169 A STEP.-BACKWARD. 
there in 1896-7 and I doubt not will be followed in 1904, 
but the day of the big stock ranges are passing away— 
as they should—for humanity’s sake. 
With the advent of the small ranchmen the general 
condition of the stock changed for the better, although 
every severe or snowy winter brought to light scenes of 
horror as to the freezing‘and starving of helpless cattle 
by the neglect to provide proper food and shelter by 
some stock owners or caretakers. But where one such 
ranch is exploited for its shiftless overseers there will be 
a dozen—perhaps—where the cattle are comfortably 
housed and regularly watered and fed. 
It is to the careless and improvident whose inertness 
causes unnecessary suffering to the dumb beasts whom , 
the fates have entrusted to their care, that we would 
have their sluggish bodies prodded to activity by the 
officers of the Humane Society backed and upheld by 
the power of the State of North Dakota. 
And further. 
By nature, the sympathies of women are more easily 
interested in these humane matters than men, yet 
owing to the severities of our winter climate, outside of 
the towns and villages, women as officers could hardly 
be expected to appear at isolated farms and ranches 
during deep snows and cold weather, and where the 
amenities and chivalry to sex may not always be waived 
by an offending ranchman or stocktender. Therefore, 
vigorous and active men—with their heart in their work 
—deputized by the county sheriff if need be —and 
expenses of arrest and conviction allowed them should 
be paid by the commissioners from county funds. 
