The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1873-02-28
From our California Correspondent

SusANvmIE, CAL, Feb. III 1878,
Editor Herdla:
AS in my first sketch ] spoke only Of
the farming portions Of the country, will
devote this to the stock-raising sections.
In this, as in all other countries of which
| have any knowledge, the stock men "
are tho only men that never break, and
are sure Of fortune ifthsy stick to their
business. 1t is my impression that man
can do better in that business here than in
Texas. Now | know actually nothing about
handling stock myself, and my opinions
are based upon hearing stock men falkland
upon observation. But l will give my
reasons, and leave my readers to form
their own conclusions.
First, there is, comparatively speaking,
only small scope of country in this State
where the business can be successfully
carried on that is, in the small valleys
ard and low hills of the mountains. All
tho valleys of any size and fertility are
being rapidly brought into reqnisitlon by
tho larmers, aud the consequences is, the
stock raisefs IRE forced. back into The
smaller, where grain cannot be produced
to find range for his cattle, or he has tt
! nut his cattle on the market and dispose
of them. There is large portion Of Cal
itornia that has until within tho last few
months been almost entirely devoted t
stock raising. But gradually the grazing
lands have been taken up aud put int
cultivation until at the present time thu
range is almost entirely destroyed, AM
this winter, stock that have to depend OF
tho range for subsislence, arc suffering
No. = ct for market have been and are bolni
all'F I'' ~ cheap, from the fact that %
sold We, they cannot BIO kept on tn
owners know N another winter. I'M
range in that sectl'T p of sonther
will soon be the cdse in a..
California, and then the beef and mutton
10 supply the State will have 20 come prin-
cipally from these mountain valleys.
The range here is the finest have ever
seen--ihe hills are covered with "buck-
grass very rich and nutritious food
which is the principal grazing during the
Winter While in the Spring and sam
mer the Valleys furnish an abundant
supply Of u variety Of grasses and wher-
ever the country is low, or swampy
wild Timothy and clover grows luxHriant-
| ly. Another I'D vantage OF Texas is, that
a man is not so liable to make mistakes
and brand his neighbors yearings as in
| Texas. l have been told hundreds Of
| times BY Texas cattle men that they an
nually lost scores Of cattle by this studied
carelessness on the part of their neigh
bors, and though they doubtless ''got their
money back" Of some other person, still
| it seems to me that it would be better for
a man, if he desired TO lead q strictly
honest and virtuous life, not to stay
among such careless neighbours, lest he
| might fall into like bad habits.
Stock cattle are worth in this section
from 70 10 80 dollars per head. Sheep
from S2,T5 to $500 per head. Beef cattle
at this season Of the year, are worth from
| to 10 cents per pound on foot; in the
Summer from to cents. Mutton sheep
bring from Ito 10 cents per pound in
| market
As to climate, find very little differ
ence between toe Sacramento Valley and
Texas, while up here in the Mountnin
Valleys there is very marked difference.
The Summers are great deal cooler. |
spent part Of the Summer OF 1870 in this
(lioney Lake, Valley, and didn't think
the mercury was higher than % during
the summer. The nights are invariably
cool enough TO sleep comfortably, under q
blanket. As yet, we have had no weather
this winter as cold as you have experience
ed in Dallas, for see from the HERALD
the mercury has been below zero--yet l
am told that it does get that cold here
sometimes. win only add that the only
objection find with California is, that il
is not in Dixie. W.T.. NJ.