The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-01-21
THE ARID BELT.
Remarks in Regard to stock Raising
There.
what Effect Immigration is Having on
Stock RaiserS.


What Effect Immigration is Having on
Stock Raisers.
New York Sun.
In the region bordering on the Goth
and Tooth meridians, the lands of the
semi-arid belt merge into those of the
strictly pastoral region of dry plains
of high altitude. Men who occupy
lands in this region under the provisions
Of the homestead laws have for several
years tried hard to raise sufficient grain
to feed themselves and their families
With the single exception of the bounti-
full crop produced in the phenomenal.y
wet year of 1878, their efforts have pro-
duced half crops and quarter crops to
harvest, or no crops at all. Every year
they sow seed which has been obtained
by mortgaging their lands and personal
property. Year after year, if there is
sufficient moisture in the ground, the
seed sprouts and then the tender plants
are partly or wholly blasted by the hot
southwest winds.
As the immense immigration took up
all public lands fit for agriculture and
approached the eastern edge of the Arid
Belt. the land grant railroads circulated
false and deceptive pamphlets designed
to create the impression that change
had taken place in the climate of the
western plains. 1t Is true that the exces-
sive rains that fell on the plains during
the fall, winter and spring of 1877 and
1878 supplied sufficient moisture to ma
ture d good wheat crop. Kansas still
boasts of that crop. To the rain that fell
of this wet season the agents of the land
grant railroads have ceaselessly called
the attention of yyouId-be Immigrants
BY the distribution of their misleading
pamphlets. and by an adroit use of the
newspapers controlled by one of
the owners of the railroads, emil
grants have been induced to en-
ter the Arid Belt by tens of thousands
AS these men, seeking for homes, en-
tered the grazing region, the herds of
| cattle they encountered were driven
westward before them. The pioneers in
the great industry of cattle growing, in
J which millions of dollars are invested,
and which furnishes employment to
thousands of men, were forced to aband-
| on the range, or else close herd their
cattle on what were probably the best
summer grazing grounds in the west.
The generally accepted statements
| published in newspapers and magazines,
of the enormous profits of cattle and
sheep growing on the western plains, are
| almost all grossly exaggerated. Il is
| true that money invested IN the business,
when ably managed, may earn large re-
| turns. 1t is also true that the blunders
of mismanagement, and the accidents of
the frequent and severe winter storms,
often consume the capital invested.
During 1879, the reports of the inspec-
| tors show that 20, 154 cattle were shipped
| from Colorado 10 Kansas City and Oma-
ha- About 5000 more were shipped to
| stock feeders in Kansas and Nebraska,
/ but were unloaded west of the points of
| inspection; 10000 head were driven out
of the state, and q, 576 were slaughtered
| for home consumption total of 12O,-
/ 730. Of this number los, 730 were steers
| fit for market or for feeding in the corn
belt and worth $24 per head; 5000
The total amount paid to the cattle
| growers of Colorado for stock sent out
of the state was S2,769, 760.
The long continued drought of 1880
| greatly inierfered with the business, as it
was impossible for ali the cattle
that were feeding on the barren
range to grow into condition
| fit for market The marketing
has been retarded to such an extent that
a correct report of this years business
cannot be given. 1t is probable, how
ever, that the exports are almost If not
/ quite, equal TO those of 1873. Each sue
ceeding crop of calves is larger than the
| preceding one, on account of the prae-
| ticed policy of cattle growers not to sell
the female increase OF their herds. 1t
follows, therefore, that the steers sent
away ought to annually increase in num-
Der IF the number marketed is not in
excess Of that years business. il is be-
cause the drought has made it necessary
| TO hold the cattle over. They will ar
| rive at the stock yards of Kansas City
and Omaha next year.
The stock growers Of Colorado and