, 1874-05-16
CATTLE-GRoWING OUT WEST.
An Examination Of the Herds Of
Nebraska, Colorado, and
Wyoming.

Correspondence af Tho Chicago Tribune
OMAHA, May II, 1874.
Lately there came to this country, from Sid
ney Vilias, Richmond, Surrey, England,
EDWIN l. cuRLEY,
a young man Of more than ordinary intelligence,
industry, aud ability. He was sent out By
large corporation to observe and report uoon
certain businesses in America and most care
fully and effectually did he do his work. WAS
this mans travelling companion for time. and
can bear testimony to the patience, industry. aud /
care with which he gathered his facts. One OF |
the objects Of Mr. Curley's visit WAS to investt-
gate and report upon the risk, profits and loss, !
Of stock-raising on the Plains OF North America
Our first visit ~as to Grand 1sland, Neb.,
where we stopped to see the dne lands Of the |
Platte Valley and the next dsy passed on to |
North Platte, 29l miles from Omaha, vest. |
Here ne examined the herd of
m- 4. G. KEITH;
and, from all the facts that could be gathered, |
the following is fair statement Of Wr. Keith's |
cattIe-opezations
He began raising stock In tho autumn Of 1867, !
with five American COWS. The next auturnn he
bought 200 American cows and in 1869 put in
OF Texas COVE, 2to 6-year-olds 1000 head. In
1870 be was Joined by 3 partner, and that year
they put on their 1s7a ''nshs t5sv boneb 2o
Texas steers, cowe. 2-year-olds and yearlings,
mixed lot; aud also put in later, another lot OF
$50. In 1876 thev honght so American and 2o0
Texas cattle. The total cost Of cattle from 1867
to 1873 inclusive, Was under $50 600. This did
rot include expense OF rnnobe, herd1nR, ETC.,
which, however, Was small They we're fortunate
in having old railvay-tios sod teleglaph-poles
Tor the hauling, and their ranche did not cost
them over $1,000. which otherwise would have
cost s., COO or more. They had sevetA employees
Their men cost $50 to $50 par month, and board:
They used their men for other purposes as well
as herding They employed ono man with ths
first 1,0O0 head, and got an e1t1a man with the
second LOGO head. Had to hsve two men, "a
one would not stay ut the rancho alone. Mr.
Keith could not give any very close figures Of
hand, ~ his partner, Barton. kept tho books;
but the account Was nearly AZ fouoWs:
Sold on hoot 900 head, which brought,
pnsehsred nsi ooo heaa. mostly COWS, which :.
brought. oo.oou.oo
ro+,, 100000
pedass eo:t ii s.tis. rancho, $4,000
Balanee. .....'..-...% I'''o.'o
Cattle remaining on hand:
14O0 improved cal7es at l2 each. l6 eo0W
1900 yeariings, At SIS each l6oU
BN Lyear-ols at IS each. 20.Voooo
800 s-year-old. at go each.."'....''' ,9os
200 bulls, at so escn. do'eo'1 TX n
l,soo COVE, St s2s each --..-........... a''oooo
rot,, v,,,, q, stock on hand .$1os. ooo
These figures, given Mr.. Curley by Mr. Keith,
are in the main, believe, correct, aud can IN
| dorsa them except the value put upon old CONS,
| which think il little excessive.
Mr.. Koith keeps now ouly one j, heIdsnsn' M
| This man, when interviewed on Nr. Kelths hs-
ures, said 1t 1ould be fair to put the whole hero
old, young, good, bad, and indit1.rent-at elS
per head, or s53, 600 for tne lot. Making every
allowance for exaggeyations, evidently he1als.
Keith l. Barton'e cattle operations have neoh
| enormously profitable to them.
| The next establishment examined WAS
| COMBINED DAIRY AND BTocK FAEA.
near The Union Pacific Railroad, 10 Wyoming
! Toraitory. The returns showed AZ follows:
April 1871, bought 20 dairycows It $50 esch
Apru 1911 bought thoronRh bred bul1s.....- oov
Expended iu rancho elupzoysments.. 1o"o'oo
Toss. capi,al n 1nhor :; sd
Return Of butter and milk ,bVoW
Fosty-s4yan calvea valued at..... bo."
s2,ooo.oo
Deduct Labor. 1''o".oo
Profit, about Ii per cent. mountaineering so0oo
1877 original capital brought down. son %
1871 boIRh. 10 coG. 1t so eAch.- A,soe.o
Bought :1J Of land. oa ~
Expended on =, - = '"'Esa. A'"oo'o'
Etnrnse Of Iabor, 1,c6o.
Returns Of butter snd mi ooo q q
Increased valus Of ~ yeaEdngs.. ~ ~
o'a's-'"' e~'''' ''' s3.sooce
| 7,.dr,t ,,tor ............ oDca
PROFIT SAX per cent.
In October, 1872 IS mares, st S4a each; -
mixed cattle, and soEne furniture we're aodeo u
the rancte. For the purpose Of forming apaI.,
| lind Il
as follows: =.
October, 1874 dAsryrsnche' - .noro :.;.
October, 1879, boucht herd Of mixed Gsst!o
| at &yerxge prices comprising 243 ytaflnsn-
aG 2yezr-oIds, 194 3-year-olds 637 beevee ~ 40, =,
SO cow, snd is hor'es a, ..'.-.''' 1osdo1 "a =
April. 1878. bought TWO ranches ''.'''''''' Ia n
Imrroyepnents m1da IN the yeax-..''.-'.'' @''o'''
ro.,, ,.n,,,, ...,...........s IS, ~ }:
1a,o- md I, ,2co.o q
iess i1 poriIou Il hbor expended On improve ~ =,
uo4nts. A'"o'os
T $3.50 o;
Returns Of beef snd beetcatte. $40 -: g
| Es:urnz Of tuttr. As:s.n:
Rs.afa. R.a3a. 81 81 auadIss 6d., 42s
1.ooo.2
n.xrc+ .rnsnsea 6,8o0.0t
3s,soo.e .
The stock remaining on band WAS valued q
s47, 7,o54.aG, from which deduct s45, ,74225, md
We havs left 10 profit account.
Add n before stated. @oo'%
Total pront, IL psr loent. .$ssl1s
The estimate Of profit in this csse ID, II any
thing, ra.bor too low: but II shows most sasis
factory results.
tried to get sone accurate estinAte o. e.
number Of cattle On the Plains in wyoming; ~
braska, and Fart OF Colorado, bus found ls IN
possible 70 obtain correct hgures- Tho 1olo"'
ing il partial return OF herds:
On the B!tou, 5000, of which 5000 sFa oesTes snf