The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-14
Cattle on the Plains.

That the great plains of the West
will be the principal cattle-feeding
grounds of the country is well estab-
lished. In fact this has been well
known for years, and those who early
took advantage of their knowledge of
the extent and capacity of these great
pastoral regions and secured water
privileges, and, of course, vast ranges
of grass lands beyond, have already
made large fortunes. Texan cattle have
been the foundation to work upon, and
within the last fewyears, blooded bulls,
principally short-horns and Herefords,
have been worked thereon, producing
most excellent beef cattle.
We sometime since gave the amount
of the cattle driven from Texas to the
great plains of Kansas, Nebraska and
Colorado at about 100000 head for the
seasons drive. 1t is now thought the
number will reach 100000 head. The
Pacific slope is also developing fast in
horned cattle. 1t is estimated that Ore
gon and Washington will this season
have surplus of over 100000 head.
These will be driven East. Some of these
will reach Omaha at once while others
will be held in Wyoming, Colorado, and
western Nebraska for market Thus
the great feeding grounds of the buffa-
10, as these wild beasts disappear, are
replaced by the descendants of the Span
ish cattle Familiarity known as Texans,
these to be again succeeded by more
modern blooded cattle. 1t will not be
long before the last vestige of the buff
falo will have disappeared, and they
will have become a thing of the past.
Let them 90. They may well be spared
to be succeeded by the long horns, and
these again by the more valuable i'm
proved breeds.
But few years ago wild horses-the
! descendants of the chargers of the early
Spanish cavaliers-disputed in many
western and southwestern sections with
the wild cattle and the wilder buffalo
for supremacy. These were found diff
ticult of capture, and, until lately, no
means were known of taking them in
droves. Now it is done by following q
drove with an outfit carrying for.
age for the horses of the herdsmen
The wild horses are simply kept
in motion until partially exhausted fel
want of food, when at last they allow
the herdsmen and their horses to min.
| gle with the drove. At last they allow
themselves to be driven at the will OF
the horsemen. These again will be
replaced with more valuable stock.
TO show the growing importance OF
the cattle of the great plains and the
mountain region beyond, assessment
returns of the present year give the
number of head of cattle to be as fol
lows: California, 100000 head; Colora-
do, 100000; Utah, $4,000; Montana,
300, 900; Wyoming, 225, 900; Washing.
ton Territory, 100000; Oregon, 49,.
600. 1t is estimated that Texas has
probably more than 5000, 600. 1t will
be but short time before the States
and Territories named will equal
the whole amount of these figures
added together. The quality of the
beef when made fat is superior, so there
is no danger of dearth of cattle. The
great corn zone of the West will feeC
the surplus fat, so that as means of ocear
transit are rendered more and NOR,
available, we can supply Great Britain
and the continent with all they ma,
need. -Prdirie Farmer.