Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-29

wild currant are among the bushes bor-
dering the streams.
The timber proper, that is such, as
form quantity, quality and character, has
a commercial value; is found only on the
mountains, pine, cedar and aspen are the
principal varieties. On the Big Horn
and Shoshone ranges the forests Of pine
are exceedingly dense, and will in time
become source of wealth to those re-
gions, the localities all being favorable
for the erection of saw mills, sufficient
head of water being available at almost
any point along the mountain streams.
The climate was an especially favor
able one for man and beast
The great elevation gives lightness
to the air, which, to many people is OBJ
jectionable, theoretically. but residence
in the country dispels all illu-
sions on this score, consumptives are
benefited by its dry even tempered
atmosphere, though persons suffering
from catarrhal affections could hardly
| find more uncongenial climate.
The spring and fall months are partic-
| ularly delightful. The summers are often
times warm, though the thermometer, at
central point of the territory, and at
about mean altitude. has registered to
| in ten years.
An ascent of the mountains will, in any
month OF tho year, give low tempera-
| lures.
The winters are often cold, but seldom
severe. At night the temperature may be
20 or 80 degrees below zero, but it is
rare that at some time during the day it
does not rise to above zero.
| The avera Up m1ldnasS Of tho apasono
and the rapldity with which the light
| falls of snow in the valleys and on the
| plains disappear, and leave the grass ex-
posed, make this particularly safe coun-
try for cattle, horses and sheep.
Among the animals to be found here are
the buffalo, elk, antelope, mountain sheep
black-talled deer, common deer, grizzly,
black and cinnamon bears, gray wolf,
coyote, jack rabbit, badger, porcupine,
beaver and muskrat.
The buffalo are fast disappearing, and
bounties on wolves have rid the country
| OF these pests to great extent.
/ Among the birds are the blue grouse,
sage hen, goose, teal and mallard. The
mountain streams abound in trout; many
of large size-speckled, with black spots.
The mineral resources will, in time,
undoubtedly be very great, but the coun-
try is undeveloped, and q great portion
remains unprospected and unexplored.
Bitumlnous coal is found in many
places, but is not extensively mined ex-
cept In the immediate vicinity of the rail-
road.
Gold, silver and copper have been
found, and mines worked to some profit;
but l look for more extensive strikes of
the precious minerals in the Big Horn,
Shoshone and Wind River mountains,
when the country becomes better known.
| The great interest of the country,
the one which is to bring the territory to
the fore in point of wealth, is stock rails
ing.
| Wyoming is wonderful grazing
region, but its merits in this respect have
only been realized In recent years, and
though the business of stock growing has
already assumed immense proportions,
the territory is not stocked to a tenth of
its capacity.
The plains and valleys of Wyoming
will not feed as many cattle, sheep or
horses to the square mile as lands in most
of the states, ,but the immense area availa-
BILE, more than compensates.
The grass starts about the LIST of May,
and continues to grow until about the 1st
1
| it stands on the ground, it retains all its
properties and strength and stock keep in
good condition upon it all winter.
In the well watered valleys several
! varieties of grasses grow in con-
siderable luxuriance. These, however,
seem to have but little attrac-
ton for the cattle. They generally take
to the upland and hillside, where they
find bunch grass-their choice food
| and in grazing to obtain it they wander
over many miles of country. The ranges
in the southern portion of the territory,
particularly along the North Platte and
| its tributaries, are to great extent taken
up. The land is not owned by individu-
ais, but it is the custom of the country to
respect the location of man in his
ranch and range.
The best ranges in the territory are
still unclaimed, though doubtless another
year will see the valleys of the Big Horn
and its tributaries, of Tongue and Pow.
| der rivers, teeming with stock. The val
| ley of the Big Horn, in particular, offers
the greatest possible advantages to the
stock grower. The grazing generally is
| fair, often excellent. The banks and
| bluffs give shelter in case of storm. The
fall of snow is light, and the ranges are
more distinctly separated by ridges, so
that the scattering of the
herd is less, and the
| round up more easily and perfectly ac-
compllshed.
| The drive to the Union Pacific is, of
course, longer than for the North Platte
ranges, but the Northern Pacific will
eventually take all the northern grown
cattle to market.
| Unfortunately for this part of Wyom-
| ing the outlet to the Northern Pacific Is
blocked by the Crow reservation, tract
of 6,272, 900 acres, or more than eight
times the area of Rhode Island and peo-
pied by but $40 Indians.
| This reservation abuts against the
north line of Wyoming for half It's length,
and for time will be drawback, but
the great interests involved will gain
right of way across it for traffic and
eventually open it to settlement
The profits arising from stock growing
IN this territory are so great that am
I induced to give an estimate, keeping well
| within the limits of reasonable safety.
| 1t must be remembered that the profits
of large herd increase in greater ratio
than the expenses. The figures given
are based on an investment large enough
for any benefits arising therefrom.
| Suppose that you buy choice lot OF
1900 cows at $40 .......... $4,000 co
at $50. 1000 90
Making total investment off,. $4,000 90
Careful buying in the spring Should get 20
per cent. of calves with the cows, or say 400
calves. or these, on the average, one hall or
7CO, will be heifer calves, and at the end of the
| first year your affairs will stand thus:
| The 700 calves (heifers)
| will be yearlings and
worth at $40 each..... $1,000 10
i The 7O0 calves feteers) at