The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-05-29
SHEEP itANCHIsG.
Interesting Story ofa Young Mans Ven.
ture on the Colorado Plains.

TURF On Inc toIoEsuu Elunhs
william H. Coltaaa IN ChnEtAn Uaioa,
In the fall Of 1874, e., q young man Of
eonsumptive tendencies, after several
years Of Office work in Geneva, n. Y, and
elsewhere, found his health steadily fail
ing and was led to spend the winter in
Colorado. he rapidly improved during
his stay there, and by spring had decided
to remain and engage in sheep farming.
BE entered 50 acres under the homestead
law, about IS miles from Colorado Springs,
and stocked 1t with 1850 long.wooled Mex
lean sheep at g delivered, and 95 merino
bucks from the East At SIS each. He was
industrious and = good manager. and now
At the end Of Eve years he has IS ranches,
5000 sheep, and occupies 100 square miles
Of land. The slender, delicate Young man
has grown rugged and robust, and weighs
ls4 pounds. From letters and converse
ZION propose to briefly outline the char
acter OF 8 Colorado sheep-farm.
A ranch Is definite term for spring
OF water and some rude buildings, and an
indefinite amount Of grazing land. These
springs are found At various points on the
plains, mostly i'll ravines, and several
miles apart, and the owner is entitled by
mutual consent Of the farmers 70 Craze
the land on either side halfway to the
next spring. 1t is an object, therefore, 70
buv as many springs and as little land rs
possible. In securing new ranches q.
would enter them in his herdsmen's
names, and then buy OF them at low
figure. The spring Is literally the main
spring OF sheep farming, as the land is
valpeless without wafer, and wells have
been sunk 600 and 500 feet without OBJ
Laining water. There is neither dew nor
rain, except for brief time in spring.
The water Is carefully used, being pumped
into reservoirs, and the sheep watered
from troushs.
The native grass is thin and wiry and
grows in punches six or eight inches high.
Once eaten of 1t does not renew itself in
the same season. The sheep are pastured
all the year round, and hay is fed only
when the grass is buried in snow. The
range needed for each sheep is 1--WE acres,
as frequent shifting Is necessary.
The buildings are piteh.pine cabin for
the ranchmen and 4 corral or sheep pen
100 by $50 ieet square and inclosed by q
tight board fence ak feet high. Ii has no
roof, as experience shows that sheep in
covered pens are often smoihered by
snoEdFifts. When exposed 70 storm the
sheep pack together and keep warm. After
the pastuTage At one ranch is exhausted
the furniture Of the cabin, the pump and
the trOughs are carried 70 the ranch that
Is next used.
The ranchmen are often intelligent
Eastern men who have come to Colorado
for their health. They get about $50 pei
month and board. Two usually occupy
the same cabin for company. and each
man is 10 take care Of about 1000 sheep
They do most OF their cooking At night
alter the days work is over, so as to STAR
out at sunrise and be with the sheep dur
ing the day. Contrary 70 the common
idea they do not ride, but go aioot, sDc
seldom use dOgs-if the owner knows it
Their provisions are brought to them Al
regular intervals, and are chiefly conned
fruits and -four. They get their meat from
the flock. So great is The consumption o
baking powder (which Is costly article,
that G. finally boUght.it by the barrel and
issued regular (diluted) rations.
The work OF the herdman is monoton.
Gus. The sheep are TO be driven and
watched by day, and wStered and corraleC
at night, and that Is about all there is 70 i
most OF the time. Sundays are the SAINT
As other days, and the ranehmAn soon for
gets the days OF the week. At night b
plays cards, or, il he has books and papers
which i rare, he reads. 6. takes pains 4
save papers and distribute them in rota
tion 70 bis men. During storms the sheet
are held in the corral for several days, bu
are then driven out even II the storm hGl
not sbsted, and from the Tind-sweep spot
they get . bite. Every day they Ar
counted in q rough way BY counting u
all the black sheep, whose number i
known, and once 3 week they are sepaI
ateIy counted by passing them through
narrow passage into tbs corral. By tht
use Of swing gate the sheep can be di
verted 70 either side OF the corral when
is desired TO separate any grade or class o
sheep. There is q steady leakage In
large dock, and when counted there Ar
always three or four short.
The lambing time Is arranged 70 com
; in NAY, TO avoid the rains Of March an
April. The percentage Of loss Is usual
small in 4 wSlI.manaRed herd. Two year
40 2S25 ewes raised COOS lambs; lSs Wer
dropped in one day, and in 10 days llOl
% 10 January IS, 1875, only two shee
and three lambs were lost out OF 40
Bot the following winter was very sever
and the landing OF 1879 was reduced
an average Of so 70 IS per cent G,s Va
IS per cent, and he lost lT5 lambs: IN
: clio Of wool was Rlso reduced. When
thousand sheep and Thousand lambs 81
turned into the corral there is q tremel
dous bleating until the lambs and the
mothers get together. A long, nArro'
pen, with divisions holding one shee
each, Is used for the sheep without lamb
A motheFless lamb is given 70 each ont
and they are kept together until the lam
is Owned usually two DAYS. The bottoI
boards Of the pen are nailed on the on
= side Of the posts, 80 that the lambs @
! slip under when in danger Of being lAi
} on. The lambs are WeAned the inst
October and taken 70 another ranch.
SheariDg is usually done in June, b
G. waits TIL July, both 70 gain in weigi
! lof fleece (asheep sometimes gains pour
, Of Wool.Weight in bot week and to z
j, help At lower figure than be could whl
everybody was shearing. The work
4 done BY MexicAns who come north for Il
]. purpose. They get Eve cents per shee
= and shear City TO one hundred per da
: usinv shears with very long blades. Il
sbeeo are not washed. A Mexican shet
sheArs thirty cents worth Of wool, . gra
!, sheep one dollars worth; G.s shearr