Connecticut western news., 1880-12-01
CATTLE AND SHEEP.
"A Western Man Tells Us Something
 About Them.

nearly all of the principal parts of it in the saddle, studying especially the grazing industry, the fitness of the land and the climate for raising cattle and sheep and the profits of business which he believes is destined to be one of the chief sources of our National wealth. The region which was once known as the Great American Desert embraces one of the five great National grazing-grounds of the world--a vast plain country of more than million and half of square miles, or about as large as the whole of Europe, Russia excepted. Itstretches across the United States at the point where the north and south diameter of the country is great est-that is from the southern extrem- ity of Texas to the northern parts of Dakota and Montana. General Brisbin believes that "Nebraska Is the best State for farming and stock raising con- blned Colorado IS the best State for sheep-growing, farming and mining; Wyoming is the best Territory for cat tle growing alone; Montana is the best Territory for cattle growing and mining. It does not matter where the emigrant settles ill the West, so he comes and he will almost anywhere soon find him. self better off than if he had remained East" It is an important fact that '' for ten years at least the stock-grow- CTS need have no fear of overstocking the beef market" He gives some fig ures in illustrating this statement which deserve attention. In 194O, he says, tho average number of cattle in Amer lca to every 100 persons was less than 100 head, and in 1850 only about 75 head to 100 people. In 1860, according to his figures, which are not footed, the ratio was fraction over 100 cattle for 100 persons, but the census returns for that year make the number of cattle only about S1 per 100 persons. Gen. eral Brisbin does not carry his statistics any further, but he states that the ratio of annual increase of stock in the coun- try IS only about Ii per cent. AS the increase of population is about twice as great as that, General Brisbiu is justl- lied in his prediction that "we must raise more cattle, or in a few years pay higher prices for beef" It would be interesting to study this matter in the light of the census of 1880, and with due allowance for the export trade in beef, which has lately assumed such large proportions.
 Thomas Lonergan is extensively en- gagged in the business at Ogallala, on the Union Pacific Railway, 342 miles be- yond Omaha, dealing especially in Texas cattle. His expenses on the purchase, keeping, etc, of n herd of 4,O5O head amounted to o$45, STA, including interest at ten per cent, and six months after making the investment he had sold 2,000 beeves for $40, ,000, and had 1, 400 head of cattle left. The details of his transactions for three and half years are given with some minuteness; it will be sufficient to state as the net result that his total investment during that time was $60, ,000 he withdrew all but $l,0U0 of his original capital, receiving in the meantime ten per cent. interest ; and his herd was worth at the end of the three years and half, exclusive of horses, saddles, wagons, fixtures, etc.. |, $69, ,359. The average profit on stock raising is estimated by practical grow CTS at forty or fifty per cent. per annum. | General Brisbin gives detailed estimate of what can be done with $25, 1000 in five years, fl. ming out the necessary expenses and probable receipts of each yeA" separately. The capital will pur- chase 500 yearlings, 500 two-year-olds, and 5C0 three-year- -olds, besides paying for the ranch, horses, general outfit and incidentals. The sales will amount for the second, third and fourth years to $15, 900 year. If ten per cent. is al. lowed for interest, and the surplus, after paying all expenses, Is reinvested in cat tie, the value of the stock on hand at tue end of five years will be over $7O, 900. Buying yearly steers and selling beeves keeps the capital more in hand, and a class of cattle that can be forced on the market with better results to the seller
 and if yearlings or wo-year-olds can be bought in lots to suit the purchaser, this kind of trade will show enormous profits" A heard of 2,00O yearlings al $7.5O, 2,OO0 two-year olds at SIP, 2,OOC three year -olds at SIS, j6,O0O in all, will cost say $75,000. Expense of herd
 ing, $6,OOO. Interest at ten per cent. $7, 800. The next year 2,0O0 beeves cal be sold for $6O,O0O. Deduct interest
 and herding ($13, ,50O), and buy 2,00( yearlings at $7 ($l4, ,O0O), and you vii have at the beginning of the second year, " first, the same number ant grade of cattle; second, ten per cent interest on original capital and third
 $32, 800 net profits. "
 The cattle herds of Texas are mucf
 larger than those of the West, but Ger
 eral Bris bin believes that they have de
 creased within the past five years, ant
 that the business is gradually drawing
 off north to the plains, which are tn
 natural homes of the future cattle king of America" The account of the West ; ern sheep walks is less minute than tha ] of the cattle region, but it is hardly les
 alluring. "West of the Missouri ther arc LOGO, 900, 900 acres of land on whic ] sheep can probably be grazed better an to moro advantage than in any othe 3 country in the world. Commencing 6
 Grand Island, on the Union Paciti l Railroad, 15O miles west of Omaha, tn grazing belt, 800 miles wide, extend