Year: 1877

and there is not one extensive stockgrower in
the district


am, Mr.. Editor, also prepared to speak
for the western portion of the county of
Madison. The district composed of that ex-
tensive range surrounding Sheridan was Or
ganized by electing Hon. Samuel Mallory as
chairman of the Stock Board, a more worthy
citizen than whom does not live in Montana.
All persons participating in the roundup in
in this district are farmers, mechanics or
miners, not one extensive stock-grower in the
district. After the close Of the roundup in
| this district, number of stock men residing
in the county of Beaverhead and several in
the county Of Jefferson recovered cattle at a
cost Of one dollar per head that had long
| since strayed off and were lost to the owners
| am also prepared to speak for the Stock
Board in the district on Beayerhead and in
the county of Madison Not one single indi-
| vidual participated in the roundup in this
district that is is an extensive stock-grower.
All those owning large herds in this district
had their own round-ups prior to the organ
izing Of the district, and what stock they
failed to find in their roundup, and which
was found in the general roundup, they paid
the Stock Board for at the rate Of 81 per
head, and thought it the cheapest way to find
their strays. In this district, as in the other.
the entire Board, as well as those participant
ing in the roundup, are all small stock-grow-
ers, and all engaged in other pursuits than
growing stock. | can also speak for the very
efficient Stock Board composing the Bannack
district, and know that they are all engaged
in other branches of interest than growing
stock. The gentleman recommends in his
report that each county or district be allowed
to regulate its own affairs concerning the
management of stock. ask the gentleman
is not that special provision of the law
which he is SO very anxious to have repealed?


Again, Mr. Editor, rs regards that portion
of my friend Ford's report in which he re-
commends that all mavericks" Il presume
the gentleman means little bulls. Should l
be mistaken in this Interpretation of the word
l hope my friend Buck of the Benton Record
will correct me), or unmarked or unbranded
yearlings that have left their mothers, there
by losing their identity; that as they belong
to stock men they should be divided among
stock owners in proportion to the number of
stock each owner listed to the assessor the
year previous to the roundup. Now, Mr..
Editor, does not every intelligent stock man
know that IN the counties Of Jefferson, Madi-
son and Beaverhead you cannot organize
district in which there will not be. at the
lowest calculation, from three to five stock
men, residents Of said district, for each ami
NAL found unmarked or unbranded, and not
with its mother. Then how will the honor
able gentleman from Chouteau make the di-
vision, suppose we have five head of this
class, which is large estimate for any dis
trict in the above named counties, and at least
fifty stock owners. ask, will the gentle
mans plan for division work harmoniously?
Is it not better to sell them to the highest
bidder, and use the money to pay for the
provisions consumed by persons engaged in
the round-ups


Thus you will see, MIR. Editor, that all the
districts above mentioned are composed of
the very class that my friend Ford would
have US believe are so badly imposed upon,
and yet hear no complaint from them. On
the other hand, they express themselves as
having been greatly benefited by and are
well satisfied with the Round-U Up Law as it
stands upon the statutes.


Very truly your friend,


E. G. BROOKE


WHlTEHAII FehrnarY 12 1877