Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-08-18
Cattle vs.. Sheen LIN New McNirn.

N"'''c W. Siiccp---ih new McNlc0.
The Red River Chronicle, published
at San Hilario, san Miguel county.
New Mexico, in its last issue made the
following remarks upon u subject OF
interest To western stockmen
The territory of New Mexico is un-
dergoing just now great revolution
and, we are sorry to say, one detrimep.
tai to the masses of the people. 1t is
the dethronement of the regime OF
sheep and the acquisition of power hy
the cattle.
Ever since about l5l0, over three
hundred and forty years. New Mexico
has been a sheep raising country.
Then small lot of Spanish Merins
sheep were introduced from Spain and
from that importation all the fiucks
now known as native in this territory
We're derived
The. constant breeding in for over
three hundred years has made the ami
mails small and the wool coarse, but
neither plaques among the fiocks, nor
devastation by rowing bands of Indians
could reduce their number. 1t was IA
constant Increase and when the rail-
road reached here about four years ago
ana New Mexico was allowed to ship
iNi Wool as heT ON1, SHttp WfTt
counted by millions. These roaned
all.over Gods creation, from one water
ing place to another, hardly ever MAX
ing camp more than one week in the
same place.
1t has been the custom, heretofore,
| to keep about three thousand head in
II flock. AT this rate the ten million
| sheep require ten thousand herders.
Enr manly thppa Naarr noxu Shaap
have been sold off as quick as pur.
chaser could he found and most of the
money thus derived has been employ
ed in cattle. 1t is all right enough for
the owner; he can afford to wait three
! years until the first return is made in
the increase, that is If we take it for q
fact that each cattle ranch starts ii
only with cows and calves. To get tn,
young ones into market will necessi
tate three years; as selling steers betor,
| that time is n losing business.
| But it is mighty hard on the poor
shepherd. The owner of sheep, by
selling 10000 head, throws ten mer
out of employment constantly. That
number of common ewes, with lambs
! will not fetch more than $40, 900 which
If employed in cattle, will buy abou
600 cows and calves. Two permane a
cowboys will Jake care of then; for II
least IL couple of years and the eXtr
hands formerly employed in lin!
sheep and attending to them durin!
the lambing season, will more than d'
to roundup and help brand calves
We have, therefore, q loss of employ
ment of at least eight men for ever,
10000 sheep sold.
Here, in the Red River region, Their
have been cold during the past season
and part of this not less than 10000
sheep which means the throwing on
of employment of over 100 men.
This is Il serious loss to the countr,
in many ways. The individuals VII,
70 merly herded these sheep have t
migrate to hunt up work elsewhere
taking with them in most instance:
their fami les. This causes then also
reduction in that amount OF com
merce, and this concentrates more ant
more towards the railroad towns.
Hundreds of retail establishments
which formerly fiourished on thes,
frontiers are ehings OF the pr i and Tho
commerce is thrown more and more IN
To the hands of the wholesale estab
lishments and, we are sorry TO have to
, acknowledge, establishments outside
! of the territory of New Mexico, oe
cause it is deplorable fact that mos
, of the goods required on large catti'
ranches are brought here ut wholesale
from the states.
Happily, there is one pleasant iea
ture connected with this me,amorpho
sis. Ii is the settling up of the coun
try. Sheep ranches used to have bu
few improvements; cattle ranches nee'
a home for the cowboys and storreroon
where to lay away the supplies. House
are springing UP all over the land
} corrais have To he built aud other i'm
provements are visible. But the dusk.
shepherd of former years will soon pas
into oblivion and the festive cowboy
, taking his place The shepherd, MAJ
G ried, man is hunting eincloymen
around towns, the bachelor cowb,oy
doing the work OF Il hundred shee
: camps with his stoHe.