The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-05-18
THE ELKO INDEPENDENT.
"WEDNESDAY. NAY n, 1870.
ne Pacific Slope Of the Rocky Mountains a. &
Cattle Raising Country.

1hs Pacific Slope Of the Rocky Mountains a. .
Cattle Raising Country.
Several very able articles have appeared in
the Omaha Herald. during the past three
months. calling attention to the capacity OF
what is there termed 'the plains. as a cattle
raising country. These articles have ELECTED
considerable remark among Eastern journal
lists, and have had an important influence in
directing the public attention westward. and
in addition have provoked much research
and discussion relative to the proportion be-
tween the increase Of the population Of the
country and the number OF cattle to meet the
demand for beef, &c.
Horace Greeley is of the opinion that al
though the population Of the United States
increases nj nearly the rate Of two millions
P-f aIhlm there are no more cattle or sheep in
this country than there were one more years
ago. Government statistics show that the an
nuAl increase of population is about three and
one-third per cent. !+ss ..ancn, while the in
crease of live stock has only been one and
three-quarters per cent during the last ten
years; and further, that the per cent of cattle
is constantly diminishing. notwithstanding
the increase in value in the Eastern markets.
These facts raise the question, what the
American people to do for meat If this pro
portion between the demand and supply goes
on many years. Evidently it cannot 60 on,
unless some go hungry; and there Is too much
speculation in the American eye to permit this
as long as the cash holds out; but, rrisre is The
meat 10 come from? The deficiency OF stock
in the East is occasioued by the fac: that
lands have become too valuable TO devote TO
that branch of industry; they bring too
high price to devote 10 cattle raising and
the expenses attending the long and severe
winters. New grounds must be found and a
different climate to make stock raising an Oh
ject. The Herald has succeeded in attracting
attention TO one of the localities where this
want Can be supplied. Its articles, however.
have been mainly devoted to an exhibition Of
the advantages of that section known as 1.-THE
plains, lying between the Missouri river and
the Rocky mountains which IA few years AGO
were covered with immense herds of buffalo.
II the Herald's correspondent had extended
his observations further westward, he would
have found better grounds than those which
have awakened his enthusiasm; lands 80 vast
in extent and fertile in natural resources that
they would throw in the shade large Dor
ton of the region he has described between
the Platte and the Missouri, and amaze him
with the gigantic proportions of the grazing
regions of the United States, which the Al
mighty seems to have created especially 70
supply this new demand Of millions Of hun
cry meat consumers, so rapidly increasing in
this country. The western slope is far supe-
nor to the eastern for grazing purposes. 1t
is better diversified by mountains, hills and
valleys, so requisite for protection from win
try winds; which on the tributaries of the
Missouri sweep in unbToken blasts over the
boundless and unsheltered plains Its pruss-
es are as nutritious and as plentiful, and the
white sage constitutes a perpetual element of
fairness wanting on the eastern slope The
climate Is nnilder, and that exposure which
would always be an unsafe eEpedient on the
plains, would be, and is, the common cus-
som Of the country, safe and practicable as |
the barn yards and stables of the Eastern |
farmer.
This immense natural grazing ground en- |
braces the larger portion of the Territory of |
OF Montana. the larger portion Of Utah, Ida |
ho, and Washington, the State of Nevada and |
Eastern Oregon. This immense magnificent |
domain will eventually become the great cat |
tie and sheep raising section of the United |
States; ahording a revenue second only to |
the mineral productions, if indeed, inferior to |
any. Here the markets of New York, in |
the East, and San Francisco in the West |
will be literally replenished, and the answer
TO the question propounded at the beginning |
OF this article will find its final solution