Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-09-04
Every Nationality Of Europe Represented in Montana Mining City

less symbol, the Americans adopted
designs and letters, figures or symbol
Wnicn could be given verbal nomen-
] clature. They also reduced brands 10 as
small as two by four inches-never
larger than seven by seven inches be-
cause large brands reduced the value
OF hides. The Mexican used large
brand that was meaningless other than
for the distinction Of design. Asked to
describe his brand a Mexican would
dismount and with a stick draw his
design in the dirt. Asked its meaning
or name, he would shrug his shoulders
ana reply "Guien Sabel"
Brands Wen Known
During the American range regime
the brand was the best knoWn-and
just about the most valuable-property
connected with a ranch. The brand was
the ranchman's signature on the range,
sacred TO him and his alone. The brand
was his only proof Of ownership over
I a vast expanSe OF country, to be re-
/ spected when it was found on the ex-
terror OF COW critters hide. His brand
/ was burned or marked or cut on every
4 animal or piece OF movable property
/ belonging to his outfit-wagons, tarps,
corrals, etc. Though an owner might
not De wen known personally, his brand
was; and since horses wore the same
brand as cattle, the rider Of a horse
was identified with its brand
Whatever the cowboys of an outfit
might think of their boss, they were
loyal to their brand. It was, so to speak.
their symbol of citizenship and service.
They would fight for ito the death
II necessary. Many lost grave on the |
old ranges and along the old trails /
holds the remains of cowboy who |
died martyr to his brand battling 7
rustlers and brand doctors. trying to +
stem stampede or giving his life from
too great exposure protecting the prop
erty bearing the brand which paid his
wages.
Honest brands have always been fixed
dies, bearing the design in forged and
welded metal. In case emergency re-
CURED the use of a running iron, its
possession was limited only to trusted
men. And woe to the cowboy caught on
strange range with a running iron
or burned cinch ring. For possession
of these implements by strangers tusti-
fled suspicious which usually led to
unpleasant events
Design of cattle brands is often I'M
explainable except by sentiment. There
is the true story of Burk Burnett,
whose brand was 1866" Burk was a
cowboy ranging the Texas country
near the southwestern corner of Okla
homa. He was inclined toward a game
OF poker on occasion. One night in a
game he drew hand with four skies.
When the hands were exposed Burk
had won ranch and herd of cattle
He proSpered until the oil boom came
70 his part of Texas and made him |
multi millionaire. In contrast to his /
start, he bequeathed S4,-
100000 to Texas Christian university |
1t his death in 1924.
Brands differentiate western cattle
rom those shipped from the midwest
md eastern states at market terminals.
After sale, commission firms use brands
o identify western stock for further
handling Eastern cattle, without
brands, must be identified otherwise,
Usually by pasting number on each
Lnimal to identify it with a given lot
fought together.
10000 Brands
Montana today has registered close
o 10000 active brands, covering the
took Of small farmers as well as the
lerds of the large and widely known
anches. Greater or lesser numbers of
rands are registered in all the plains,
and Pacific coast states.
Cattle brands, a factor in the ro-
nance Of the pioneer ranges, are be- =