The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-12-01
COLORADO LETTER.
Special Correspondence

CANON Cry, COL, Nov. 20, 1882.
The country about Canon City is
largely devoted to grazing. In fact,
stock raising, or "herding," is the
great industry for this whole region
from Texas to point considerably
north of the Union Pacific Railway,
excepting the comparatively narrow
limits within which mining interests
are confined. In New Mexico, in
southern Colorado, on the the
Arkansas and its tributaries-the
Fountain, the St. Charles, the Muddy,
the Cucharas, the Huerfano, and
others--in the great park over across
the range, and over the plains in
Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming,
the herds roam and the yancheyos
ride. The progress of settlement
and the advance of civilization has
encroached somewhat upon what was
formerly the domain of the ranchmen,
especially in Nebraska and northern
Colorado; but, in general terms, he
largely covers the territory outlined
above. Between Denver and Jules
burg, on the Uiion Pacific Railroad,
lay the immense range Of the late
John Hiff, one side of which was fifty
miles in length, and which was in all
respects the most extensive ranch in
Colorado. He is said 10 have begun
on a capital of 500, and when he
died four years ago his estate was
valued at SI,5oo, 900.
Probably, all things considered,
southern Colorado possesses greater
advantages for herding than can be
combined in any part of the region
devoted to that industry, 1t is
traversed by railroads, and accessible
from all sides, while the climate is
most salubrous and so mild in winter
that stock roam and Craze without
shelter or feeding. Barren as those
sandy plains appear, the coarse, dry
looking tufts of "buhfalo grass" fur
nish nutriment upon which cattle
thrive and fatten beyond belief. To
some there is a sentimental drawback
in the absence of the Everlasting
hills" but that soon becomes to be a
small matter when the other advant-
ages of this locality are considered.
No doubt in other regions land can
be had more cheaply, but there
are counterbalancing disadvantages.
Above certain latitude, notably in
Wyoming, great losses have occurred
from severe winters, and not very far
to the north the 'Lo family" come in
to disturb and modest. Speaking of
hard winters, they had one in Colo
RADIO two years ago which, according
to all accounts, takes the cake, and
was the cause of heavy losses to cat
tie men. In some parts of the State
hay sod at 5000 per ton. But sea-
sons like this are few and far between.
OF the profits of ranching | shall
not undertake, for lack of space, to
give any complete estimates, though
several that are full and reliable have
been furnished me. After allowing
for all contingencies it may be safely
put down as more certain in its results
than mining, and more remunerative
for the capital and labor invested than
the best mercantile business | know
of in the East. To engage in it sue
cessfullv requires, capital, knowl-
edge of the business, sound judgment
and a willingness TO endure the pri-
vations and loneliness of the life it
entails. Any man with these pre-
requisites can certainly double an in
vestment of $1,000 or $40, 900 in
five years, with strong probability
Of doing much better even than that.
am told of case where some gen.
tlemcn about ten years ago made
mp the sum of $1,000 for the pur-
chase of cattle and put the herd in
the hands of practical man. 1t was,
of course, when cattle were consid-
erably cheaper than they are now, and
they did not buy much land but sent