RANCHING 



Many years ago when the North- West and Hudson Bay Com- 

 panies held sway over western Canada the plains were jealously 

 guarded by their factors and anything approaching settlement was 

 rigidly discouraged. However, in the very comings and goings of 

 the trade a check could not always be maintained on the discretion 

 of those engaged in it, with the result that tales of a rich grazing 

 country lying to the north were carried to the United States by 

 Indian traders. Long before this the Americans had developed 

 a great horse and cattle raising industry in the Western States. 

 It was highly profitable, and when the traders brought news to 

 Montana that north of the boundary there were great possibilities, 

 the Americans were not long in taking advantage of it. Among the 

 early leaders rank the names of Powers, Samples, and Conrad 

 Brothers, who brought up big bunches of horses and cattle. 



In 1870 the Government bought out the Hudson Bay Company, 

 and after the treaty of 1875 they had to feed the Indians who were 

 placed upon reservations and could no longer wander over the 

 country to hunt, even if there had existed game sufficient to support 

 them. As there were few cattle available locally, it was thought 

 advisable to try and encourage the breeding of cattle on the plains. 

 For this purpose leases for twenty-one years were granted at a 

 nominal rent and under certain conditions, which stated briefly 

 were as follows : — The amount of stock was limited to one head to 

 twenty acres of land, Cattle were admitted from the United States 

 under bond, and, if kept for two years, were allowed to be sold duty 

 free ; and, at the expiry of the leases holders were at liberty to 

 acquire ten per cent, of their holdings at a fixed price of one and one 

 quarter dollars per acre. 



Thus was founded the great cattle industry of Canada, which 

 in less than two generations has grown to such great dimensions 

 that the cattle of Saskatchewan and Alberta are now a highly 

 important factor in the world's markets. Once founded, the in- 

 dustry grew by leaps and bounds. In the first place private in- 

 dividuals obtained areas of land from the government, then the 

 capitalist appeared on the scene, companies were formed and the 

 business was conducted on a large scale, though one fears by some- 

 times unbusinesslike methods. Bad seasons, mismanagement and 

 lack of knowledge of the country all told their tale, and the industry 

 passed through many vicissitudes. As years go, in the older 

 countries, it is but yesterday since the inception of this vast trade, 

 but even now ranching on a grand scale is becoming a thing of the 

 past. 



How is this to be accounted for ? There are various reasons 

 which may be summed up shortly under climate and the increased 



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