16
THE WEST SHORE
MONTANA CATTLE AND SHEEP.
THE present condition of the cattle and sheep industry
in Montana is gleaned from the Helena. Live Slock
and Mining Journal:
On Jnnuary 1, 1884, there were in Montana (esti
mated) G00.000 head of cattle, valued at about $21,000,000.
During the year 1884 there wore brought into the Terri
tory about 100,000 head, which, with the natural incrense,
about 25 per cent, has brought the number up to 850,000,
worth i:)0,000,000. Of the cattle shipped into the Terri
tory a largo proportion came from Ohio, Illinois, Iowa
and othor Eastern cattle raising States. The animals are
all of goxI grade, and great attention has been given to
the selection of thoroughbred bulk The total number
of cattle is apportioned among the different counties as
follows, the value being estimated on the present selling
price, $35 per head:
OmnllM. JVo. Wrml. Vnluf.
. '?"?u IICMW 4,11 u,i
imwMin... 5 My lMlVTM
jfc:::v":.:::::::::::::;:: Si3 "WfrSR
U?J72 v M.IM WI7IKI
1.I71 ,7 (K1
HVirt;:::::::::;:::::;:::: &
W'u.. :::::::::::::::::: At ,,JJ?;iSi
ToUI M,ll I,M0,B50
Over 90 per cent is owned by fewer than ton com
panies, the mombors of which are noarly all home capi
talists, and many of them are men who have made all
their money in raising cattle in Montana. This industry
has boon vory profitable in the past, and those who
owned any considerable bands at the time the railroad
reached the Territory became suddenly rich by reason of
their herds doubling in value. There are several cases
in which mon who were poor ton yoars ago now rank as
"cattle kings."
Trior to 1873 there were practically no sheep in the
S w!".e 7 "ow ovor G0i000' Vftluocl Bt Bbout
S AIXKJ.OOO. A ith the increase of this industry thore has
come a corresponding improvement in the character of
the sheep raised. Mautana wool now ranks next to the
highest raised in the United States. The winter, as a
general rule, being remarkable for absence of severe
snow 'storms, neither shelter nor winter feeding is often
required, and it needs no argument to prove that the
ugh and dry ranges of the Northwest form the natural
homo of the sheep, it being next to impossible to origin,
a e disease where, as in Montana, they have the benefit
of ft sun bath almost every day in the year. Thore is no
moisture to saturate the hoof and produce foot rot, or wet
he floece and invito scab and other skin diseases.
Drowsing on ranges that are never muddy, the sheep
Meyer got their fleeces dirty or matted, and though the
animals are rarely washed previous to being she A the
wool M asclear as that which is washed in many of the
States, rrofita on wool growing are estimated by many
greater than , on cattle raising, and even the more con
mtive brooders figure a profit of from 25 to 35 nor
caul per annum upon all capital iUVMted( auJ M 1
that the wool clip will pay every item of expense, leaving
the increase a clear gain. The loss from all causes is
estimated at from 2 to 3 per cent. The annual increase
of flocks is placed at 48 per cent, and the increase of
1,000 ewes, two vears old and upward, from 80 to 150 per
cent, probably averaging 90 per cent Sheep sell readily
at from $3 to $3.50 per head. One herder can take care
of 2,000 head. Sheep raising is emphatically the poor
man's industry in Montana, for, having a free range,
timber at hand for construction of sheds and corrals, and,
in fact, no capital needed for running expenses after the
first season, he is master of the situation if he can com-,
mand any sum from $500 upward, for the purchase of a
small flock.
VANCOUVER ISLAND LANDS.
IN regard to the chances for settlers to find good loca
tions on Vancouver Island, W. M. Halpenny, Gov
ernment Guide for British Columbia, says substantially
as follows: Alberni is situated at the head of an arm of
the sea running in from the west coast of Vancouver
Island. This arm is forty or forty-five miles long, and is
called "Barclay Sound." The largest ships could sail to
the head of this sound. The beautiful valley of Alberni,
at the head of the sound, is from ten to fifteen miles
long, and on an average of five miles wide. It is almost
all timber land, but some of it will be quite easy to clear
and bring under cultivation, as it is chiefly alder bottom.
There ore now twenty-eight settlers in the district, all of
whom have a large tract of alder wood in their 1G0 acres.
The soil is black and heavy. There was some prairie
land, which the first ten or twelve settlers took up. But
there is much timber land still to be taken up, one acre
of which is worth three of the prairie land. The Sumas
River is a beautiful stream, rising in the mountains and
flowing south into the head of Barclay Sound. Steam
schooners could ascend this river for two and a half
miles, beyond which it is navigable for canoes and boats
for ten miles further. Along this river there is a good
deal of land to be had. The Government has just com
ploted a trunk road up the valley, and is now seeking the
best mail route from Victoria, via Alberni It will not
run ofteuer than twice a month, or perhaps only once a
month at first; but as the valley settles up the service
will be mcreased. To go to Alberni, by way of Nanaimo
and the Big Qualicum River, it is 144 miles; 80 miles to
Nanaimo, 42 from Nanaimo to Qualicum, then on foot 22
miles on a good trail over the mountain. There is room
for ninety or a hundred more settlers at Alberni, and
there are several flat sections of land suitable for farming
along the east coast of Vancouver Island from Nanaimo
to lJig Qualicum, where several farmers have settled
auring the past summer. TW
of the Campbell River, a distance of eighty-five miles,
Hill I nil I Inn mnn TT I . '
to be had, and also in Cowichan River Valley. Mr.
Hnlpenny is always prepared to give information and
aid to intending settlers, and all such are advised to call
upon hun as soon as they reach Victoria.