The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-03-31
srouK RAIsINa
Magnitude Of This inierest-Wyoming's Vast
Grazing Grounds-lliH, "the Cattle
King Of the Plains"

gion about Cheyenne is now regarded
most for its remarkable grazing facili-
ties, says a correspondent of the Chi
cago Tribune, I have no doubt Of its
being brought under cultivation in the
not distant future, either through irri-
cation or the kindly ~interposition of
nature with increased rainfall, for the
soil is as rich as any in the world, and
yields abundantly when tried by irriga-
ton. Just at present, however, it
commands attention chiefly on account
Of its being the home of innumerable
droves Of cattle and sheep. The In
dians have gone to their reservations.
The buffaloes are fast disappearing,
and their pasture is taken by their do
mesticated cousins, who thrive and
grow fat and finally enjoy the unusual
bovine pleasure of a ride lon the rail-
road and the distinction of a visit to
Chicago's great s~tock-yards and of be-
ing slaughtered in a Chicago packing
house, perhaps. The passenger used
formerly to come upon a drove of buff
falo, or antelope, o. elk quite often in
the course of his trip, but now he finds
a continual succession of cattle-ranches
and large droves of sleek-looking cattle
scattered out for miles along the track.
NOT SPEAR OF HAY
nor a kernel of grain had these great
herds eaten all winter long, but had
picked their living easily off the ground,
and cared for nothing more. The leaf
of the rich buffalo grass, when ripe dies
upon the.1stalk, forming uncut hay sup
erior to 'tame'' hay, which all animals
choose with unfailing preference. The
dry, pure, health-giving air of this re-
gion seems to have an equally beneficial
effect on man and beast. No climate in
the world will fetch one out of a lung or
bronchial affection quicker. Animals
give a good evidence of its revivifying
influence. You will find non of the
diseases peculiar to cattle and sheep
among those of the plains, and 1 am
told that sheep suffering from scurvy
and foot-rot, and taken there as al ex-
pertinent, have fully recovered in a very
short time, and without the use of med.
icine of any kind. Notwithstanding
its great elevation, it has been shown
by series of observations at surround
ing military stations that this region
has a much warmer climate than the
latitude in the eastern states.
HUGE STORIES ARE TOLL
about the profits of cattle and sheep
raising, some of which, if l were to re-
peat them, would set half the young
men of Illinois crazy on the subject.
But winnowing the exaggeration from
the mass of information 1 have picked
up on the subject, and there is still left
abundance of evidence that great for
tunes have been made and are now be-
ing made at the business. 1t does not
require much capital to begin with.
Ten years of the business, it is claimed,
with proper attention and common
sense, will make any one who engages
in it rich. There are many men on the
plains with their thousand head of
cattle who began with a few dozen only
four or five years ago. The non-pro-
ductive animals were sold for slaugh-
ter, and the proceeds invested in 9TH
ers to increase the herd. 1t cost moth
ing to keep them. The range is free.
The cost of the herdsman's living is
almost as unimportant. His herd is
his savings bank, and his increase is
his interest, which goes ON compound
ing from year TO year, until the owner
is a wealthy man before he knows it.
The story of
ILIFF, 1.-THE GATHERING OF THE
PLAINS"
reads like romance. He began herding
in 1860, with a small capital, but kept
his money in the business until he be-
gan to be rich, when, instead of retir-
ing on his laurels, he secured a range
extending from Julesburg west about
$50 miles, and south to the South
Platte, where he bought and turned
loose a large herd of Texas cattle, in
addition to the herd he had carefully
trained up. He has now some 10000
head of cattle, from which he sells
5000 or more every year, bringing him
in 800, 600 and over annually. The
increase per year is about 20 per cent
of the whole number.
ON THE LARAMIE PLAINS
sheep-raising is more followed than
elsewhere. Several parties have tlocks
of III, ZOO, which have been but a few
years in multiplying to that number.
One man, with a pony and two shep-
herd dogs, are all that are needed to
guard a flock. The average increase is
said to be about 80 per cent, and many
regard the profit greater and surer
than in cattle raising. But stock rails
ing, although it has already become of
the first Importance, is yet in its in
fancy. This vast fertile region is a
pable of supporting millions where it
only has thousands now. l doubt not
that from here Chicago shippers and
packers will ere long draw their chief
supply, and that the numerous focks
of the Laramie plains will keep thou