Connecticut western news., 1883-08-01
GREAT CATTLE RANGES.
DrsPELLING THE GLAMOUR OF CATTLE RAISING = THE BOOKS VERSUS THE HERDs-How CAPITALISTS ARE TAKEN IN
From the New York Sum-

The high price of beef has greatly stimulated the business of cattle breed ing. English and Eastern capital eagerly seeks investment in Western cattle ranches. It has been estimated that about $30, ,000,0 of English and East ern money has been invested in the re- zion extending from the Rio Grande River to the northern boundary line during the past three years.
 At present the excitement about cattle approaches in intensity mining craze. The writers for the press and illustrated magazines are, in 8 great measure, re- sponsible for calling public attention to the Western plains and the Rocky Noun tain valleys as desirable localities for cattle breeding. The majority of these writers know absolutely nothing about the breeding and successful handling of cattle Descriptions of life on the plains and in the mountains abound in these writings. The pictures are attractive, but are they true?
 The census of 1880 shows (and the figures for 1880 are approximately cor rect for 1SS3) that in the strictly pastoral region embraced within the lines of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Dakota, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Oregon there were 1928, 14S cattle, or 416, ,573 less than in the State of New York. Kansas and Nebraska, States that extend from the Missouri River westward into the arid belt, graze more cattle than all the so-called Seattle coun- try" excepting Texas. Colorado has been puffed more extensively than any other State as 8 desirable location for cattle breeders. For years cattle have been driven from Texas to Colorado. In 1880 there were 346, 739 cattle in Colo rado. South Carolina, State never spoken of as cattle country, possessed 363, 709 cattle in 1880. Arkansas, where the men are falsely supposed to spend their time lying in wait behind corn cribs for their personal foes, contained 7O8, ,243 more than Colorado. In 1886 Florida grazed 467 ,3sO cattle, over 12O,, 900 more than Colorado.
 The cattle country contains, not in cluding Texas, about SOO,OOO squar, miles. Throughout this vast range cat tie are expected to pick up their living during the winter. It is asserted tha the loss of stock is very small on thes' natural breeding grounds. With al these advantages the cattle States d, not graze as much stock as New York, State containing but 47, ,000square miles and where the cattle are fed hay ant grain for six months every year. Tn losses in New York by freezing an, starving will not equal the loss in any o the cattle States of the far West in on blizzard in the latter portion of the winter
 Cattle raising in the West is life or the frontier. It is a life of ceaseles monotony. There is nothing fascinatin, in the life of cowboy, or in that of al owner of small herd. It can be summe, up in a few weeks hard riding in tn spring, during the branding roundup and few weeks more riding durin the beef roundup in the fall. The res of the year is spent in watching tn horns of cattle grow, in counting tn rings on the base of those weapons ( defence, and in cooking and eating ba con and bread. This attractive life varied by men who have families an sufficient means by living in some litt squalid frontier town. Life in one these towns is not attractive. The me loaf. Time hangs heavily on the hant of such men as cannot supply themselv. with intellectual amusement by sitting c an empty dry goods box and poundin their heels against the resounding side while discussing bucking ponies an COWS whose tails have been frozen oi These idle stock growers are apparent
 wrapped up in absorbing thought as
 the price of cattle at the distributir
 points in the Eastern States, or as
 whether Glark's bansnartailed, on ItlS s.