New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-20
COLORADO.

HOW WILL TfIE PRESENT WINTER AIfECI lIlE
STOCK GRAZING INTERESTS OF TIE PLAINS !
To the Editor Of The TrfbNHe.
SIR That this is Of the most severe Winters the
Heart of the Continent has ever secn admits OF no
doubt The great Territories of Wyoming, Colorado
and New-MexicO, which have gained their reputa-
ton for mildnes in Winter from the almost constant
west winds from the Pacific, have this Winter been
almost entirely deprived of them. and have instead
been swept by often recurring blasts from the colder
region, Of Dakota and British America. The mercury
has fallen lower than usual, and six inches and even
a foot of snow has fallen where before an inch or
two would have been considered an affection The
effect of such Winter upon stock, where the sole
dependence is on Winter grazing without hay or
grain cannot but be somewhat serious But it ia not
likely To be so bad as many persons have anticipated
True. the Winter Is not over yet; and although
this month is mildcr yet the March storms always
TeuIUns az -, ir'ooci 'isd tue transition from
the div hay grass Of the Plains TO that OF the green
grass which always weakens poor cattle at first by
occurring" has to be gone through with; and not
until the rst Of Nay can the rue record OF this Sc
we're Winter Of the Plains he made out IN relation to
its effects on the great stoc lgrowing interest
But | propose TO give a fair and candid statement
of the condition of things up to the present and
complete one, by your permission, through the
columns Of TIE TRIBUNE, in May next
There is no one who asserts that stock have suf-
fered IN Southern Colorado, NewMeXIco. OF Arizona
In the most northern part OF Southern Colorado Just
under the Arkansas Divide, at Colorado springs, the
mercury AZ it's lowest point III the coolest DAY OF
December was at seven degrees above zero, and the
total fall of snow for the whole month was only 81
inches. none Of which was on the ground = hours
From the Divide south no loss from snow or cold
has been experienced by herders OF cattle ana sheep
who are depending entirely on " Winter Pasturage'
araI(. ina
lev. il is different Northern Colorado, Wyoming,
and Nebraska have had SHOWS nearly equaling those
of Indiana and Illinois. But the Cattle have been
moved from feeding grounds covered with snow to
more favored spots not so much afflicted.
The greatest damage was done in December. In
January. Dr. Latham of Laramie City, Wyoming,
had obtained information from some of the proml-
pent stockmen in regard 70 their losses. mention
the statements of few by name : In Nebraska, Coe
A. Carter have 1900 head, loss less than three per
cent Knuckels & Gallagher. $500 head loss ID head
Bn,h Bros. 5000 head, no loss Creighton d Co..
5000 head no loss. Ia Wyoming j. A. Moore, o,oOO
head loss a small per cent; Duncan ~ Co..
1900 head loss two per cent; Creighton * Alsop'
5000 head, no loss Major George, G,OOO head no
loss OF Sheep, in the Laramie Valley, there are
about 10000 head average loss between four and
five per cent. OF Horses, of which there are
about 1000 head, there has been no loss The fol-
lowing items from Northern Colorado obtained my,
sci from the parties mentioned, between the 9TH and
Sh of January being at that time IN Greeley III me
very center of the greatest body OF snow IN the
ph1le country : Is. +. johnson, below Greeley on
he platte 900 head no loss Hanna u Garfield.
near by 400 head lost one Sheriff Brush, III the same
neighbOrhOOd 1000 head, ESTIMATED loss, chehy
among calves three per cent. saw VARIOUS parties
vino had becn among the great herd OF Mt. j. W.
Ii consisting of nearly 1900 head Kept some fty
miles east of Greeley on the rate WHO Su'ea .t
his loss would not reach over two per cent p0r-
ton of this herd had been driven up from eNis late
in the season and were in feeble condition rom RAPID
driving during long journey. lWentH-s,IN, miles
above Greeley on the Platte, Judge john l. wheeler
has 500 head including y calves. ana mas iieI WIN
no loss neither has 4. j. llIaIS' WHO ns wv nedu
II ia difcult 10 make an estimate Of what the loss
will be by the 18th of April next but DO not believe
il will reach five per cent. In Nyonlhg estoin W.
l,raska and The more afflicted pOrtions OF Colorado
This where the profits are IRON ~ 10 81 per vht an
nually Will not be felt and should me losS lIis III
ter or any other Winter during the next teu Sras,
reach ouethird or even One-h8lt, OF the "hOle, III
would not stop the business for, so long a. II pays
in its general results 50 enormously men Will ehe'se
do not say in this article that il will not pay TO
cut hay and feed cattle like New-Engianu CnIls-
tan But labor is high near the great 81 rasa tbs
of the mountains and our people do not lai'1 t. o
hoy for their stock rule, because theIe IL htte
money in IT, and they think their time ana capital
can be used 10 better advantage. Nnat you say
however, in SATURDAYS TRIBUNE is true. Each
stock grower sbould have "a months hay ProvlaeSa
for each Winter for ii not needed, safety demands
from an unusual Winter, shoufd it come.
'''''' - Il. A. CAMERON
No. 3 Bo,ringgreen. Ye,c- York CITY, Feb l5' ls'2.
IThe best book with which we are acquainted
laws down this sound proposition" The mer-
" cful man is merciful to his beast" II he
owns 200, or 10000 such, we do not see that
this inyalidates the rule. We hold 1t morally
wrong to expose Cattle and Sheep to the cruel
blasts of Winter on bleak, snow-cOvered, tree
less plains, where the dead, scanty heritage Is
almost uuattainable. We hold such cruelty
blunder as well as a crime; for calves must
be poor and feeble after such Winter as
,his I'D Tribl