New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-27
KANSAS CATTLE-RAISING.
VISIT TO A PRAIRIE RANCH.


THE COWBOY AT HoME-THE DUGoUr- SIGHTS On
,,r pp.,ptr-pRoFlTs or THE BUSINESs-IM-
pRoyEMENT OF TILE BREED OF CATIIE-DopGE
CITY AT NIGHT.
rvpoN Az ASTON AL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
IAKIN. Kan, Aug. 2-The great industry OF
W.stern Kansas cattle-Taising. has received re-
markable impetus within the last two years. Inc
nrotts have attracted the attention OF Eastern and
foreign business men, who have invested their capi-
tai while sons and nephews with a relish for the
free life Of the plains have come out to enter
actively into tho business. From klnsey to the
western State line the banks of the Arkansas are
lined with grazing cattle But catte-IasIng IN
Western Kansas possesses certain features peculiar
to itself. There are great stock companies as III
Colorado There the Prairie Cattle Company owns
probably 100000 head. Newton White own
100, 900 cattle, Ketcham n Pugsley own 3o,ooo'
and there are many herds of from 10000 TO 6O,ooo.
One result of this Is evident that the Gatherings
of Colorado enjoy monopoly, and that small cattle
owners have very little chance. / was told the
other day by Colorado ranchman OF man VINO
had herd in Colorado for eight years and has now
only $50 cattle. The reason was that the cattle OF
the small owners stray away intS the large herds
and are promptly rebranded with the marks OF
the great cattle-raisers. In Kansas there are no
large herds as compared with those of Colorado
and in most cases the owners themselves are with
the herds. There is, of course, not the amount oil
capital invested here that there is in Colorado but
its distribution is more even and men of small capt.
tai find field here undeterred by the neghborhood
of gatherings who monopolize grazing and water
privileges. which they cannot find iii Colorado.
IMPROVEMENT IN CATTLE-BREED1NG
In addition to good pasturage the chief requisites
for a cattlerange are plenty of water and shaGe.
These essentials are best obtained in the western
part of this State. south of the Arkansas River,
along the CinmaTron River and the numberess
.reeks which form its tributaries. The country
near the border of Indian Territory has different
character from Kansas seen from the railroad.
It is broken into abrupt elevations with -blulis.
ravines and small canons Astounding in lime
stone and gypsum. Excellent grazing Is
afforded by the plains and valleys with the abund-
ance Of water in the creeks and the mild open
winters which do away altogether with the neces-
sity OF feeding shelterng the cattle. North OF
the Arkansas River Also in western Kansas, cattle
raising IS the chief business the greater part of the
ranges being along the branches OF the Smoky Hill
River. The business in Western Kansas, hOwe' er,
is as different from cattle-grOwng further east DIS 1t
Is from that of Colorado In Eastern and Central
Kansas. stock growing is becoming more and more
generally adopted by farmers who also raise wheat
and corn They own small herds of high-grddc
cattle. tend them carefully and fatten them on
grain In Western Kansas the herdsman is not a
farmer He possesses neither crops nor scarcely
local habitatIon for although he has home ranch,
the ground on which it stands is very likely not his
own His cattle run whittier they list, receiving
little care save that necessary to keep them to-
gether. As rule they have no food except the
bufIalo-crass or blue-stem of the range. Occasion
allv however, some OF the most promising cattle
are selected and especially attened for the market
COMMANDING On this case a higher price. The in
clination TO breed-up stock shows Its effects
strongly in the cattle through Western Kansas
which are improving every year The widespread
ing long horns OF the Texas steer are dwindlng as
the stock is mixed with better blood saw PAIR
recently six feet four inches straight across from tip
TO rp but to-day their size could probably not be
matched. The crooked slnewy hind-leg peculiar to
Texas cattle and showing nothing but bone and
tendon for some distance above the knee Is filling
out and strengthening to approach the rounded pro-
PORTIONS of the Durham. OWING to the free crossing
with Durham and Hereford blood while the
briskets are growing full and pendulOus and the
color is changing from the dirty yellow and black Of
Texas cattle to occasional fawn color and red and
white. Thtse are of the signs of higher
breeding to be noted in riding among these herds
along the Arkansas. This means better reef anu
a higher price.
A RIDE OVER THE PRArRIE.
This morning. equipped with the usual spurs and
sombrero | mounted a cOw-pony for ride TO Il
ranch some ten miles east of the town. These
ponies merit word of description. ] was inclined
to look scOrnfully OIL mine, after finding that |
could hang my hat OIL its projecting hp-bones. but
soon found tina. under the scrawny appearance of
lad fI,.o ,f;oon . a 81
saddle-horso fast walk. a gait between a walk
and trot like "single foot" and a oanter so easy
that it made the Mexican saddle seem a rocking
chair. were developed in rapid succession, and the
long galop over the praires in the face of fresh
breeze became an exhilarating luxury with which
city life offers nothing in comparison. The Hoods
of clear pure air stimulated every fibre. and one
nerves were set thrilling as the hoof-beats fel
lightly on the turf of the melsurelcss prairie that
stretched away ahead. To the south was the silver
ribbon of the Arkansas and to the north the plains
rose from the bOttOm-lands rolling upward like the
slow mighty swels of the ocean fixed immUvabl y
in place. Not a touch the bit needed
These ponies are trained TO turn at a wave of the
hand on either SIDE or by feeling the light pressure
of the rein against their necks. Ten miles of this
glorious gallOp over the plains brought me to the
hume ranch of the y. Y. Cattle Company, not prop
erly a company but until lately q partnership OF
three men, who own 10000 head the largest herd
in Kansas Within the last few days one Of the
partners has bought out the othes two, pay inc
81 900 for their shares.
Here was a long story house, small corral
with saddles and brides piled about the straw-cov
cred outbuildngs. and several farm wagons at
hand to transport provisions and blankets when the
boys we're of following the cattle. Only one of the
nine herders at home. With the free hospitality
of the plains the ranch was ours at once. Within
were three rooms, kitchen, dining room and bed
room each with genuine flavor of camp life given
by the reviewers and carbnes on the walls. the
hnns OF meal in the corneI and the hunks piled