Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-11-16

A correspondent OF the Chicago
Tribune writing from Grand Gulf,
Miss. Nov. Sd, says:
1t is refreshing in these times Of
universal financial depression to find
even one vocation an exception to
the general rule. This exception is
the stock interest of the country, and
especially cattle, sheep, and mules in
Texas and the south, where they
Craze all the year round. From
Maine to Mexico, the only men, as a
class, have found in a prospering
condition and satisfied with their
business are the wool and beef grow
ers (there are no pork-growers); es-
pecially in the south and south west,
where the cost of raising a bullock
or a mule above interest account
does not reach s.. Few OF your
readers have any idea of the extent
to which a single man or firm will
carry this business. For their won
derment 1 will give few stocks and
pastures which | have seen, with
names and figures.
Allen & Son, east OF the Brazos.
have 10000 acres inclosed, $4,000
head OF cattle, and ship annual
Iy, including purchases. about 20,-
600 -beeves- Foster Dyer, west of
the Brazos, has 1900 acres inclosed,
and 10000 head Of cattle. He bought
Of one party last spring 5000 3-year-
old heifers, at 50 in gold each. Car
uthers & Bro, north OF Austin, have
$4,000 cattle on the plains. O'Brien,
on the Gaudaloupe, has $1,000 cattle.
Mr.. Lowe, west of the San Antonio
River, has 10000 acres In pastures,
and 10000 head Of cattle. A widow
lady, farther west. has 10000 cattle
on the plains and sells annually 15,-
900 beeves. Mathews, Coleman &
Mathews, Rockport, Texas, have 20O,-
600 OF acres OF pasture and 10000
cattle. They ship annually, includ-
ing purchases, 30,635, 900 beeves. Du-
vuse & Ellison, San Antonio, drove
last spring to Kansas $4,000 cattle,
and must have at least double that
number on the plains. Mr.. King,
west OF the Nueces river, drove to
Kansas $4,000 beeves from his own
ranch. and sold at $33 per head. He
has 100000 acres of pasture. 5000
horses and mules, and 10000 cattle.
There are many others whose stocks
are as large that have not seen. to
say nothing Of the 10000 to 10000
stocks. but this will suffice. This
seems incredible to an eastern or
even a north western man, and yet
in round numbers is very nearly cor
rect. And still there is a very large
diminutioni of the cattle on the
plains in five years past.
will give one OF the many in
stances to show the immense profits
OF this business when they can Craze
all the year round. Il withhold the
names, as it Is not my province to
make public the details OF any mans
private business.) Four years ago,
certain friends OF mine discussed the
pasturage question, and began to
buy and fence in cheap lands. They
have now 100000 acres OF pasture,
ad cattle king
are systematic in all their business,
and opened stock cattle" account,
separate from beef account, debited
1t with all purchases Of stock cattle"
(all ages, and credited it with all
sales from said stocks at the prices
ruling there The account shows
now $4,000 paid out in four years
for stock cattle Of all ages, and $780,
900 sales from said stocks, with no.
cattle on hand, worth IS per head, or
$500, 900. and the account out of debt,
making $4,000 profits in four years;
and, perhaps, did not use over $685.
900 cash in these purchases. Some
others have done as well, or even
better, on a smaller scale.
The wool-growers are equally as
well satisfied with their business in
the past, though wool is declining,
while cattle are growing scarcer and
higher every year Qor people will
eat, and the vast grazing plains are
being gradually, but surely, taken up
by small farmers emigrating to the
southwest.