The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-23
THE COURSE OF EMPIRE.

Stock Raising in the West-Nccessiry for
Cheap Food and Clothing for the People
Splendid Pasture Lands Of the Trans-NTis-
souri, Country-I,esults of Experience in
Raising CattIe-lIillions of Acres of ssUncut
Hay"-No Necessity for "Winter Feed.
ing''-Butter and Cheese for China and Ja-
pan-A Paradise for Sbeep-Wool for the
Worid-Flocks and Herds In the Great
West-Beef and Mutton for the East Mt
Half the Present Prices.
DENVER, Colorado Territory, Dec. II, 1869.
or the three great resources Of the West-mln-
eral, agricultural ana pastoral-the last is perhaps
the chief. Onehalf the vast of land is specially
adapted to grazing purposes. The Northwestern
States have been considered the finest stock raising
Sates they have been supposed to possess peculiar
facilities TOR producing cheap beef, mutton and
wool; out, IN the broad application OF the term, the
States east OF the Missouri are not, will they
ever be, superior grazing States. Even in the
newest or them, where land Is comparatively pent-
ful and cheap, horses, cattle ana sheep grazed
upon lands which worth to the farmer fifty dol
lars per acre; hay has to be cut upon lands of
equal value labor TO cut costs 81 so 50 per day,
and, besides, stock requires 10 be fed average
mutton command high prices, and plentiful
supply is beyond the means OF the poorer people,
The necessity OF furnishing plenty OF cheap strength
ening food and good clothing to the aDoring classes
Is matter OF paramount importance. They should
nave an abundant supply OF animal as well yege.
table FOOD. The men who have carried the standard
Of empire Europe and the men VINO success
July bore the nag OF freedom the battle fields
OF the rebellion were freely furnished with OF
meat The British lion Is a symbol OF strength
John Bull savors strongly OF beef. Beef and ale won
the great river race for the oxford oarsmen. and
berries and milk, some people say, lost it to our
Harvard crew ST. Paul suggests That while milk Is
very suitable for babes, men require strong meat
During our late war the Southern soldiers suuered
most from insufficient clothing, and ..shoddy" was
think, the only cause Of complaint among the
Northern troops. Proper food and clothing are
essential to any dominant race. Our people must
have both II they are 10 conduct the civilization OF
the age In the course OF empire. Hog and hominy
are very good, but beef and bread are better
Cotton clothing Is warm enough In sum.
mer, but wooden wear Is requisite In winter.
The necessity Tor cneap meat and wool beng
conceded. the question then arises, now can
they be securedt lis solution must be found
IN extensive pastoral req ons, where little capital
need be invested in grazing lands, and where stock
can thrive without expensive winter feeding In
other words We must have winter grazing; and
that is furnished everywhere west Of the Missouri.
The rain fan Is lignt and Is principally coniped
the last OF spring or the first OF summer After
that showers are only occasional and electrical The
grass Is everywhere green and luxuriant In Nay and
June. Afterwards by reason OF the absence Of mos-
ture In the soil and atmosphere 1t begins dry and
by the time that frost appears, which Is usually late
in September or early in october. the innumeraple
tain slopes have assumed u mellow autumna ap-
pearance, the grass being perfectly cured standing
IN the ground. While ordinary nay Is subject to
decomposition 10y natural heat or moisture. inere Is
no danger oil this perfectly cured uncut hay being
injured by exposure. In the curing process II re-
tans all It's nutritious properties, aud the curing Is
us complete az II Is gradual. These splendid pas
ture lands are similar To those when animals have
grazed upon Tor many years ia the steppcs Of
ASIA, the plains OF Africa ana Austraiia, ana
the tablelands OF south America In Buepos Ayres
there are I5,oO00o sheep alone producing ann1aly
about 20J,OyO,OOO POUNDS OF wool, pasLured upon
lands worth upon an average not more than
dollar per acre, aud needing throughout the year
other food tnan the grass ana no other shelter tnan
the sky. THIS wool Is thus produced cneary tuat,
after paying freight and duty II IL able TO compete
IN Our own marxe, win that produced IN this coun.
Try, where winter feeding and shelter have been
necessary. Now, as nave said, the grazing Ia the
West Is similar 70 that III those other countries
nave mentioned. The annual fall OF snow ali
tue region from the Rio Grande TO the British boun
uaIy Is comparatively hgnt. On the Laramie plains,
III tne very heart OF this IraDs-MssUur country, the
aggregate annual fall OF less than two feet.
fOnr or ave Inches Ii called heavy snow iall The
snow IL Nery dry and hight owing 10 its exceeding
uryness IL does not adhere the unsheltered AMI
mas, ana IN consequence Of It's superior gntness
what docs not quickly pass away Is soon blown from
the eyc ana rolling lands into the rayDes and can
yons leaving bare nine tenths OF the grazing surface
Of the country. Tue susceptibility Of TINS country to
winter grazing ~ not matter OF mere con-
lecture. All these plains and valleys and
mountain slopes have been grazing grounds
during years we cannot number for nerds Of buffalo,
antelope, elk ana deer aud nocks OF mountain sheep
Traces OF these animals anu the animals themselves
are often seen. Toe bualo The Indians cherished
game countless nerds have constantly supplied
MIN with food aud raiment since long anterior TO
our time. The AnRloSaxon hunter VINO now goes
In quest OF game for food sport never need
unrewarded by the trophies the satisfaction OF the
chase. Inc bleaching bones OF thousands OF all
these animals which have lived their allotted time
are seen every hand wherever you may roam.
Experience in wintering domestic stock In this
Western country has not been limited Since the
commencement OF the Mormon pilgrimage across
the plains toward their earthly Zion up TO the pre-
sent time--a period Of twenty-five years-cattle,
horses and mules have been wintercd on the plains
and IN the mountain valleys all the way across the
Continent from the middle Of Nebraska to the Pacific
coast When Inc great overland wagon tranic was at
It's height bef0re the Trans Railroad was
competed, tens OF thousands OF oxen and mules
were annually wiDtered the native grasses with.
out shelter and with complete success. IL ia the
UNIVERSAL testimony OF ranChmen ana traders that
rA 9.n. xgTanl .s.4