Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-04-24
THE "ROUND-UP."
The Special Laws and Customs Pro.
tecting CATTLE Raisers.
Gathering the Herds ut the Ground
Up -Brandin. the Calves and
Selling tho "Mave3fcks"-.-
Facts ana Figures.
colorado Letter.

of those actually engaged in it. Owing to
| the peculiar nature of the industry special
laws and customs prevail regar ing it's pro-
lection. The cattle are placed on ranges
which may Or may not belong to their owns
ers, in fact these ranges are most generally
wild government land aud are sometimes OF
enormous extent. This involves the nec's-
sty for the employment Of n large number Of
horses AMI men to properly cover tho cXteat
Of territory over winch the cattle
roam. The liability OF colfuson in prop
erty as wandering III its nature as this makes
it necessary for the different owners to Use
many devices and precautions to identify
and protect their property ard to Adopt rules
and regulations for their own government,
whicl it would he almost impossible to pat
in a statute book, but wuich are recognize
by all of the courts II, equitable mn just and
as binding upon the parties concerned as
though enacted by the regular law-makins
authorities. These la tr include the system
of round-ups, branding of calves, regulations
regarding the disposition of unclaimed calves
separated from their mothers called "mavel-
icks," and also those d.s I'D to detect cattle
stealing.
THE "RoUND-UP" DISTRICTS.
TEN, it has been found necessary In every
state TO form in each roun ,-up district Cat
tie Growers assorniions, in al liti n to
which each state and territory where tho
cattle industry occupies a prominent p 'si-
ton, has its state organ cation la { dorado
there are seventeen roundup districts whose
asSocia ions meet twic. each year and n
state association which hul.s annual meet
A # In l,fi nf
these associations are incorporated as laws
i'll the statut. books Of the state,
among them those provi ling for state
cattle inspectors AMI roundup COM
missioners. These oi,ic ais are appointed
by the governor at the suggest II and recon-
mendstion Of the state ASSOCIATION. The
board of state inspectors consists of five
prominent cattle men, aud the roundup
commissioners consis: of three from each
district Their duties are to see to it that
all the stat. laws are enforced and as|oca-
ton rules o5cyed i'll their several Districts
and to have general supervisio of the sub
jsct, of round,upS branding of calves and
gathering and Transporting beef
GATHERING THEM IN.
The busy times are cpn,incI to the round
up s,usons, OF which there are uuminnly
two, although the first which begi is alb put
MAY ~ AMI coa;iuu - ,ntll Jane l. aud the
second conmenc!n, some three weeks later,
and continuing we'll into August, are 80
nc,rly tosc her that tlcy might well be
called ona season. AT these rouni-ups GER
tain de-, z l0ted men, a"cumpa litl by fore
man or captain, start from some given poi II
and travel over all the ranges III the.r di =
tr.ct. They tax with them wagons contain
iny Supplies sufficient for their probable s,av
and tue brands Of every owner in the dis
tr.ct. A., te wor! is very severe upon the
horses, especially in "cuttinG ont from the
herd, sacn man has from SIX to Ell hit horSes
riiins ono her lils tn others AMI irving
them alons with tn, Wagons In active
work a h,lS, should ne ian gel every thrsa
or four hours anI the rider, when he !e l.,
that his animal is exhausted, rides up to tn"
herd. lassoe. another, and quickly chan ,tlR
the satdle set, his tilei horse free. At the
roundup all the cattle in the district are
gathered together in one vast herd and
driven to tue rendezvous near the confer Of
the district. Tlc "orS of ii.ntiicat GA al |
bran ling the calves then begins. The ow +
erslp of the calves is a,certained from the
brand of the IN ,thar AMI a s.nl.lag brand Is
placed upon the olspring
"MATERICKs."
1t happens, however, that in numerous in
stances The calves become separated from
their mothers and it is a matter of ImpoSs-
bihty to ascertain their owners. These
estravs are called ''maveiicks, AMI becoma
the Joint property of the association OF the
roundup district in which they are fourd
These mavericks ar, by rule of The Cri,-
L., ,ntib sold fn "a 4 lars
among their members at the enl OF the
season, and the proceeds paid in the general
fund proviled for the maintenance of the
organization. The receipts thus real.z Vi tre.
auently amount to the han $50 ne sum OF
from $1,000 to $1,000 per year in
each district. AT the second later
roundup the same branding process
is csrrel out, and the al litona
feature of gathering beef" is added. Thi,
consists in 81, cling such cattle As are in de-
sirable condition for shipment and may in
cule all Of the diff rent bianls An mvel
tory is made of the cate SO selected and a
copy forwarded to the different inspectors
and agen along the ne Of rout. tine cattle
will be driven or carried tu mark,t It, As we'll
as to the parties to who.u they are consigned.
When the cattle a,e gathered anl the brand
ing OF the calves completed. the work Of
separating the herds begins and the difficult
task of placing the cattle OF each brand in
separate herbs is accomplished. These are
then driven to their proper ranges by the
herders.
CATTLE DETECTIVES.
The roundup party, which is in consider
able numbers, is generally acc 'mpanied by a
man or men from each surrounding district
and from the adjacent states anl territories
who are furn!s1ed with all the brands of
their districts or states, and who are present
for tie purpose Of identifying any cattle
which may have strayed from the ranges of
other districts. Owing to the seeming
facility with watch this class of property
might be ste en the greatest precautions
are taken, of course, to prevent cat
tle-stealn2 and to this cnl the police
and in ,pecunn service is rendered AS nearly
pelfect as possible There are employed in
Colorado aloAe upwards of thirty stock in
spectors or detectives who are constantly
travelling over the state, examining hides III
butchern5 establishments, and inspecting
bran.s, especially at shipping points. Their
operations, however, are not confined to this
state alone, but extend to all points whence
cattle are shipped. Some are stationed
at Kansas City, Omaha, Pacific juno
ton on the Burlington q Missouri,
and other points on the routes
to market. These men exercise the right to
examine all manifcsts AMI compare them
also with lists which they have with them.
I. l.