The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-02
TIE HERDS OF THE PLAINS.
TIME CfTTLE GRfzTNG WHERE BUF-
F1LO USED no RANCE
The stork Raising Ipteresfs Of Colorado and
Western Kansas Ri,niiina those of Texas
How the Increased Demand for Beef for
shIprseut q. Met-Ilerds Moving West

shiprsent !. Met-uerds Moving West
DENVER Col. May 2G-Our beef supply, in
Wow Of the large exports is becoming matter
OF considerable moment. and people begin to
wonder where it will all come from. Texas has.
since 1865. furnished the largest share Of cattle
sold in the city markets. Her drives" have
averaged about $50 900 head every scason The
stock dealers have been down there this season
and gathered up all the marketable bccvcs. and
they are now ON their way to the shipping
places. Ncxt month they will begin TO 20 into
market. But the supply is not quite NJ 10 that
of former years while the home demand il in
creasing and a large foreign trade sprnging
up. Those who are in the habit Of looking into
the market reports have probably noticed quite
frequently quotations of Colorado and plains
cattle. and they have seen. too that this quality
OF beef il put down is prime and goes at Il high
or figure than Texan.
This loads me to say that the cattle trade hns
undergone wonderful changes during the past
five years In 1871 Abilene was in its glory rs
tho grcat cattle mart The annual Texas
drives" centred at that place for shipment to
Eastern markets. and from June till November
It was the scene Of an almost riotous activity.
the town being illl,d with druvcrs. spectators,
stock agents. and hangcrs-on. and the sur
rounding country fairly swarming with long
horns" This has all changed. From year to
year new trails have been takon further and
further west. made necessary by the Kansas
laws relating to dead lines compelling drovrrs
t. keep out of the farming districts. and allow
ing them to drive their cattle only through un-
occupied country. Sana. Emporia Brook
willie. Newton. Great Bend. and Ellsworth have
in turn seen their dav as the Brishton- o; the
West until this year the new law ilNcs the trail
po far west that Ellis ON the Kansas Pacific ana
Dodge city on the Aiehis"n. Topeka ana santa
FL Railways are IN" entries of the cattle trade.
These points ar" ~ the middle 81 the old huilhlQ
grounds. far out toward the mountains. and
only hundred miles from the Colorado lnr-
dcrs. This changing ul In trails ana shipping
stations has gradually worked an entire rrNO-
luton in the business. Drovris found ~"
grazing good in the vicinity of the new trails.
and being in no hurry 10 market their hreVrs.
have got into the habit Ot holding them back
waiting for better prices: rri,lunily ih,v got To-
driving them ON further ", -tWHri and holding
them on the range until spring. hoping 70 tax"
advantage OF an carly market The eaiil" we're
and could be- winterrd generally AT small rN.
pense ona good range. The fronti"rsmrn and
newcomers to tho growing territory of Colorado
began to take q huui ~ tho business iy huying
up Texas cattle AT tn" shipping places and drN-
hlooded stock from the En-i Ia ross the breed:
The results have been much better grade OF
cattle and AN improved demand.
Although 1t j. now but i've or six years since
any considerable" attention WIS gwen To THIS
business, one who travels over the Pacific Rail;
roads will see that the pltnn- are we'll dotted
with herds all along between the western limits
OF farming In Kansas and the mountains.
Tho cattle mon have occupied the val
lcysnnd buffalo grounds north has far ~ the
ChugwHter and laram" plains in Nyo-
ming. hive possession Of pretty much nl
the available grazing lands between tn"
Platte and the Republican away Up To- th"ir
headwatcrs have larc" herds in IN" very heart
OF the mountains futtrning in tho great parks
and grazing IN the san Luis and Kln Gran lc
valleys far down into NV Mexico tn" June
drives out oi Texts every year IL 2Junuu head OF
cattle no longer ~ Immediately into market.
but graz" ", -twari. The Ilnin- country rreriv-
ing more thnn nnr-nulf. And beSidrs this en-
terpri-ing cattl" men ~ down into reNns and
pick the best oi th" herds and move them 10 the
northern country.
There have been some drawbacks to the cattle
business of the plains. The steady cold " n
tiers they could stand very well. 80 long n- til"
range was not covered with snow too deep for
the cattle t. reach feed; but the severe SHOW
storms. coming suddenly after a rain and then
freezing Ia the rdttl", Who are without shelter ~
nuy kind. has he' % tn worst evil. Tn caused
them to STAMPEDE AMI scatter in every direction
away from water and food. resulting III con.
siderable loss. Sonnet mos they have suffered
from Indian drprc'lhtlons and cattle thi"Ning
but the LOSSES have at no time been vary great
The present condition ul the cattle interests
Of tho Western plains may be- seen 10 better adj
vantage 10y glance nj the figures taken from
the late asscssmrnt returns and from other
sources According to the returns Of last year
the number OF cattle and value were as follows;