The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-12-02
A COLORADO CATTLE RANGE.

\ travelling correspondent of the Omaha
Herald gives that paper an interesting ac
count of the largest cattle range in that
State, which we condense and give as
follows:
This range belongs to ]. w. Tiff and is
1876 miles long, and begins at Julesburg on
the east, and extends to Greeley on the
west. 1t includes bottom and upland
ranges, and has several camps or ranches.
The chief rancho is nearly south of Sidney,
and about forty miles from Julesburg. AT
this rancho there are houses and sheds, and
some more than two sections of land fenced
in. All the cattle bought by Mr. Tiff are
turned over to him and branded at this
place. Here are his private stock yards,
with corrals, chutes, and all the necessary
conveniences for handling cattle. 1t is Oh
the South Platte river. and of course has
fine watering facilities, while from the bot
tom land adjacent plenty of hay may be
cut for the use of the horses employed i'll
herding. He cuts no hay for his cattle.
They live the entire year on the rich native
grass on his range, and with the exception
of a severe Winter now and then, the per
centage of loss is not very great. Mr.. Tiff
is thorough cattle man, and from his long
experience has a perfect knowledge of the
business. He has bought and now owns
some twenty thousand acres of his present
range, and will undoubtedly purchase more
land as soon as it comes into market. He
have this number after his sales for the
present year are completed. The number
of calves branded this year on his range
will be from 4, 500 to 5000 head, and his
fat cows the present season will probably
amount to about the same number. He
said he expected to realize the sum of S33
per head net on his sales this year. At this
rate $500 head would bring him the snug
little sum of $14S, 800. To take care of
this immense herd he employs from twelve
to thirty-tive men-very few usually in the
Winter and the largest number during the
present time he has twenty -four men en-
ployed, and is cutting out of his herd the
four year old steers aud fat cows which lie
intends to ship. While engaged at this
work the same men are gathering the cows
with unbranded calves, which they put
into the corrals near by, and after the
, calves are branded they are turned loose
with the herd again. His herd is rapidly
being graded up by the introduction of
thorough bred Short Horn bulls. In add
ton to the cattle raised ON his rancho, he
deals largely in Texts and Indian cattle,
aud has now advertised for 20, 600 head of
Texas cattle to be delivered at his rancho
in July of next year Mr.. Tiff estimates
the increase of cattle from his home herd
outside of purchases and sales-to be
about 20 per cent per year, and about
equally divided as to gender. His shipping
points are at Pine Bluffs and Julesburg on
the Union Pacific, and at Deer's Trail on
the Kansas Pacific.
MI. lifts policy is to keep his expenses
as low as possible, having the keeping and
safety OF his cattle constantly III view.
Last year the expense of herding, etc.
amounted to less than $4,000 and will
amount to still less sum this year But
the losses from theft and death some years
are frightful. The Winter of 1912 was
very severe. There were deep SHOWS over
his range that remained on the ground