Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-14
Letter from Kansas.
KEEPING STOCK IN KANSAS.

tude, and west of the eighteenth degree
west longitude, and including Texas, In
dian territory, Kansas, Arizona, New Mex
leo and portions of Nevada, Utah, Califor-
MIA and Colorado seems peculiarly adapted
to stock raising, on account of its mild,
short winters, and the unlimited range of
pasture which it affords. In many of these
States and territories, cattle need no feed
ing during the entire year; and in none
are they obliged to feed stock for more
than three months; and until our nation
shall have fulfilled its destiny, and our
country be crowded with people from ocean
to ocean, this section must be its great pas
ture, standing unrivaled in its capacity
for the cheap production of beef and NUT
ton. Here there is no limit to the amount
Of stock which man can keep. He has
free pasture two thousand miles long,
with every variety of hill, prairie, and wood
land; and every grade of water from prai-
RE creeks, to mountain brooks; while the
main expense is that of herding, and that
rowing life on a pony's back is pastime
rather that labor. Where is there another
field of action so free to all and so unlimit-
ed?
AT present there is as good chance in
Kansas as in any other State for one who
wishes to engage in stock raising, and there
probably will be for several years to come
The winters are longer than in many parts
of the southwest (cattle need feeding three
months) but the ready and steady market
brought near, by railroads crossing the
State in every direction, gives her great
advantage over remote sections. In sum-
mer there is a chance to herd stock on the
prairies in all parts of the State, and espec-
tally in the middle and southern counties
in winter stock is kept in corral" Ia
piece of wood land fenced in) which serves
to break the force of the winds. Stock will
winter well here without other shelter than
5 the woods, if they have plenty of hay Oh
G cornstalks, but a great share of the people
+ here are naturally tired and some are toe
lazy to cut hay enough for their stock, anG
the result is that during the winter one Of
). two dozen carcasses are dumped into thu
creek, or drawn to the prairie. 1t is
- common and villainous practice here t,
draw dead animals either to the creek O
IL out ON the prairie, and poisoned water an,
miasmal air is natural consequence.
@. There are two distinct breeds of cattle il
Kansas, the Native and Texas. The Ma
tive cattle, which in part resemble tn
Is Durhams, are superior breed. This ma
II be partly owing to the fact that, for min
ID months of the year they have all the gras
n they want las good as poor feeding will i
time alter the shape and appearance {
is any breed;) but l have certainly see
ry as fine looking cows of this Native bree
O. as ever saw of any, though they are int
If rior to those of dairy region for milk
These Native cows are worth from thiri
iio to sixty dollars head.
m The Texas cattle are of medium siz
Of with very large horns and wild, excit
nd BILE disposition. The saying that a new
arrived Texas steer can be sailed down
his horns is not so far from the truth, al
is partly description of his condition, al
he part compliment to his horns. They a
IN a tough, hardy animal, and crossed with
70 larger and gentler breed, the Durhams
instance, would make a very good breed
d. cattle. But half blooded Texas cattle a
ed rarely tanned, and when stampeding a
hardly less dangerous than the buffalo.
-: The cattle can be bought in Texas
taking herd as they come, old and your
c" for from seven to twelve dollars a head.
her There is little risk in taking them frC
Texas to Kansas excepting from a class
men who lie in wait for herds coming
Wv on the trail, and in the confusion viii
aSt follows, manage to steal some of the
m Texas cattle can be bought at the southe
line of Kansas for four or five dollar
head more than they cost in Texas.
There is law of Kansas which forb
D' any one to take Texas cattle into the St
IT, excepting in the winter months. The r
Tor son for this is, they are said to bring d
tire ease with them which, though nearly har
;n:o less to themselves, is fatal to other cat,
g The practice in regard to this law is
'nu drive the cattle into the southern count
TEL and herd them there until minter, and tt
ind drive them north, but good allowance
and false swearingw will take them through wi
,,+ out all this ceremony. There has b.
some resistance to this law, and l bell
leu it has been decided by the courts to be
IN constitutional. The cost of keeping tn
md cattle is small. A newly arrived h
, 70 must be watched night and day atfrst,
latter little" they will liequietly at nj
'hu unless frightened. Two herders are
:, is quired for any herd, and more for la
itch Que. In some places there is unoccup
of timber which person can use for a " {
.,.o raj" and thus keep cattle the year rol
without owning land. Hay costs moth
0rln but the trouble of cutting and stacking
ultS Beef is rather high here considering
us. great number of cattle in the State. CT
vtor fed Texas steers sell at from four to
cents per pound, live weight; and C
> "o fed steers are worth a cent a pound m
louS Some persons to my knowledge have do
ark. led their money in single year on IL
cattle, and many have failed of doin!
but as general thing it is profitable
= mess.
Inv 1 have seen hardly half dozen flock
THO sheep in Kansas, though l see no res
nh+ why keeping them should not be pr
49, able business. Unwashed wool is W.
..L forty cents pound, and mutton brin
-. good price. The most of the sheep
So are kept around here are neither fed
W. herded during the year, and they seer
iI" do well. 1t is less trouble to herd Il
'ie than cattle, and they need but little
Ocei, ing anywhere in this section. This spr
anu after being shorn, they were offered at
uno' dollar and fifty cents head.
w Hogs are plenty and run at large
III the woods and streets. The native Ka
ia'i'- porker is a natural curiosity. Hedon'
-ens semble any other animal that l ever
aTed hnt looks verv mucb as Gar fish w
anu on legs. His snout comes so near b
ming half of him that he is about evenly bal
loss cd on his four lers and he can TAKE
men third row of corn through a wire
New easy. Keeping hogs ought to pay her
Sou the expense is small, and pork is as hi!
7as in Vermont. They can be kept to the
Jen- advantage with fattening cattle, as
nd d will take what would otherwise be wa
, up. There is breed of White Chester
near here which do well.