The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-09-07

They who have thought OF turning their
attention to stock raising. or who have friends
already engaged In that pursuit. will be glad to
500 Life a Ranch. by REGINALD ALDRIDGE
tApplotons) This Ia q recital OF the authors
personal experiences In the management OF
ranches In Kansas. Colorado. tho Indian
Territory. and northern Texas. and. besides
being we'll stored with instructive facts and
useful suggestions tits u fluent. sprght!y and
engaging narrative. We have gained from
IL a fuller and more vivid conception Of the
mode OF life and industrial opportunities char
acterstic OF the grazing region than can be de-
rived from any other book OF the kind within
our knowledge. Tho fact that the writer is IN
Englishrtan. who. like so many others Of his
countrymen. has sought fortune in the West.
lends additional interest to his observations.
Mr.. Aldrldge. 1t seems Ind been a member of
the engineering stafT on Ill English railway. and
had saved some money. which he was DESTROYS
OF turning to better account than he seemed
likely to do at home. In the year 1877 he was
greae deal impressed by some letters published
in the London Field which gave decidedly IA
vorable view OF stock raising in Kansas and Col
orado. He determined to look into the mat
tor for himself. and. without losing any
time. came to this country. beginning
his investigations in southern Kansas
Here no entered into partnership with
an American ranchman. and embarked a
moderate amount OF capital In the purchase OF
cattle. At the end OF a year 10 bought his part
ner out. sold his herd and managed to get back
what he had invested. This was not. OF course
a particularly encouraging exhibit. but the
author seems to have been quick. energetic
sanguine man. who regarded the experience
acquired rs so much additional capital. This
indeed. 1t proved to DO. and in his subsequent
t-I~ Il A.
Texas Panhandle. he wns undenisbly success
full. 1t IL the record and the lessons OF this
success. the we'll earned reward OF six years
hard exertion. that lie now lays before his Eng
lish and American readers.
The substantial value OF the Information
here presented may be exempliled by show.
ing how the author answers the prelim-
mary questions which would naturally be-
asked by those contemplating Investments
Of tho samo kind. The first inquiry likely
to b. pressed with reference to cattle
raising on Western ranches Is. Would It
pay' MIR. Aldridge answers that 1t has paid
and he crn see no reason why It should not
continue to paw. He speaks. however, with
some caution. and regards 1t as unlikely that
the profits will ever again be so large rs they
have been during the last few years. The
boom" which began In tho ranching business
have ceased to hope for forty or fifty per cent.
interest on the capital invested In this call ing
At present. II a man 10 going to purchase ranch
property. he must sit down and figure care
fully Us to the future rostlts. and II no
finds after allowing for an annual loss among
the cattle Of Ave per cent. and. after paying
penses. that the stock and ranch are likely to
improve in value at tho rate Of from fifteen to
| twenty per cent per annum. he may consider
| that he has got hold OF q good thing. Mr..
| Aldridge does not think that the price OF beef
| cattle will diminish much in future Notwith-
standing some statistics that purport to prove
| that there Is danger Of stock raising being
| overdons. he Is OF the opinion that tho number
OF cattle reared in the United States will never
| be much In excess Of the wants Of tina popula-
| ton. from the fact that there Is comparatively
| little range now that is not stocked up.
| To the question what part Of the United
| states offers most Inducements to the intend
ing emisrant, Mr.. Aidridse replies by enu,nsr-
atng both tho advantages and disadvantages
OF various grazing districts. In the South. for
example, the ranchman will be able to raise a
| larger percentage OF calves. owing to the win
tiers being shorter and milder: but in the North
no can raise heavier cattle that bring a con-
| Sideraby higher price. He warns the pros
| pective settler that there are now but few
| places south OF Wyoming and Montana where
q man can drive In herd Of cattle and estab-
lish ranch without asking leave oil
ANYBODY - hs could . few years ago