The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-09-11
Live Stock in the Cotton States


The special adaptability of a large
proportion OF the cotton growing
states for the profitable production of
live stock has been repeatedly referred
to in the columns of the Gazette. To
very limited extent these resources
have been utilized, and a few men
have already there laid the foundation
OF a lucrative business, freed from
certain impediments that confront
breeders whose fields of operations lie
further northward. While the aggre-
gate of live stock throughout the
southern states lying east of the Mis-
sissippi river is considerable, it is but
trif1ing when compared in connection
with The resources and possibilities of
that section. This fact was forcibly
impressed upon the mind of one of the
Gazette staff d Jag recent ten days
trip across the states of Tennessee and
Mississippi, ending with four days
horseback ride through several central
eastern counties in the latter. Most
of the country examined seemed espec-
tally suited for live stock farming
Where crops were cultivated, corn,
oats and vegetables grow luxuriantly
all month in advance of similar
crops north of the Ohio river, while
grasses and bright-eyed flowers attest
ed the latent wealth of soil never YET
disturbed by plow or hoe. Even the
old fields. abandoned as no longer fiji
for growing cotton, we've in many
places carpeted with grass that, witt
fair chance for existence, would
prove a source of wealth to those WhC
chose to utilize it.
The practical man while riding
over such country as thiS-Wel
erased, well watered, where winters
are kind and summers prolific-is fore
ed to emphasize all that has been sail
and written of the necessity for tn
general Introduction of live stock in
to the cotton growing country befor
the value and resources of that sec
ton can be demonstrated. The fey
cattle seen were in good condition
though forced to run out" the entir
year. These found on the bottor
growths, on which to tide over tn
frost period of a few weeks duration
which make the so called winter abe
: tween December and March. The fac
that, without care, and the absence O
such tame grasses as are entitled t
, the locality, cattle will "rustle
: through an average winter, is an in
fallible index to the prosperity tina
: will follow intelligent effort at mea
production in this hitherto unappreci
ated part of our country.
AS with cattle, so with sheep, swim
! and other animals. All can be bre
and raised in the cotton country il
successful competition with any par
of the United States without in tn
least infringing on the area devote
to cultivation. Fields which unde
: the existing system are depleted in feI
tility and abandoned to weeds an
other Improbable growths, could b
utilized for pasturage and thus mad
to accomplish their own reclamation
in few short years, while thousand
of dollars now yearly sent into othe
states to pay for meat and wool an(
J grain would be kept at home.
In the nature of things, the pasture
, advantages of large portion of tn
cotton region cannot much longer b
overlooked. The rapidly diminishing
area in the frontier states and territe
ries is already sending up the price o
lands suiting for grazing purposes
while the certainty of a still furthe
advance is inducing capital to monop
Ollie and fence in and place beyon
reach those still available The effec
must soon be felt in the hitherto un
occupied districts of the south, wher
lands admirably adapted to stock rails
ing, with the advantage of proximit,
to market, short winters and luxuri
ant vegetation, are now to be had a
prices within reach of men without
the means and tastes that fit them TO
successfully contesting with the cattl
kings and companies the occupancy o
the still available frontier territory
Chicago Breeders Gazette.