Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-10-19
LETTER FROM COLORADO,
Especial corspondsDes.
PuEpLo. Coz. oc.obrri5.

Especial cor.Pondspes.l al,
PuEBLO, Col, ocsoberIS. issa
They say out here that "a man can make lOts Ct
money IN the sheep business, hut has just got 70 |
hHye sand, This Is undoubtedly q cOTect, state
ment Of the case. The business is prOhtabie when
managed with care, judgment and Industry bat IL
entails life Of solitude to great e1tent and ope
fun oi xicissitudes.. A man should have proper
appreciation Of these things and an understanding
OF the business before going into IT, They tell Of
'hishtoned' Englishmsn who came here few years
ago with $4,000 and went away owing $4,000 In
the language OF an old-timer "blamed II he cared
what he paid for anything. Offer him horse worth
$40 and ask him sl5o and he'd give you acheck. He
didn't care what he paid for HIS sheep. Had $500 of
Of them, and you used to zee thirty forty English
men loanng on him. You bet he didn't have the
trouble Of selling them sheep. Sheriff did It for
him. or course such man could not succeed in
raising sheep. But on set to this, and 10 Illus
trate thereal character Of the business here Il
other instance given me by old herder. Said he:
wanted man 10 herd sheep, and met enc COM
ing out OF Pueblo who said he would like 70 work for
me. Lookhere, said i, 4 won't tpay you any wages
but III give you $50 lambs which you must herd rs
part Of the fock.' He agreed TO that and worked
for me three years and half, until he hadto go sway
: and be married. and then l bought him out The
wool had paid all expenses and he had 81 $50 coming
:, to him in cash. "N :" ~
1t Is needless to say that there Is no royal road TO
success and wealth in the sheep business, or any
other calling, in Colorado, any than there Ii in
= every part of the world. There is no hope for It
without economy and industry and strict personal at
tention and with all these the fates sometimes
decree failure. But as rule man who knows what
heis about may invest from 5000 to $25 900 sheep
and realize return of twenty-five per cent. per an
q num- Comparing this with the profits OF catterais-
ing 1t will be found that the latter promise larger
though more tardy returns, but the advantages on
the side of sheep are smaller requirements In the
way Of capital and the ready returns Of cash from
the yearly crop of wool. Some odtmers assert that
they run flock of 5000 Sheep year in and year
out at an average of fifty cents per head For such
they-snd there are many of them-the above esti-
mate of profit would need to be materially changed
Your oldtimer has lived twenty years. perhaps, in
this part of the country. He is deeply attached to
the soil and knows other home. He has spent
: pears in the mountains prospecting, and while he
may like soft bed and tight roof, and good din
ner well his neighbor, there have been epochi
"a in his life when any one Of them would be
= his reach than the joys Of Mahommedan paradise
and 'he counteth Of these things dear' wher
his mind is set on the accomplishment Of any OBJ
ject When this man takes up the business ofsheep
70 raising he is in dead earnest. He knows nothing
20 thinks Of nothing, but sheep; lives among them
studies and masters every detail of their manage
Va ment, and institutes rigid economy. he will hav
ne good sheep. good coras and probably good sheds
as but he will little for the comforts Of his cabin
d One Of the most successful sheep men in this reol
ID began by living in cave near Colorado Springs. T.
as loneliness the old-timer has long ago become
ul stranger.,l
c. The ideal shepherd may be encountered here Ii
ly every conceivable variety full of entertaining an
On veracous narratives of his adventures and peri
Id ecnces. Successful old timers enjoying the result
past labors and clad in the sober gath of civliza
DIS ton, lay down the law over their social cigars
CHI while youthful beginners with doubtful prospects
or sports hats with enormous breadth of brim, an
Tn seem to delight in garments Of dubious cut an
texture and extreme antiquity. One OF two gentle
men from the East visiting Colorado Springs an
calling on lady--o his acquaintance there, apollo
it. gzed for the absence of his companion whose cohe
suitable for the occasion had been delayed by tn
express. "only hear that!p she exclaimed, de
lighted at this unusual respect for civilized habits
les ''Why have been netting the sons of dukes ant
ls- earls with their pantaloons tucked in the boots
BUTT may be safely assumed that these dukes an
ey earls would not presume to thus appear in thei
Oy own country, and there is unnecessary display
;ts barbarism in doing here, especially in Color ad
spngs, which is about as civilized as any othe
country town. There are some features Of the cur
ous rruption into Colorado Of scions of the nobilit
It, and arstocracy which interesting and extremely
OK amusing; but, without attempting homily on tn
MS subject it may be remarked that sheep have no re
.r gard for noble birth and that Piccadilly seems
hE furnish an inadequate preparation for successful
3r, ranchman. ~ "t "1l
ls Life on the ranch Is monotony ITSELF After breai
tie fast daylight the beatng flock is started th
range and the herder with his dog and cantee
over his shoulder follows after them. All day Ion
ed they feed on short grass, going once to water
III then towards evening they brought the corral
ad where they are confined at night Day after day
as. week after week, and month after month, this
Up the regular round When cold weather comes, the
Dr. dreaded enemy of sheep raising-the snow storms
eo is likely to be encountered any day. It comes wit
butlitte warming, and the heavy flakes fall thick
an fast The sheep hurriedly huddle together and n
. earthly power can make them move. The herdt
~ may have had time to get them into guch undf
al bank, but falling in this there is nothing to
done except to stay with them, sometimes day an
: anight, and trust to getting them home when tn
storm is over. 1t is with the snow storm, indees
s that the, dark side Of the Colorado sheepherder
y life Is associated and the great tempest ofis7s LEI
!, a sorrowful record behind. Tho snow was eleve
ieet deep in theeorrals, and sheep dug out av
after being buried two and even three weeks. The