The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-06-23
Communicated.
POLE CAT Rancho I. +. !

June l4Cn, 1867.
The ''round up" may be arranged
under three different names: the
''pool," ''grand" and "local.'r The
spool round up" is the first and, as its
name signifies, the cattle in each pool
are gathered into punches and each
man who thinks he may have cattle
in a pool sends one or more men and
it is their business to carefully look
through the different punches for all
brands belonging to their employer,
"cut out" the same and return it to the
range. The "pool round UP" began
this year the 18th of April and lasted
two weeks.
For the "grand round up" the cattle
country is divided into divisions, a
place is appointed for meeting, and a
captain selected. All the cattle
owners in that division are notified
when the round up will be on his
range, and it is his duty to have his
cattle together so they can be rounded
up at any time or on very short
notice. The grand round up began
this year on the Sth of May. At the
place of meeting will be men from al
most every range within fifty miles
east and west and a hundred north
and south. There will be from one to
three hundred men, from five hundred
to two thousand horses and from sew
enty-five to one hundred and fifty
wagons. This makes quite a caravan,
and when each outfit has gotten to-
gether band of cattle it becomes in
deed big thing. Each outfit holds
Its cattle and horses separate and each
have separate camp, far enough
apart to keep the stockseparate. This
round up lasts about three weeks and
is rush and hurry from beginning to
end. This work is the hardest and
most particular work TO be done. The
best men and the best horses are re-
quired. The men must know how to
do the work and must know the
brands belonging to their employers.
A first-class cow boy knows the brands
and is able to trace the ownership of q
COW back to its first brand when a
calf. Frequently brand fails to show
and the old brands must be depended
upon to show the Owner;> or some
careless" man gets his brand OIL some
other mans COW, then a knowledge of
the old brands are necessary. 1t takes
a man with a keen eye and good
brain to make a good "cow- man" or
''cow boy" also one who can undergo
great endurance. He must stay in the
saddle for days and must 90 long peri
DDS without eating or sleeping. The
horses are selected with view to their
qualities for "cutting outr a COW. A
few horses seem to delight in running
single COW, and when started after a
cow will persistently follow her until
placed where wanted. They learn to
anticipate and watch every movement
and none but skillful rider can stay
on their backs when they are making
their rapid runs and their lightning
like wheels. A good carrying, or
chOpping horse as they term them
are reliable and the boys love to tell of
their good qualities, some going SO far
as to say they believe their horses
know the brands.
The ''local round up" is where
small outfit of men 60 from one range
to another as they think best and
where they believe they will find cat
tie. This continues until the owners
believe they have their number of cat
tie, or through the summer. BY fall
all, or nearly all, cattle are back on
the range.