as it has been since the
pioneer days of the Treasure state.
It's superb beef-producing qualities
are known in every livestock market,
where the grass-fed animals compete
with the best corn-fed output of the
central states.
High-heeled boots, higher crowned
Stetsons, and furry chaparajos are
still conventional garb in the basin,
and not merely accessories of dress
parade exhibitions. Utility is what
counts there, and these articles have
proved their value in the wardrobe of
the cowboy who has his work to do.
They serve not only on the range,
but for the drives to market and still
form familiar sights on the streets
of Dillon, Anaconda and Butte, which
serve as shipping points for the fat
tened herds.
The cattle are ranged over the
vast acreage of the valley during the
summer, and in winter are fattened
in the feed yards to supply which
great hayfieids are cultivated. Some
unique factors in the climate are
given credit for the food qualities of
the grass that make it the equal of
corn for the stockmen.
The basin has been the scene of |
operations in past years for many of |
Montana's pioneer cattlemen, and |
many of them still have their big
and still make Wisdom, the |
little city that is the center of bust
ness activity for the district, marked
by all that was best and is most |
treasured in the characteristics of
the real western community.
The largest operations of the pres
ent are those of the Huntley inter-
ests, under the management of Carl
Huntley, who came to Montana from
Spokane to represent the company
which has large holdings also in
other northwestern states and in Can
ada.
The ranches in the Big Hole valley
acquired and operated by this COM
,any have approximately 10000
acres, on which 5000 head of stock
will be fed during the winter, in prep
ration for spring shipment. Carl
Iuntley recently brought 1000 head
If straight range cattle from Canada
o be fattened in the beef pens, and
he number now in his charge is the
argest in the history of the ranch.
The Huntley interests also extend
o the Wisdom State bank, and the
is taking an active part
n the development of the dairy in
ustry to supplement the beef raising
ctivities of the basin. A result of
his has been the establishment of
he creamery at Wisdom, from which
supply of butter goes regularly to
he Butte market.
All indications are that the cattle
Industry of this prosperous section is
ornament. Natural factors all work
oward this, and the trend of organi-
alton has been toward placing it on
scientific basis with efficiency in
to eliminate the hazards
hat once attended the undertaking
f the cattlemen.
But in doing this there is no proba-
ility that the picturesqueness of the
anch will be lost. The traditions
hat elsewhere are becoming high
ghts in the show game were not
dopted as pose in the old days,
ut became established customs be-
ause they were seryiceable and best
dapted to conditions encountered
ny day or every day of the year. So
l this basin there is every prospect
nat typical western life will endure
s long as directions are marked on