The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-09-14
CATTLE.GROWNG.
The Great Pastures of the Rocky Noun
tain SlOpe-Thefr Extent, CaPaeAsy'
and General Worth.

from the Denver Tribune.1
From tim time the Tribune Office
is favored with letters from the States
in regard to stock growing in colorado,
asking for information OF a detailed
character, and for opinions that ought
not to be given except as the result OF
careful research. The experience OF
the past year goes to show that Colo
RADIO can not make large shipments OF
beef to the East and at the same time
fulfill the local demand. This local
demand, owing to the thousands of
men who are pouring into the newly
discovered mining districts, is growing
much faster than the local supply.
Hence, we must either continue the ship
ment of corn-fed cattle from Kansas,
or learn to make better use of our
natural pasture lands-not unlimited in
extent, but capable of more than double
their present production when REIN
forced with rough crops, and with
economical provision for winter shelter
ing and food. Without further COM
ments on this important industry at
present, we give place to a well written
article from the pen of st. A. D. Bal
combe, of the Omaha Herald, who has
been specially charged with the duty OF
collecting facts in regard to the pasture
lands of this region:
The twenty-second parallel of latitude
west from Washington divides the
United States into about two equal
parts. East of this line the conditions
of situation, soil, and climate are such
that agriculture, manufactures, and
commerce are susceptible of unlimited
development, and hence destined to be
densely populated; while west of it the
dry, arid plains and successive ranges
of mountains, dry, gravelly, and porous
soil, producing the bunch, buffalo,
gramma, and mesquite grasses, and
pure water, will render this great region
/ peculiarly adapted 10 the growing OF
stock. There is not enough arabic land
therein to produce sufficient for the home
consumption of its stock-growers, min
ers, and other population; hence it is
always to remain sparsely populated,
the home of the herdsman, shepherd,
miner, sheep, cattle, and horses. The
destiny of this western half of the Union
is to furnish the densely populated East
. with minerals, sheep, wool, cattle, and
homes. Within this western half is a
'. section of country which intelligent in
vestigators knew to be superior to any
other on this continent in its advantages
, for stock-growing and marketing the
same, but the masses do not seem to
! realize it as yet. I refer to. that COM
) prised in Western Nebraska, Kansas,
and Dakota, and Eastern Wyoming,
' Colorado, and Montana, with Nebraska
! and Wyoming as its center. This is the
: high plain region, extending from the
e twenty-second parallel to, and embrace
q ing, the eastern watershed of the Rocky
\ Mountains. Theinterior of this continent
: IS dry and comparatively arid, where
n the rain and snowfall is very small,
4 and, as consequence, where focks
y and herds can Craze both summer and
!. winter. The rainfall is about 8 inches
4 annually, and the snowfall less than
n feet, little at a time, and never lying
: on the ground long. The rainy season
!. is in May and June, when vegetation
IS grows luxuriantly, and. when the rains
cease, the grasses, instead of rotting
gradually dry on the ground and be
come perfectly cured, uncut hay, re
naming in this state all winter furnish
+ ing q better winter food than cut hay
!. without the expense of cutting, stack
" ing and protecting. Here is the notice
le buffalo grass, low, dense, tuftet
It growth, 2 or inches high, some o
h which remains green during the winter
{. is exceedingly nutritious, and yer.
" tenacious of life, and will Withstand tn
# treading of animals after every othe
e green thing has been destroyed
!. It is extremely sweet, and the more 81
ii nearer its roots, and affords feed 0
IN about equal value the year round, fire.
IN of cost. The peculiar adoption OF thi
IS peculiar quality of grass to the growt
n of domestic animals, together with it
n pure, bracing atmosphere and equabl
4. climate, which is ever free from ez
IF tremes of heat and cold, and the pur
at waters of its mOuntain-streams all com
ut bined furnish the conditions Of perfee
a animal health and vigor of constitutio
at and natural facilities for growing stoc
is that are not enjoyed by any other poi
hi ton of the continent. The experienc
II Of ten years herein of stock-growel
" from all sections justifies this statemer
er to the utmost extent.
in Through Texas cattle bring a Low
or er price than others, and in view of tn
n. discrimination against Southern Gait
k, very many have engaged in purchasin
IT. them in the fall and herding them
ry this northern climate, on the buffal
he and gramma grasses one year, and the
IS, marketing them as Colorado Texas ca
Sc tie, when they bring a much high,
DIV price per cWt.. and weigh from 800
nd 400 pounds more, which proves to be