The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1884-02-28

Iand. lie gave the road half O.
the half section OF $40 acres, OF
which the depot and town are on
This town Is one of those wonder
ri frontier growths that defy or
binary probabilities. The place
when only two years old had near.
ly 1000 people, a fine hotel, hos
of elegant residences, two nationa
and one private banks, street
railroad started, and 100000
raised in a day or two among its
citizens to build water works. Its
people owned ten millions oil
wealth. There were schools and
churches, and an elegant and fash.
ionable dressed feminine popula.
ton. Its dirt rivailed Atlanta
clay in it's progressive value. Lots
that sold two years before foi
$3.50 brought $500 and $4,000.
The people bought and built
whatever they pleased. Any
amount of money was forthcoming
on days notice for any town
improvement.
The town is not three years old
yet. 1t has nearly 900 people,
1t has a couple of bran new very
large hotels. The land has stead
lily enhanced in value. New stores
have been opened, new Industries
started, new residences construct
ed. New accession Of inhabitants
are pouring in. The place puts
on airs, too. They built a court
house on a lot given by Governor
Brown. The house cost them
$1,000. After it was completed
they were dissatisfied with the
building and its location on the
lot. Folks generally put up with
such expensive mistakes. Not so
in this esthetic burg 1t sold the
building for $4,000, the material
to be removed, and has contracted
for $50, 900 courthouse.
The interesting pec> liarity of
this wonderful western town, of
which our familiar Georgian is the
founder, Is the cattle ranch bust
ness. It's citizenship comprises q
legion of cattle ranch kings. The
country is covered with a sweet,
nutritious grass six inches high
that is called mesquite, that is
equal to blue grass. Upon this
cattle are raised without any cost
of feeding Immense fortunes
have been made at this business in
a short time. This cattle business
is the chief resource and backbone
of the section and town. Little
care or experience are required. =
Once year the calves are branded,
and a few herders and horses only
are needed. Calves sell readily
for Sl4 to SIG; two year-olds from
$50 to $25; three year-olds from
$40 to $45, and four year-olds
from $40 to $50. One hundred
COWS will bring from 80 to 9j
calves every year The loss by
death is not over 1per cent. Herds
increase and grow with amazing
rapidity. A fifth of herd is sold
off every year for beef. The pas
turage has been free, but this can
not continue, as the lands are be-
ing bought up and settled, and the
growth of the cattle business in
creases competition and diminises
the area. The result will be that
the cost of cattle raising will be
increased by the interest upon
capital invested in land and the
expense of fencing. As there is
no timber for fencing, the fence
wire has to be used. The profits
of the business must be reduced
materially by this extra cost.
To get at the profits of the bust
ness as it must hereafter run,
10000 acres at 81 per acre, will
cost $4,000. This amount of land
will feed 1900 cattle perpetually
without overstocking the pasture
and destroying the grass. The
1900 cattle will cost $4,000. The
fencing will cost $1,000. Here
we have an investment of $52,500;
10000 acres. :. $4,000
800 cattle. -. 10000
Fencing land. ........... $500
| s52,5OC
By waiting until the cattle are
three years old they bring $40 q
head. The rule is to sell one fifth
of the herd every year for beef
One fifth of 1900 is 300, which al
$40 a head, gives $4,000. EST
mating the expense of herders
and repairing fence, etc, at $1,000
and we have ten thousand dollars
~ e. IL, H. $1,000 NJ :.