The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-03-31
NERRAsKACArraE
The Greet Number Left 90 shift for Them.
selves Through she Severe Winter.

1t is probable that very few people outside of the
cattle country have any idea Of the amount of
stock that is raised in the State Of Nebraska We
occasionally hear of herds containing 500 OF 50 600
head of cattle, but if asked for the aggregate num-
Der in the State, the replies would be very far from
correct.
A careful estimate shows that at the beginning Of
the winter there were upon the Nebraska ranches
more than half million head Of cattle. These
would average sl1 apiece, making total Of about
600 invested in stock, in the cattle raising por-
tiOn of the State. The usual and expected loss frum
the effects Of cold weather and snow, il per
Often, II does not reach that figure. This winter,
the continued cold and depth of the snow have in
creased the fatality TO such extent that there is
no probability Of saving onehalf. and in many in
stances the loss has already exceeded that amount,
and holds fair to take of IS per cent of the stock,
upon many of the largest ranches.
The causes of this wholesale slaughter very ap-
parent No hay Is put up for these cattle but they
are expected to gain their substance through the
winter upon the short buffalo grass which cures
itself upon the ground where it grows, and Of which
there Is an abundance when il is not covered by
snow. The snow- Of that section generally
light, and there usually ravines and hillsides
where grass can he found Sufficient for the few days
when the stock il driven from the prairie by the
storms This yenr, the snow has lain deep upon the
ground for several months and as q consequence the
supply of food obtained by the stock has been barely
sufficient TO have sustained life in warm weather
But added TO the weakness caused by starvation,
there has been such very cold weather that the
ieebled animals have frozen to death, lying down,
have been too mnch benummed to rise again. and
have consequently persisted. From these causes,
many stockmen have already lost half their herds
and the end has not come yet The fact is that the
fatal time for cattle has not yet arrived The heavy
losses usually about tie last of March, Just be-
fore the grass starts and the losses between the
middle of March and the middle of April are ex-
peeted to exceed those of the entire winter preced
Ing. Should such prove to be the experience this
year. there will be cattle left upon the Western
ranches.
Upon pony ranches, the state Of affairs IL not so
bad. These animals will paw the snow away, and
eat the grass they uncover but the cattle will mere
" drift along with the storm until they drop dead
with exhaustion.
One ranchman says that 5000 would not csm-
pensate him for his loss, up to this time. Another
offers 100000 to insure him against further loss.
The Olive rancho with l6 900 head has already lost
7,OO. These only instances taken at random,
and not exceptions. Reliable reports from all
sections Of the grazing region show that the same
n state of affairs exists. A few of the
smaller stock put up hay for their cattle. hard
ly sufficient for their use. but probably enough
TO carry them through. if they had been let alone.
The large herds from the ranches, drifting before
the storm made short work of these scattered stacks
Of hay. and the whole country is left in the same
condition Of starvation and death. The loss among
the smaller herds will he nearly, if not quite large
in proportion, that of the larger ones and the az
gregate loss of the cattle rasers of Nebraska can
hardly fall short of s.. .0oO.O0O.
There seems to be but one safeguard against sueh
an experience this, and that is for each ranchman
to put up hay enough TO carry his stock through
the winter. The cost although quite an item, would
be nothing compared to the losses of a winter
half severe this.-GraHd Island E,dependeRt.